13 Days in Chile - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Southern Chile: Patagonian W Trek, Wildlife & Wilderness Adventure

This great outdoorsy trip through Chile covers plenty of ground. From Santiago, hit Patagonia, and spend the remainder of your journey meeting the wildlife of the Strait of Magellan, trekking through Torres del Paine National Park, and kayaking among glaciers and waterfalls before ending with an estancia visit.

Welcome to Chile! Touch down in Santiago and head out on a guided, half-day city tour. Stroll the markets, the historic center of Plaza de Armas, Catedral Metropolitana, and more. Have dinner in fashionable Barrio Bellavista. Wake up and fly to the Patagonian hub of Punta Arenas. Walk along the central plaza and over to the waterfront to watch the sunset. If you like fresh seafood, this is a spot worth the indulgence.

In the morning, board a ferry that will cruise along the Strait of Magellan, and over to Magdalena Island. View thousands of penguins at their nesting sites. Next is a wildlife excursion along the strait to visit San Isidro Island to spot Austral dolphins, sea lions, and native sea birds. Wake up and catch a bus to Puerto Natales. Take a self-guided tour and enjoy the views at sunset along Seno Última Esperanza, with beautiful peaks in the background.

On day six, make your way to famed Torres del Paine National Park. Embark on the first portion of the W Trek, which covers highlights like Mount Almirante Nieto and Mirador Base Torres. The next day takes you to Lago Nordenskjöld on a 4-5-hour hike. Along the way, take in the incredible scenery—jagged mountains, including Cuernos del Paine, and gorgeous glaciers abound. The third day of the trek heads to Campamento Italiano, then through French Valley's granite peaks. Hike through the forest and around several iconic lakes before retiring by Lago Pehoé. Lago Grey, home to Grey Glacier, is next. Hike a couple of hours toward the massive ice walls and along the lakeshore. In the morning, hike to Bigfoot Basecamp for the start of your ice hiking excursion to explore the details of Grey Glacier, followed by a catamaran to get up close and take photos.

The final leg of the trip unfolds at Pueblo Serrano. Grab your kayak and gear, and paddle to the waterfalls, followed by a visit to Serrano Glacier. Stop for a scenic lunch and continue toward Mount Balmaceda to camp at Puerto Toro for the night. Continue on the next day to Serrano Lagoon at the glacier's end, and paddle around the broken icebergs. Then, visit Estancia Perales for a delicious meal of Patagonian roasted lamb, before returning to Puerto Natales for your final night in Chile. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Chile Grand Tour: Santiago, Atacama Desert, Torres del Paine & Easter Island

This traditional tour of Chile takes you to four regions—the capital city, the desert, Patagonia, and an ancient Polynesian island. Go sightseeing in Santiago, visit the lagoons and salt flats of the Atacama Desert, hike Torres del Paine, and enjoy beautifully preserved Easter Island.

Arrive in Santiago and hit the town on a guided tour. Check out the local markets, the historic center, and Cerro San Cristóbal by hike or cable car for beautiful views of the capital. Wake up and fly to Calama to transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, the heart of the Atacama Desert. Stroll the sand dunes and enjoy the sunset at Moon Valley. Next, embark on a tour of the most notable lagoons and the Atacama Salar salt flats. Pay a visit to a flamingo colony and two villages—Socaire for lunch, and Toconao for handicraft shopping. Get an early start at the Tatio Geysers. Watch the steam ascend, and enjoy breakfast and a geothermal soak at sunrise.

Fly to Punta Arenas in the morning via Santiago. Enjoy some sightseeing at the Plaza Muñoz Guerrero, Palacio Sara Braun, and Reserva Nacional Magallanes, and watch the sun go down on the Strait of Magellan. Visit two Patagonian Islands next—Magdalena Island, home to a massive penguin colony, and Marta Island, where tons of sea lions flock. Spend the night in Torres del Paine, and wake up in the park ready to explore on a private guided tour to check out all the best viewpoints. Embark on another guided tour of Torres del Paine to learn about the native wildlife, including guanacos, flamingos, rabbits, rheas, condors, and more.

