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How To Plan A Perfect Week In Chile Itinerary : Best Activities and Adventures

Are you dreaming of visiting the long thin country of Chile and wondering how on earth to cover this amazing destination in just a week? Of course you can’t see everything in a short trip but it’s absolutely possible to discover a lot following our 1 week in Chile itinerary!

From hiking Andean peaks, to wine tastings, exploring Santiago’s vibrant districts and relaxing on the coast, we have a ‘bucket list’ one week in Chile adventure figured out! We learned so much planning this trip ourselves.

Chile has a huge diversity of things to explore including  one of the last vast wilderness areas on earth – Patagonia which should be on your list of ‘musts’.

From our time here and exploring many South America destinations, we are confident our itinerary guide will help you plan a week in Chile you’ll never forget.

Overview Chile 1 Week Itinerary

Plan this Chile itinerary on its own, or combine as part of a 3-week trip – see our article with an Itinerary for 3 Days In Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Or how about a trip by ferry to enjoy 3 Days In South Western Region of Uruguay known for its wine production and laid back vibe.

🎒TPOP Tip:

Making your arrangements directly can save quite a bit – up to 40% vs. going through a travel agent.

A few wow facts about Chile

Chile is reportedly the longest north-south country on our planet covering 39 degrees of latitude. It is 2653 miles (4,270 km) in length. This is equivalent to the distance from Canada to Mexico.

Two horses graze in a field in front of an old farm house. Behind the farmhouse are snow peaked mountains of Southern Patagonia, thousands of feet in altitude.
Rustic, wild and beautiful Patagonia
  • Chile is also the narrowest country, the widest section is only 217 miles (350km)! and narrowest, a minimum of 9.6 miles.
  • It has the highest volcano in the world Ojos del Salado in Atacama High Desert at (22,615 feet)
  • It has a coastline of over 6400km
  • Chile’s Lake District offers over 600 miles of glorious self-drive routes
  • The Andes Range offers numerous climbing and trekking options
  • Southern Chilean Patagonia is home to the iconic Torres del Paine National Park
  • Easter Island is part of Chile although 2200 miles from the mainland (a 5 hour flight from Santiago)

Seeing all these could take months, even years, so we had to prioritize for our first visit.  Southern Patagonia was our top ‘must do’ and so we built our time around here and around Santiago in Central Chile.

An island with bridge links to the mainland on Lake Pekoe Patagonia Chile.
Lake Pehoe Southern Patagonia

When’s The Best Time To Visit Chile

The temperature varies considerably due to the length of the country as well as time of year.

In Santiago (Central Chile), the coldest month is July and the warmest January.  Although the climate is viewed as Mediterranean, it gets very hot in the summer.  

March and April are the more pleasant months to enjoy walking around. Atacama is high desert and can be very cold at night and hot in the day time.

The Patagonian season is short and parks close during Winter.  Ideally, visit between December to March to enjoy summer/early autumn warmer days. It can be busy in December and January so book well in advance for peak times.


How to Get to Chile

We flew to the capital Santiago with American Airlines from Miami (8 hours overnight flight).  There are a number of options from Houston, Atlanta, New York etc.  From Europe, BA operates a flight from London, and there are direct flights from several European hubs like Madrid.  Interestingly, Qantas operates a direct flight to Sydney.

On arrival, we had to show our Covid vaccination cards (which we uploaded to Verifly) before we boarded in Miami – do this when you check in as otherwise it’s a hassle at the airport.  See out countdown blog for other pre-travel tips.  

When your passport is stamped, you get a slip of paper with your details printed including where you are staying.  Keep this safe!  It’s needed when you come to fly home or transfer across the border to a neighboring country.

🎒TPOP Tip:

If you do lose your slip of paper you receive on entry don’t panic! They won’t make you stay!

Declaration Forms. After picking up any checked luggage, you will see people filling out forms and a station where you can pick these up.  It’s mandatory regardless of what you are declaring or not to fill out this ‘declaration form’.  You can’t pass through customs until you do.

