Chile Tours

Chile has experienced demonstrations in Santiago and other cities that can disrupt transportation. TheU.S. Department of State travel advisory for Chile was issued on August 19, 2026, at Level 2 (exercise increased caution), citing crime, civil unrest and health. The CDC may also post travelers’ health notices for Chile, including for Andes virus, so check theCDC Travelers’ Health page for Chile for the current notice. Other governments’ advice may differ. Conditions can change quickly, so check the advisory and your own government’s advice before you book and again before you travel. We confirm routes with local operators and talk through options with you if conditions affect your dates.

A guidebook can describe Torres del Paine, but it cannot sequence your trip for you: how to link regions that are hundreds of miles apart, which season suits which region, and what to do when a flight or road changes. That is the part of a Chile trip we plan with you.

One Planning Contact

A VA Expeditions travel designer is your main contact for itinerary design, proposals and changes.

Local Operators

Local operators deliver services in Chile, such as transfers, guides and lodging. We can tell you which operator delivers each part of your trip.

Distance- and Season-Aware Routing

Itineraries are sequenced with Chile’s long distances in mind, using domestic flights where they save time, easing into the high-altitude Atacama, and leaving buffer time around flights and Patagonian weather.

Built Around Your Group

Itineraries are shaped around who is actually traveling. A family taking a short extension after Peru needs a different pace than a couple with two weeks and an interest in trekking.

Before you travel, VA Expeditions manages your itinerary and bookings. During your trip, the local operator delivers your services, and your trip documents list the contacts to use if plans change.

Request a Tailor-Made Proposal

1. Explore Torres del Paine National Park. Granite towers, glaciers, turquoise lakes and guanacos make this one of Chile’s best-known landscapes. You can see the highlights on day trips or on multi-day treks such as the W Trek.

Insider tip: Weather changes quickly and winds can be strong, so pack layers. Trekking lodges and campsites generally need to be reserved well in advance, especially for December to February, and we confirm availability with local operators.

2. Base yourself in San Pedro de Atacama. From San Pedro, excursions reach the Valle de la Luna, high-altitude lagoons, salt flats and the El Tatio geysers, with some of the clearest night skies in the world for stargazing.

Insider tip: Keep your first day light while you adjust to the altitude. San Pedro is at about 7,900 feet and El Tatio at roughly 14,000 feet, and mornings and nights are very cold.

3. Spend time in Santiago and Valparaíso. Santiago has historic neighborhoods, museums and a strong food scene, with the Andes visible on clear days. Valparaíso, about 1.5 hours away by road, is known for its hillside funiculars and street art.

Insider tip: Santiago works well as an arrival and recovery stop. Keep valuables out of sight in busy areas.

4. Visit Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The moai statues at Rano Raraku and Tongariki are the main draws, along with volcanic craters and coastal scenery. The flight from Santiago takes about five and a half hours.

Insider tip: Rapa Nui has its own entry process, a park ticket and accredited guides at certain sites. Allow at least three nights, and keep a buffer day in case flights change.

5. Taste wine in the Central Valley. The Casablanca, Colchagua and Maipo valleys are known for Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon and white wines, and many wineries offer tastings with lunch.

Insider tip: Many wine regions can be visited as a day trip from Santiago. Harvest is typically March and April.

6. See the volcanoes and lakes of the Lake District. Puerto Varas and Pucón sit among snowcapped volcanoes, lakes and forests, and the island of Chiloé is known for its wooden churches and seafood.

Insider tip: Rain is possible in any month. Some parts of the southern Araucanía region have been affected by security concerns, so check current advisories for any route there.

7. See Patagonia’s glaciers by boat. Boat trips to the Grey Glacier in Torres del Paine, or fjord cruises in the far south, show a side of Patagonia you can’t see from the trails.

Insider tip: Schedules depend on wind and weather and cannot be guaranteed. Book early for the peak summer months.

8. Plan around conditions on the ground. Chile has had demonstrations in Santiago and other cities, and summer wildfires can affect parts of central and southern Chile.

Insider tip: Favor flights over long road transfers where possible, keep some flexibility in the schedule, and check official advisories before you book and before you travel.

Transport times, border procedures and operations can change. Each route is confirmed with the operators before it appears in your proposal.

A short planning checklist for your trip. Your travel designer can go through each point in detail.