Return to Santiago and circle back to any sights you may have missed on day one. Make your way to trendy Barrio Bellavista to peruse the street art and enjoy a meal of progressive Chilean cuisine. In the morning, wake up and catch a flight to Easter Island. Spend the day getting acquainted with the ancient Polynesian history of Rapa Nui, and learn all about the 600 stone moai that inhabit the island. Explore the main town of Hanga Roa and take a hike just outside of town at Ahu Tahai, home to a few moai and some scenic caves.

Wake up and join a full-day tour. Highlights include the Ahu Te Pito Kura rock structure, the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku, stunning Anakena Beach, and visits to ceremonial platforms. Two, half-day tours conclude the visit—one to Orongo’s inactive volcano and its sea caves, and the other to Ahu Akivi, a celestial observatory where more moai are stationed. Visit two archaeological sites, and enjoy your final night on the island before heading back to Santiago and catching your onward flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Santiago & Patagonia: From Chile to Argentina

This Patagonian crossover journey takes you through the best of the region in Chile—through the Torres del Paine W Trek—and Argentina—to explore El Calafate and El Chaltén. Spend some time in Santiago, too, and take a relaxing day trip along the Pacific Coast.

Start off with a city tour in the Chilean capital of Santiago. Wander the Mercado Central and Mercado La Vega, visit the historic center sights, and ascend Cerro San Cristóbal for beautiful views of the city below. In the morning, embark on a day trip to the Pacific Coast. First, explore Viña del Mar’s upscale shopping and chic architecture. Then, head to Valparaíso, known for its dedication to the arts. Stroll the colorful streets and old plazas.

Fly to Punta Arenas in the morning, and hop a bus to Puerto Natales. Relax and enjoy the town on your own—bookmark the sunset along Ultima Esperanza Sound. Wake up and head to Torres del Paine to tackle the active and scenic W Trek for four days. Take in the stunning, hanging glacier of Mount Almirante Nieto and the mesmerizing collection of mountains among Mirador Base Torres. Hike along Lake Nordenskjöld next, at the foot of Paine Massif. Stop to take in the incredible views all around, including that of Cuernos del Paine, and keep an eye out for wild animals. Trek to Campamento Italiano along windy shores, and then head to French Valley before enjoying the views of several beautiful lakes in every direction. Camp among the scenery at Lake Pehoé. After breakfast, it’s time to hike to Lago Grey, where magnificent Grey Glacier lives. The ice fields are an unbelievable sight, as is the glacier from head-on aboard the Grey III catamaran.

The next leg transports you over the border from Chile to Argentinian Patagonia. Get on a bus headed for El Calafate, where you can take a load off in town. Enjoy a nice dinner and have some rest before the adventuring continues. Wake up and head to Los Glaciares National Park for your first views of the star glacier—Perito Moreno. In the morning, take a bus to El Chaltén, on a gorgeous, 124-mile journey filled with snowy peaks. Then, it’s time to tour Mount Fitz Roy and the beautiful lakes and lenga forests. Spend the day on your own self-guided hiking excursion to go at your own pace. Save some time to explore the bar scene in town. Spend the next day commuting back over the border to Chile, and treat yourself to a memorable last hurrah in Puerto Natales before departure out of Santiago tomorrow. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Central Chile, Lake District & Atacama Desert

Enjoy a diverse vacation to three entirely different regions. First, tour Central Chile, which is home to Santiago, Casablanca Valley, Viña del Mar, and Valparaíso. Then, head into the Atacama Desert to visit the valleys, lagoons, salt flats, and small towns. End the trip in the Lake District, and explore the highlights of Puerto Varas, Chiloé Island, and Castro.

Once you land in Santiago, get out on your own to explore the capital. Hike—or take a cable car ride—to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, visit the historical center, and snap photos in front of Palacio de la Moneda. Next, enjoy a food tour of Santiago. Taste your way through the markets and have lunch on the cobblestone streets of trendy Barrio Bellavista. Wake up and take a day trip to the Pacific Coast. First, do some wine tasting in the Casablanca Valley, followed by tours of the neighboring towns of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso.