Baskets are loaded with local fruits, dried nuts and other traditional foods at the Central Market, Santiago in Chile.
Central Market Freshness Santiago

Planning Tips For How to spend a week in Chile

What to Budget For A Trip To Chile

Chile is a more expensive destination than neighbouring Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. But don’t let that put you off – there’s accommodation and experiences for all budgets.

Often going just outside peak times, as we did, can save quite a bit in accommodation. There are wide ranges of places to eat in cities but in more remote areas you might be better with an all inclusive option. (eg. in Patagonia).

Where to Stay On A Trip to Santiago

We opted for an apartment vs a hotel in Santiago to have a bit more space.  Plaza Huelen is centrally located  and within easy walking distance of Plaza de Armas where many activities to start from. Check in was easy. 

The apartment was on 7th floor, and I would recommend you double check there are elevators (and that they work) as it’s a long climb with bags if they don’t work.  Ours were fine throughout and the security was decent too.

Although not modern, the place was clean and comfortable with ample facilities for making coffee and enjoying a glass of wine.  As with any city, if you’re staying downtown be prepared for some noise in the evenings and early morning traffic. Read on for where to stay in Patagonia.

Street Art depicting faces fill the front of a multi-story building restaurant in Santiago, Chile.

Packing Tips for A Trip To Chile

If you’re combining Atacama, Patagonia with central Patagonia or even heading down to Antartica, packing will be a fine art!  To avoid lugging heavy luggage which is a hassle on regional flights, use packing cubes and follow our 10kg hand luggage tips.

We managed for 3 weeks with a small cabin friendly roll out and a back-pack. Our packing cubes made it easy! I dedicated one for Patagonia, hiking and outdoors. Next, a second for warmer climes like Mendoza in Argentina and Carmelo, Uruguay. Finally, a 3rd for everything else.

This did mean wearing my hiking boots every time we moved from one spot to another. They don’t pack well but there are worse luggage challenges!   We had laundry facilities in Air B&Bs along the way which made this all manageable:)

Pack a portable charger, wind breaker, hat, sunglasses and binoculars along with your camera/phone!

Travel blogger Jude is standing in a grassy field and behind her are snow peaked mountains of Patagonia, Chile.
Sunshine in Patagonia

Start with a stopover in Santiago

It’s fair to say that Santiago has the guide book reputation of being a fly-in/fly out transit point when visiting Chile.  Many travellers head north to Atacama. Others pick up a car to drive to the stunning Lake District.

Maybe, they take a direct flight to Southern Patagonia to start the world famous 5 day W Trek.  But, having come all this way, I wanted to experience a couple of days around Chile’s capital.

Why?  For me, capital cities offer unique insights into the history, culture and day to day life and are a great starting point to exploring any country.  With easy access to vineyards, Pacific Coast towns like Valapariso, I didn’t want to skip Santiago, Chile. Many people also do ski-ing from Santiago in season!

Travel blogger Jude in front of Cathedral Santiago Chile. Market stalls sell to visitors around the buildings main entrances.
8th Cathedral on this site

Things to Know about Chile

  1. The city name Santiago means ‘New Frontier’ and it was founded back in 1541.
  2. It sprawls out to the Andes and is surrounded by mountain peaks, the highest visible from the city is 5432 meters!
  3. The Pacific coast is only 57 miles from Santiago –  you drive across the country and back on a beach day-trip!
  4. The indigenous people of Chile make up 9% of todays population, 2 million. 48% represent the Mapuche enthicity.
  5. Chile claims the best Pisco Sour (national drink) but so does Peru! Got to try them both – 1st equal I’d say!

2 Days Itinerary in Santiago, Chile

Day 1 – Morning

Head to Plaza de Armas and enjoy a coffee at one of the attractive cafes around the plaza as the city starts its day. Perfect for watching a few of central Santiago’s 6 million residents start their day! 

Plaza De Armas Metro station entrance. Steps leading down to the underground transportation system in Santiago Chile.
Central Santiago

After a caffeine jolt, take the Tourik Hop On-Hop Off bus from the Plaza which tours around central spots for around 2 hours (that’s if you don’t get off!)  Yes, it’s more sitting after a long flight, but in such a large city, it’s a relaxing way to  get your bearings.

