Chile — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“The world's driest desert, Patagonian glaciers, moai, and world-class wine”
Chile is the longest land of natural contrasts on Earth — from the Atacama, the driest desert in the world, in the north, to the sharp granite spires of Torres del Paine in Patagonia to the south. There's Easter Island and its enigmatic moai out in the middle of the Pacific, Valparaiso the colorful World Heritage port city, and Santiago, the capital beneath the Andes with world-class wine and a living culture.
Chile at a glance
Choose a city in Chile
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Decide — is Chile right for you?
Why people love Chile, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
The Atacama Desert
The driest desert on Earth, with pitch-black skies for the clearest stargazing, hot springs, salt lakes, and wildflower blooms after the rains.
Torres del Paine
Steep granite towers in Patagonia, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and world-class hiking trails.
Easter Island
The mysterious carved-stone moai of the Rapa Nui people — a World Heritage site in the middle of the Pacific.
Valparaiso
A colorful hillside port and World Heritage city, full of street art, painted houses, vintage funiculars, and creative neighborhoods.
World-class wine
The Maipo, Casablanca, and Colchagua valleys are world-class wine regions, with tastings just outside Santiago.
Santiago
A modern capital beneath the snowy Andes, with museums, an old quarter, and the best Chilean food.
Chile vs its neighbors
| Chile | Argentina | Peru | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $57–115 | $43–100 | $40–85 |
| Visa (Thai passport) | Check the latest rules | Check the latest rules | Check the latest rules |
| Known for | Atacama · Patagonia · wine | Buenos Aires · Patagonia | Machu Picchu · Cusco · Titicaca |
| Currency | Chilean Peso (CLP) | Argentine Peso (ARS) | Sol (PEN) |
| Signature landscape | Desert and glaciers | Pampas and Patagonia | The Andes and Amazon |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
Adventure & nature
Stargazing and hot springs in the Atacama plus the Torres del Paine trails — for nature lovers and hikers.
See this plan → 🗿Culture & history
The Easter Island moai, World Heritage Valparaiso, and Santiago's museums — for culture lovers.
See this plan → 🍷Wine, food & city
Wine tours in the valleys near Santiago, the old Barrio Italia, and seafood along the coast.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
1 ranked reviews
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- 1🦞
Ceviche y Mariscos
Fresh Pacific-coast seafood — lime-cured fish, shellfish, and shrimp, the pride of Chile's coast.
📍 Seafood - 2🥩
Asado
South American charcoal barbecue — beef, pork, and lamb grilled slowly until tender and fragrant, eaten as a gathering.
📍 Barbecue - 3🫓
Sopaipillas
Crispy-soft fried pumpkin dough, eaten plain or drizzled with dark cane syrup — sold everywhere in the rainy season.
📍 Street food - 4🍲
Cazuela
A comforting stew of meat, vegetables, and corn — a Chilean home staple in every season.
📍 Home cooking - 5🍷
Chilean Wine
Famous Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo and Colchagua valleys near Santiago.
📍 Drinks - 6🌽
Pastel de Choclo
A ground-corn pie with a crisp top, filled with beef, chicken, egg, and olives, baked until golden.
📍 National dish
- 1🌵
Atacama Desert
The driest desert in the world, with crystal-clear starry skies, hot springs, salt lakes, and the Valley of the Moon.
📍 North - 2🏔️
Torres del Paine
Patagonia's national park, with soaring granite towers, blue glaciers, and the famous W-Trek.
📍 Patagonia - 3🗿
Easter Island
The mysterious stone moai of the Rapa Nui people — a World Heritage site 900 kilometers off the Chilean coast.
📍 Mid-ocean - 4🎨
Valparaiso
A colorful hillside port, with street art, vintage funiculars (ascensores), and creative neighborhoods.
📍 World Heritage - 5🌋
Valle de la Luna
A valley of strangely shaped salt-and-sand rock formations in the desert, with golden sunsets.
📍 Atacama - 6🏛️
Santiago Historic Center
The Plaza de Armas square, La Moneda palace, and the old quarter at the heart of the capital.
📍 Santiago
🚆 Getting around Chile
Domestic flights
LATAM and Sky Airline connect Santiago with Punta Arenas, Iquique, and Easter Island — distances here are huge.
Long-distance buses
Turbus and Pullman Bus link cities nationwide; the good sleeper buses are great value for traveling the mainland.
Santiago metro
The Metro de Santiago is convenient, clean, and cheap, covering the whole capital.
Car rental
Essential for the Atacama and Patagonia; roads are good in the center, but some northern and southern routes are unpaved.
Ferries in Patagonia
Ferries connect islands and southern fjords; the Puerto Montt–Punta Arenas route passes beautiful scenery.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Chile
Music and poetry
Birthplace of Nobel poet Pablo Neruda, and home to the cueca, the national folk dance.
Chilean warmth
Chileans greet with a single kiss on the cheek, are polite and open, and smile readily at visitors.
Lunch is the main meal
Lunch (almuerzo) is the most important meal; many restaurants are busy from 1 to 3 pm.
Tipping at restaurants
A 10% tip is customary at sit-down restaurants; they often ask whether to add it to the bill.
National pride
Chileans are proud of their natural beauty, wine, and football — bringing these up is a great way to connect.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / shared room $20–43
Chile is mid-priced for South America; eat at markets and supermarkets, take city buses, and some museums are free.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3–4★ hotel $57–130
Atacama tours, wine tastings, or the Torres del Paine trek, with good restaurants.
Premium
🛏️ Luxury hotel / lodge $145+
Premium Patagonia lodges, private stargazing tours, and fine-dining wine dinners.
🗓️ When to visit Chile
Summer (Southern Hemisphere)
Dec – MarGood weather nationwide, all Patagonia routes open, and Easter Island at its brightest — the busiest season.
Late spring
Oct – NovLovely weather, wildflowers blooming in the Atacama in rainy years, and fewer crowds than summer.
Atacama stargazing
Year-round (best Mar – Nov)The Atacama has the clearest skies on Earth, best outside the rainy season with no light pollution.
Autumn
Apr – MayFall colors in the wine valleys and Patagonia, fewer tourists, and lower hotel prices.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Chile — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.6💑 Great for your trip
★ 9.5💑 Great for your trip
★ 9.3💑 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Chile?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Chile
How many days do you need in Chile?+
10–14 days to cover several highlights — Santiago 2–3 days + Atacama 3–4 days + Patagonia 4–5 days, or add Easter Island for another 3. Distances are vast, so you'll need domestic flights.
Do Thai passport holders need a visa?+
Check the latest visa rules with the embassy before you travel, as policies can change.
When is the best time for Patagonia?+
November to March (Southern Hemisphere summer): all the hiking trails are open and the weather is best, but the wind is fierce — pack windproof and waterproof layers.
Do you need to book a tour for Atacama stargazing?+
We recommend booking a stargazing tour with telescopes (around $11–23); a guide explains the sky and aims the scopes for you. With the darkest skies on Earth, it's an unforgettable experience.
Tips before you go to Chile
- The Atacama sits at 2,400 m — rest on your first day and drink plenty of water to prevent altitude sickness.
- Patagonia is very windy; pack a windbreaker and thermal layers even in summer.
- Cash is scarce in the Atacama and Patagonia — withdraw money before leaving the big cities.
- Patagonia tours and lodging are pricey in high season; book 3–6 months ahead.
- Easter Island requires a flight from Santiago (~5 hours) and is expensive — book tickets and accommodation early.
- Wine tastings in the Maipo or Casablanca valleys are easy from Santiago, with plenty of tours offering shuttle service.