Take a flight to the Atacama Desert to do some exploration. First, visit the open Altiplano to learn about various constellations, and then enjoy a stargazing tour of the clear skies, complemented by some good, Chilean wine. Next, it’s off to the lagoons—Chaxa, Miscanti, and Miñiques—along with the Los Flamencos National Reserve to observe the pink birds. Make stops in Socaire and Toconao to get a feel for the small desert towns. Get up early and take in the beauty of the Tatio Geysers before sunrise. Then, stop in Machuca, another village, inhabited by llamas and craftsmen.

Fly over to Puerto Montt via Santiago next to discover the Lake District. Make the transfer to Puerto Varas and stay along Llanquihue Lake. Tour the village and fusion of architecture, and enjoy a hearty dinner in town. Then, embark on a full day of scenic touring to explore the vantage points and pristine waters surrounding Osorno Volcano, the Petrohué Waterfalls, and Lago Todos los Santos. Ride to the coastal town of Lenca to trek though Alerce Andino National Park next. Follow the route along the Chaicas River, through forests, and do some birdwatching by the lagoons.

Rent a car in Puerto Varas and drive 2 hours, followed by a ferry ride, to Chiloé Island for two days of adventuring. Drive through Castro, with its rolling hills and stilted houses by the water. Then, choose your excursion for the day. Visit a penguin colony, hang with the locals, and indulge in the local fare, rich with fresh seafood. Continue the island tour by paying a visit to Chiloé National Park with its many trails leading through forests and out to bays. Return to Castro for a final day of discovery. Stroll through churches and museums and take advantage of the foodie town and its great coffee pours. Ferry back to Puerto Varas for the night and catch your onward flight out of Santiago in the morning. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Chile: Santiago, Pacific Coast, Patagonia, & More

This Chilean highlights tour takes you on several, great day trips out of Santiago, followed by a well-balanced tour of two Patagonian regions. Enjoy trekking, sightseeing, wine tasting, shopping, and much more.

Arrive in Santiago, and join a guided tour. Wander the aisles of the local markets, visit Plaza de Armas and Catedral Metropolitana, and stroll through fashion-forward Barrio Bellavista, with its hip street art and funky cafés. Wake up and head out to the coast for the day. Stop in Viña del Mar to visit high-end shops and have a seaside lunch. Next is Valparaíso, with its bohemian arts culture and vibrant, old plazas. Ride the Reina Victoria funicular to tour the hilly neighborhoods. Then, embark on a scenic day trip to Maipo Valley, with its snow-covered mountains and glistening rivers. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the water paired with local wine. Keep the pours flowing the next day in the Casablanca Valley, known for its organic vineyards. Visit two wineries for full tours and tastings, and perhaps buy a few bottles, if the mood strikes.

Fly to Balmaceda for your first views of Patagonia in the Aysén region. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own. Wake up and catch a ride 4 hours south to Puerto Rio Tranquilo on General Carrera Lake. Take a boat tour out to the Capillas de Mármol, an incredible, colorful collection of swirled, marble pillars by the lakeshore—keep your camera handy here. Get an early start on a 47-mile boat ride to Bahía Exploradores and cruise toward Laguna San Rafael, known for its forests and exotic wildlife. Tour the glacier and national park highlights, and enjoy a boxed lunch and an afternoon whiskey—chilled with ice from a nearby glacier.

Hop on a plane to Punta Arenas to discover more of Patagonia. Stroll the Plaza Muñoz Guerrero and the Reserva Nacional Magallanes, and then watch sundown at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz. Wake up and explore the native wildlife that inhabits the Strait of Magellan. Visit plenty of penguins on Magdalena Island and meet the sea lions lounging on Marta Island. In the morning, head out on a private, full-day tour of Torres del Paine National Park. Find the best lookout points and learn all about the native flora and fauna.

Take a boat through the fjords to a visit to a local estancia, and experience life on a sheep ranch. Go hiking, horseback riding, or tour the land on a 4x4. For lunch, indulge in a traditional lamb barbecue and then watch a sheep shearing demonstration. Return to Puerto Natales for the evening and fly back to Santiago in the morning. Explore the sights you missed at the beginning of the trip, and make sure to take advantage of Santiago’s burgeoning culinary scene for a special farewell dinner prior to departure. Learn more

More Great 13-Day Chile Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Chile trip? Check out these other 13-day Chile itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.