Altitude

• Altitude matters mainly in the north. San Pedro de Atacama is at about 7,900 feet, and excursions such as the El Tatio geysers and high-altitude lagoons go much higher, to roughly 14,000 feet. Santiago is at about 1,800 feet, and Patagonia, the Lake District and Rapa Nui are much lower.
• Ascend gradually and keep your first day in the Atacama light.
• Speak with a clinician before you travel, especially if you have heart, lung or other health conditions. A rest day or drinking plenty of water does not guarantee that you will adjust.
• Some high-altitude or strenuous excursions may not suit every traveler. Ask your planner what is involved.
• Medical care is limited in remote areas, so know where the nearest facilities are and how an evacuation would work.

Health and Insurance

• Buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and, if available, evacuation. If you plan to trek or visit remote areas, check that your policy covers those activities.
• See a travel clinician well before departure about routine and recommended vaccinations and altitude.
• Check the CDC’s current health notices for Chile, including any notice for the region you will visit.
• Sun is strong in the Atacama and Patagonia, so pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
• Carry any medications you need from home, as a specific drug may not be available locally.

Official sources:CDC Travelers’ Health: Chile andU.S. Department of State: Chile.

Entry Requirements and Visas

• Entry rules depend on your nationality, and additional conditions can apply to minors and dual nationals.
• The U.S. Department of State currently states that U.S. citizens do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days, and that your passport must be valid at the time of entry and throughout your stay, with at least one blank page.
• Rapa Nui (Easter Island) has its own entry steps. Travelers generally complete the entry form (FUI) within 48 hours of their flight and need a round-trip ticket (stays are limited to 30 days), registered lodging or a qualifying invitation, and a park ticket. Some sites require an accredited guide.
• Confirm current rules with official sources before you book and again before you travel. VA Expeditions does not provide legal or immigration advice.

Official source for Rapa Nui:Chile Tourism: entry and visa requirements.

Money

• The local currency is the Chilean peso (CLP).
• Cards and ATMs are generally available in cities, but ATMs become sparser in Patagonia and small towns. Carry some cash in small denominations and a backup card.
• Ask your travel designer which services, meals and guide gratuities your tour includes. Restaurant service charges and tips for guides are handled differently, and customs can change.
• Paying in pesos is usually the simplest option, and exchange rates on other currencies can be unfavorable.

Accommodation

• Options range from city hotels and wine-country estates to desert lodges, remote Patagonian lodges and, on some trekking tours, simple refuges or camps.
• High-comfort properties in Santiago, the Atacama and Patagonia can differ a great deal from remote lodges and trekking camps in heating, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, meals and transfer times. Your proposal describes each property’s category and what to expect.
• Hotel star ratings in Chile often reflect facilities rather than overall quality.
• Luxury options exist across Chile, but not every location offers the same standard, and some properties close or change services seasonally.

Safety and Conditions on the Ground

• Stay alert in crowded places, use hotel safes for passports and extra cash, and carry photocopies of travel documents.
• Do not leave bags unattended, including in parked vehicles. Petty theft is most common in busy parts of Santiago and Valparaíso.
• Avoid demonstrations, which can occur with little notice and disrupt transportation. Chile is also seismically active, so follow your hotel’s safety instructions, and wildfires can affect parts of central and southern Chile in summer.
• Patagonian weather can delay excursions, boats and flights. Keep schedules flexible and build in buffer time.
• VA Expeditions designs and manages your itinerary and bookings, while local operators deliver transfers, guides and lodging on the ground. Your trip documents list the contacts to use if plans change.
• Conditions change. Check the current U.S. Department of State advisory and your own government’s advice before you book and again before you travel.

Culture and Etiquette

• A handshake is common in greetings, and a single kiss on the cheek is usual between friends and in most greetings involving women.
• Ask permission before photographing people, and follow your guide’s advice at community visits and cultural sites.
• On Rapa Nui and at other archaeological sites, do not touch or climb on monuments and stay on marked paths.
• Follow Leave No Trace principles in national parks.

Travelers With Different Needs

• Comfort and local context vary across Chile, with attitudes generally more open in larger cities and more conservative in some rural areas.
• We can often tailor trips for older, multigenerational and mobility-constrained travelers, but accessibility varies by location, especially on trails, in remote lodges and at archaeological sites. Tell us what you need early so we can check what suppliers can offer.
• Tell your travel designer about anything else that affects how you like to travel, and we will keep your personal details private.
• Review current official guidance on local laws and conditions before you go.

Festivals and Events

• Fiestas Patrias, the national holidays, are celebrated around September 18, and many services are busy at that time.
• The Tapati Rapa Nui festival takes place on Rapa Nui in early February, and dates change each year. Accommodation fills early and prices rise, so plan well ahead.
• Wine harvest celebrations in the central valleys usually fall in March and April, and dates vary by winery.

Eating and Drinking

• Try empanadas de pino, pastel de choclo (a corn and beef pie) and cazuela (a hearty stew), with pebre, a fresh salsa, on the side.
• The coast offers fresh seafood and ceviche, and Patagonia is known for lamb and king crab. Order a pisco sour, and try Carménère, a grape Chile is known for.
• Choose freshly prepared food and safe drinking water. Tell us about dietary needs in advance so we can plan around them.

These Chile tours can be customized to your dates, pace and comfort level. Each tour name links to its own page, where you can see the route and inclusions. Not sure which fits? Ask a travel designer to adapt one for you.

About the physical rating. Ratings reflect general activity level, including walking, altitude and accessibility, not your personal fitness. Low means mostly easy, short activities with comfortable transfers. Moderate includes longer days, some walking and some time at altitude. High includes multi-day trekking or demanding terrain. Altitude affects everyone differently, and many Chile itineraries include high elevations in the north, long travel days, and trekking in changeable Patagonian weather. Ask your travel designer how a tour suits your health and experience.

Luxury tours include higher-comfort accommodations and services, and the level of comfort can vary by location, especially in remote areas. Your proposal describes each property and service.

Chilean Patagonia

Dramatic, mountainous and wild, with Torres del Paine National Park, glaciers, turquoise lakes and long hiking trails at the southern end of the continent.

The Lake District

Lush farmland, dense forest, snowcapped volcanoes and clear lakes, with lakeside towns such as Puerto Varas and the island of Chiloé nearby.

The Atacama Desert

One of the driest deserts on Earth, based around San Pedro de Atacama, with salt flats, lagoons, geysers, moonlike valleys and exceptional stargazing.

Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

A remote Pacific island closer to Polynesia than to the Chilean mainland, known for its moai statues and volcanic scenery. Visits follow a special entry process, which your travel designer walks you through.

Santiago

Chile’s capital, set in a valley beneath the Andes, with historic neighborhoods, museums, restaurants and easy access to nearby wine valleys and Valparaíso.

Chile’s strongest pairings follow real geographic links: Patagonia shared with Argentina, the Uyuni–Atacama corridor between Bolivia and Chile, and the flight connections to Peru. The examples below show common ways to build a route rather than every option. Durations are indicative, and your proposal confirms the exact route, transport and border steps.

Chile + Argentina

Patagonia spans both countries, and many travelers pair Torres del Paine with El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. Border crossings, mountain passes and weather can affect the schedule, especially in winter. A Patagonia route like this is different from a Lake District–Bariloche route or a Santiago–Mendoza–Buenos Aires route, which we can explore on request. A trip combining both countries usually takes about 14–18 days.

Chile + Peru

Chile and Peru are most often linked by flight, for example between Lima or Cusco and Santiago. This works well for travelers who want Machu Picchu and Cusco alongside the Atacama or Patagonia. A trip combining the two countries usually takes about 14–18 days. Allow time for flight connections, and keep in mind that Cusco is at high altitude.

Chile + Bolivia

The usual route between Chile and Bolivia is the multi-day 4x4 journey between San Pedro de Atacama and Uyuni, with a border post and a change of vehicle along the way. A trip combining both countries usually takes about 8–12 days. The high-altitude desert scenery is the highlight, but cold nights, altitude and weather can affect the schedule.

There is no single best month for Chile, because the country spans so many climates. Its seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere, with summer from December to February. The best time depends on the regions you plan to visit.

Chilean school holidays in January and February can make domestic flights, hotels and popular parks busier. For trips that combine Chile with Peru or Bolivia, the shoulder months of roughly March to May and September to November can offer a good balance of weather and smaller crowds, although nights at altitude are cold in all three countries.

Seasonal windows are general guidance and can change. Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Your travel designer can advise on availability and booking timing for your dates.

Practical Information for Your Chile Trip

VA Expeditions does not provide legal, immigration or medical advice. Use the official sources below for your passport and route. Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.