Or, stay  in the Plaza and visit the National Museum.  It’s free, not massive but well curated,  giving a unique overview of the history. From troubles in the 1970s to today’s social and political themes, it’s a good hour spent. The signage is all in Spanish so bring your phone along to translate. Read our post on What to do when you Don’t Speak the Language!

National Museum Chile
Chile’s National Museum
Cathedral Chile interior with ornate decorated ceiling.
Cathedral Santiago
A stall in a street market in Santiago Chile has art for sale including paintings hung up around the stall.
Street Markets decorate Santiago’s Streets

Day 1 – Afternoon/Evening

After a late lunch, head back to Plazza de Armas just before 3pm.  Directly across from the cathedral are daily Free Santiago Chile Walking Tour guides, wearing red t-shirts/hats.  No need to pre-book, just show up. Morning walks start at 10am.

This 4-hour walking tour requires a bit of stamina straight off the plane (it was over 80 degrees). Dare I say it – wear sturdy shoes! 

 But, armed with a large bottle of water, we explored so much of the city, gaining a glimpse of the past, present and possibilities for the future. Our guide Alex, shared a perfect balance of architecture, city-life, history and stories.

Amazing Mountain Top Views of Santiago

At the end of the walk, we were close to the funicular that runs to the top of Cerro San Cristobel.  Do take this or walk up and you’ll be rewarded with stunning vistas over the city and out to the Andes in every direction.

It was a little hazy to see the full definition of the mountains when we went up but still worth the $1 or so ticket price.  At the top you can sit and just soak in the views, have a refreshment or take a few more steps up to the 14, tall monument of the Virgin Mary.

The funicular can take you back down the 660 meters to Pio Nino station, or you can return via cable car on the other side of the hill.  There is another smaller hill – Cerro Santa Lucia which is open to climb and also offers amazing views.

The metro system is simple, efficient and safe to use so if you prefer that to walking long distances, just get a BIP ticket and you can use it all day long.

Funicular line in Santiago takes you to mountain top with wide city views.
Funicular – Cerro San Cristobal
View of Santiago Chile
Stunning views of Santiago

Eating out in Santiago

After all this exercise, it was time to find dinner.  Larrazio is a ‘barrio’ – neighbour with plenty of places to chose from. We found BocaNariz wine bar/restaurant which advertised 100 Chilean wines so what better spot than this to sample a few and enjoy some local food. 

I was surprised at the vegan options and would say that although South America generally has a reputation for being poor choice for vegetarians, there was plenty of options in the city.

Chilean Wine tasting in Santiago with 3 different glasses of wine labeled.
Vegan Dinner Salad in Chile with mix of vegetables.
Vegan Dinner

Sitting outdoors is pleasant to enjoy city life around you. People walking dogs, lovers holding hands, budding musicians busking, tourists debating directions with phones or maps. 

Just a word of caution. As in any city, petty crime is the biggest issue so don’t sit down for a drink in a busy part of town and leave your phone out on the table. It will be gone in seconds, we were warned.

Otherwise it felt entirely safe and friendly walking around in the evening as well as during the day.


Day 2 – To Chile’s Coast and Town of Valparaiso

A city region of many million residents can be a little intense, so head across the country to Chile’s Pacific Ocean beaches for a change of pace.

It’s worth stopping off  in the Casablanca Wine Valley to break up the 1 hour 30 minute drive. There are morning coffee and wine tasting – yes, at all hours! 

Seeing my first Chilean wine region reminded me of my first date with my now husband. We went to a bistro in Anchorage, Alaska and drank Chilean merlot.  It seemed the industry has gone from strength to strength over the years! 

Discover Unique Chilean Wines

What I had not tasted until we were in Chile was Carmenere.  The original vines in France had thought to have been wiped out during a severe plague in the 1800s. 

It was only be accident that they were discovered to have been growing across Maipu valley in Chile in the 1990s. Since then wine-makers have nurtured this varietal and it is increasing in popularity.

