Why should you holiday in Chile?

With a length spanning some 4,300 km from north to south and an average width of just 175 km, Chile truly is a country offering geographical extremes and differences.

From one of the world’s driest deserts in the north, to Patagonia’s rugged mountains and rocks in the south, with big cities, dramatic coastlines, picturesque lakes and sprawling vineyards in between. Chile is truly filled with geographical differences, making it a great travel destination.

Our Chile tours

Read more about the experiences that await you in Chile below.

Santiago de Chile

At the heart of the country, you will find Santiago de Chile, the capital of Chile. The city enjoys an incredibly scenic location in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes.

The dynamic, modern capital has many interesting neighbourhoods worth visiting.

The Bellavista district is Santiago de Chile’s cultural heart, with musicians and theatre groups performing in the streets and a host of colourful buildings, cafés and restaurants.

At Plaza de Armas, the city’s main square, you will see historical buildings, including the country’s largest cathedral, built in Baroque style.

Santiago’s modern neighbourhood is called Sanhattan, named after Manhattan in New York. Some of South America’s tallest skyscrapers, green areas and good shopping opportunities are to be found here.

Torres del Paine National Park

In the south, at the southernmost tip of the Andes, you will find the Torres del Paine National Park, which covers an area of 2,400 km2. Torres del Paine is undoubtedly one of Chile’s biggest draws, both for people who want to trek in the park and those who simply want to experience Chile’s most beautiful landscapes.

At Torres del Paine, you will see snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes and the famous “Torres del Paine” towers that the park is named after.

Take photos of the stunning landscape by the azure lakes of Lago Sarmiento and Lago Nordenskjöld. You can see the Cuernos del Paine mountains reflected in the water of the latter.

The park is home to many different animal species, and you might spot condors, hares and guanacos, which are closely related to the lama.

Other experiences in Chile

• Valparaíso is a colourful, Bohemian port, located north of the capital, and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The city’s location on the slopes leading down towards the busy port guarantees great views from wherever you are. Explore the historic centre, which offers charming colonial buildings and lovely markets.

• Outside Santiago de Chile, you will also find Chile’s fruit orchards and vineyards. This is where a number of the country’s popular wines are produced. Visit the Concha and Toro vineyards, and taste some of the delicious wines while you enjoy the fantastic view of the mountains.

• Located near the town of Peulla is Todos Los Santos Lake, also known as the “Emerald lake” due to its deep green colour. Experience the contrast between the lake and the snow-capped volcanoes Orsono, Tronador and Puntiagudos from a trip on board a catamaran on the lake.

Combine Chile and Argentina

Three of our tours combine Chile with a tour to Argentina.

Argentina offers amazing cities, unique culture and scenic natural wonders. On our tours, you can, for example, experience:

• Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, also known as the Paris of South America. Visit the birthplace of the Tango and discover the city’s many neighbourhoods, including La Boca, San Telmo and Recolata. The attractive cultural city offers vibrant city life, wide boulevards, magnificent buildings, green parks, a cosy café scene and, of course, plenty of tango!

• The glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park. The park has more than 350 glaciers, of which the Perito Moreno Glacier is the most famous. The 60-metre-high and 4-km-wide glacier is a truly fantastic experience.

• The Iguazu Falls are one of the world’s largest waterfalls, consisting of 275 waterfalls, large and small, spread over almost 2.7 km and varying between 60 and 82 metres in height. You will see the falls from both the Argentine side and the Brazilian side.

Want to know more about our tours?

Read more about each combination tour to Chile by clicking on “Read more” on the tour at the top of the page. On the individual tour pages, you will find more information about the highlights of each tour, as well as exactly what awaits you in Chile and Argentina.

You will also find answers to FAQs about the practicalities of holidaying in Chile on our Practical information about Chile page.

Please contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions regarding Chile or our other tours to Central or South America, our travel specialists are on hand to help you.

We look forward to helping you on a holiday of a lifetime.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller