Things to do in 

Chile

Find alternative things to do and authentic activity ideas in Chile, from high‑desert villages in the Atacama to coastal barrios near Valparaíso, with a curious, unhurried pace.

Cultural experiences: In Santiago’s Barrio Yungay, trace street art with a local and slide into a tiny picada for pastel de choclo; it suits families and seniors who like an easy walk. Down in Temuco (a 1‑hour flight south of Santiago), step into a Mapuche ruka to share merkén‑spiced sopaipillas and stories with artisans. On Chiloé Island near Castro (1.5 hours by road from Puerto Montt), help prepare a backyard curanto and visit palafitos by rowboat, a mellow outing couples love. In Punta Arenas at the Strait of Magellan, taste Croatian‑Chilean pastries in a wood‑paneled café before a private visit to the Salesian Museum; luxury travelers often add a driver for comfort.

Day trip ideas: From Santiago, ride into Cajón Del Maipo for hot springs at Baños Colina and a quiet asado in San José De Maipo; families can keep it short and scenic. From Valparaíso, cross to the Casablanca Valley for small organic wineries in Lagunilla, then detour to the fishing coves of Quintay for a late lunch. From La Serena, follow the Elqui Valley to Vicuña with stops at the Gabriela Mistral Museum and small pisco distilleries; seniors appreciate the smooth pacing. From Puerto Varas, loop to Frutillar for kuchen by the lake and to Llanquihue for a visit to a small smokehouse; couples enjoy lingering by the water.

Explore Chile’s regions: In the Atacama around San Pedro De Atacama (a 2‑hour flight from Santiago to Calama), wander adobe villages like Toconao, salt flats, and small family farms growing chañar. In the Central Valleys near Santa Cruz, pedal vineyard backroads in Colchagua and peek inside rural bodegas where carmenere rests in cool cellars. In the Lake District around Puerto Varas and Pucón, kayak calm inlets below Osorno and soak in rustic hot pools along the Liucura. In Patagonia from Puerto Natales, boat to estancias on Última Esperanza Sound and learn sheep‑shearing traditions before a quiet lamb lunch; seniors often add shorter trail strolls in Torres Del Paine.

For Chile’s unique activities and regions, aim for 10–14 days to link two areas (say, Atacama and the Lake District) with time for slow days; three regions can take 18–21 days, and the full length deserves a longer, one‑way trip.

More places to see in Chile

Beyond Santiago, Chile stretches out in bold contrasts that reward slow travel. Head north for stark desert skies, drift into valleys lined with orchards and pisco vines, then fly south to islands and lakes where wood churches and quiet beaches set the pace. You’ll find places where a local market lunch or a late walk along the water feels just right.

Atacama Desert: Start before dawn for the steam and rumble of El Tatio Geysers, then warm up over coffee back in San Pedro de Atacama. As the light softens, walk the dunes and salt flats of Valle de la Luna for late‑day glow on the ridges. After dinner on Caracoles Street, join a stargazing tour outside town where the Milky Way cuts across the sky.

Elqui Valley: Roll into Vicuña for a mid‑morning visit to the Gabriela Mistral Museum, then tour a pisco distillery like Aba or Capel in the early afternoon to see how the spirit is made. Stay out after dark at Mamalluca Observatory, where guides point out constellations that locals know by name.

Chiloé Island: Wander Castro’s shoreline to see the palafitos at Gamboa at high tide, then step inside the bright wood interior of Iglesia San Francisco before midday crowds thin. Around lunchtime, grab a seat at the cocinerías in Dalcahue’s market for a steaming curanto or a plate of milcaos, and watch boats slide in and out of the channel.

Lake District (Puerto Varas & Frutillar): Walk Puerto Varas’s costanera in the morning with Osorno Volcano across Lago Llanquihue, then head to Saltos del Petrohué for the rush of turquoise water over black lava. Drift back to Frutillar in the late afternoon for kuchen by the lake and a look inside Teatro del Lago as the shoreline settles into evening.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Watch Santiago shake off winter with jacaranda blooms and café patios, then step into vineyards as vines leaf out across Maipo and Casablanca. North of La Serena, a good year paints the Atacama with wildflowers, and gentler weather makes city walking and easy day hikes comfortable for families and seniors.

Summer: Long days invite treks in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine and boat outings on emerald lakes, while beach towns from Viña del Mar to La Serena fill with swimmers and sunset strollers. Ring in the New Year under Valparaíso’s fireworks or head north for cloudless nights that make Atacama’s skies a dream for stargazers and photographers.

Fall: Follow vendimia season as wine valleys celebrate harvest with tastings, grape stomping, and asado weekends through March and April. Cooler air settles over the Lake District for hot springs and fiery foliage around Pucón and Puerto Varas, and clear, dry days return to the desert for relaxed touring that suits unhurried travellers.

Winter: Trade surf for snow on the Andes, with skiing near Santiago at Valle Nevado, La Parva, and Portillo, then warm up in Araucanía hot springs. Far south, blue whales and dolphins frequent the Chiloé and Corcovado waters, and in the north, sunny days keep Atacama outings pleasant even as nights turn crisp.

Chile’s calendar is anchored by colour and dance: Fiestas Patrias on 18 and 19 September fills parks and ramadas with cueca, empanadas, and kite flying nationwide. In the north, La Tirana in mid-July turns the Tarapacá desert into a days-long Andean dance celebration, while March and April bring vendimia harvest festivals across Colchagua, Curicó, and Casablanca. Out in the Pacific, February’s Tapati Rapa Nui shares Rapa Nui traditions on Easter Island, and Valparaíso closes the year with its famous baywide fireworks.