Casablanca Valley is west of Santiago Chile and is a very fertile area where much of the country's fruits and vegetables are grown. Wine growing is a big business here and this image shows a vineyard on a hill.
Fertile Casablanca Valley
Women tourists in Chile tasting coffee and wine at a road side store.
Coffee and Wine Tasting!

As we continued on, we passed through the tunnels from Santiago the terrain changes from dry and brown to green as fields of vineyards fill the valley.  

There are many fruit and vegetable farms in this region. One quirky sight was tall poles interspersed in the vineyards with a small windmill on top. Apparently this is designed to warm up the air if there’s any risk of frost ruining the harvest.  Simple but effective 🙂

Valparaiso

Valparaiso is a photographers dream (& instagram influencers too it seems!) and it’s clear why. Built on 32 hills, the city is like a  forest clinging to the hill side.  The traditional construction is broken up periodically by a tall high rise. 

Steps take you from one level to another in Valparaiso city, Chile. Street graffiti brings colour to the grey steps.
UNESCO Street in Valparaiso

On first sight, these appear ill-conceived but when you realise that these blocks offer locals a more secure home with modern facilities, it’s totally understandable.  

Residents fought against UNESCO because of the cost and effort it would take to maintain these ‘old houses’ so a compromise was reached.  UNESCO has a preservation agreement for 2 of the 32 hills – Alegre and Conception. 

Walking through these hills brings a smile to your face at almost every turn.  The street murals are incredible – no two are the same.  It feels like walking through a gallery of some of the most interesting uncategorized art and it’s free to everyone to enjoy! 

Apparently the murals have a high social status and are rarely damaged with political/social graffiti slogans.

Valparaiso – An Ever Changing City

Valpariso Steps decorated by graffiti images of life in the city.
Valpariso Is awash with colour

With a population of 300,000 the city feels inviting to the visitor. Historically Valparaiso held a strategic port position for the Americans. Valparaiso was the first and most important merchant port  of the Pacific coast that linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the Strait of Magellan

Then the Panama Canal opened in 1914 which created a step change in trade routes in this part of the world.  WW1 then followed and over the following years the city faded from its peak of glory. 

Interestingly, a Scot, Lord Cochran was instrumental in the early days of securing Valparaiso from Peru and Bolivia.  

Harbour Cruise Valparaiso

Take a harbour tour to see the scale and colours of Valparaiso Bay from the water.  Hop on a short 20 minute gentle sail around the bay. 

Seal resting on a ship's bow in a harbour in Chile
A Seal won a prime sunbathing spot

You’ll likely see many harbour seals sunning themselves on whatever is around.  These were on the bow of a massive tanker and this group were just lazing on a buoy.  Fun!

An early funicular Chile
Funiculars transportation!
Painted in the patter of a Sunflower city steps in Valparaiso Chile.
Sunflower Steps Valparaiso

Vina Del Mar – Beaches, Bars and Casinos

In contrast to the rustic mix that is Valparaiso, Vina Del Mar is a purpose developed resort, hugging the mix of rocky/beach coastline.   It is where Santiago city dwellers love to come on holiday!  It’s quieter but with beach life that many from the city crave to switch off from their hustle bustle days.

There is a metro system that runs between Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar which replaced earlier train routes.  A railroad was  built to connect Santiago to Valparaiso which was important given the port’s role in supporting Santiago’s growth decades ago. 

However, train usage fell dramatically in the 1970s when the current highway was built.  In addition, a tragic train crash in the  1990s ended the service completely. Tour buses/guides provide a good way to come visit for a day. We booked in advance with GetYourGuide and Rodrigo our guide was excellent.

Vina Del Mar Beach

Where to Eat Lunch in Vina Del Mar

Vina Del Mar city built a casino to bring in tax and invests this in beautifying the surroundings.  From the flower clock that welcomes you to the town, to palm tree lined boulevards and well kept beach front restaurants and hotels, there is a pride in maintaining this oasis. 

There are many beach front restaurants to stop and linger over lunch, have a glass of Chilean Sauvignon and relax. Then walk down the promenade to breathe in the fresh air and check out the beach goers.

🎒TPOP Tip:

Despite fires in 2024, we urge you not to bypass this area. People will so appreciate your visit and income to help rebuilt their lives.


Days 3-6: Southern Chilean Patagonia

Chilean Southern Patagonia is vast but only a part of the full Patagonia experience.  It is impossible to cover its entirely in a short trip so focus on one area to explore if your time is limited to less than a week.

We flew with LATAM airlines from Santiago to Puerto Natales.  This was against the advice of what I read on-line but saved us 3 hours drive on grave roads from Punta Arenas where more flights come in. 

It’s a bit of a risk because the Puerto Natales flights get cancelled more than elsewhere. Since I’d booked the trip independent, I couldn’t call a travel company to fix things. 

Chile's Patagonia Torres Del Paine peaks with bright orange and red colors illuminating clouds at sunrise.

From Puerto Natales Airport to Rio Serrano Hotel

I loved this little airport – it reminded me of landing in the Shetland Islands, in northern Scotland.  One wooden building for the terminal, one luggage pick up point. 

As we waited to transfer to the airport, a truck was unloading Patagonia salmon to be flown back to Patagonia.  It was rugged, functional and perfect:) Just as I had imagined!

The transfer from the airport to our hotel took around 2 hours.  If you don’t like bumpy roads with potholes, or without tar (asphalt), this might not be for you. 

But if you love getting away from it all, jump right in.  Our driver was as excited as us to be there!  He stopped once or twice for a ‘wow’ photo as the grandeur of where we were greeted us in the morning sunshine.

Where to stay in Chilean Patagonia

It is possible to stay within the National Park, but this is a very expensive option and some of the luxury hotels are quite isolated – celebrities pay for this we were told!

We elected to stay at the Rio Serrano hotel which is just outside the park (5 minutes drive).  It’s a stunning hotel with ‘superior’ rooms all facing The Massif and the bar/dining and spa areas with the same entrancing views. 

Hotel Room Chile with views out to Patagonian Mountains and grass area in the forefront.
A View from our Room

The hotel is situation on the Rio Serrano river and offers plenty of local walks and hikes without having to go into the park. Take the all-inclusive package option at the hotel, there are no restaurants nearby!! I booked this via booking.com as it offered free cancellation which is always useful – just in case.

Rio Serrano Hotel Chile
Our Hotel in Patagonia

They organized transfers from/to the airport and hikes in advance so it’s an easy one-stop shop. It’s also good to  pre-pay for activities so you don’t have to think about exchange rates etc, when you arrive.

Patagonian People

Women working at an activities desk in a hotel in Patagonia.
Activity Desk Staff

As well as great dining and facilities, what make this hotel memorable were the people working here. From Javeria at Guest Relations, to the team who ran the Activity Desk and our dining hosts Constanza and Francisca , everyone was welcoming, helpful and so excited to have the privilege to work in such a special place in their country.

Two girls standing in a hotel restaurant where they work in Chile.
Fantastic Dining Staff
Woman is at a reception desk in a hotel with a blackboard behind her showing information for staff.
Javeria – Guest Relations

Where to see Glaciers in Patagonia?

Having come all this way we weren’t here to sit around.  We’d pre-booked hikes that suited our group of 4.  Many people come to do the ‘W’ trek which is 4-5 days.  We didn’t do this (next visit!) but half day hikes that enabled us to explore different aspects of the national park.

The first included a hike across a retreating glacier (sadly many are retreating), to board a boat and then sail to Grey Glacier.  The wind was howling (and I mean howling and remember we grew up in the Grampian Highlights of Scotland where the wind blew hard).  It blew us along as we walked past icebergs suspended in sediment. 

Although I’ve seen glaciers in Alaska and New Zealand, it’s always a thrill to see history in the shape of these massive ice structures up close.  This glacier connects to another which form the 3rd biggest ice-field in the world currently (behind Antarctica and Greenland!)

Part of 3rd biggest Ice Field in World

Include Glaciers in A Week in Chile Itinerary

Surprisingly, given the wind speed, the boat ride wasn’t too bouncy (seas were around 4 feet) and before long we were facing our first of 3 glacier stops.

Suddenly as we stood on the open deck, a massive chunk fell off, bouncing into the lake, rippling waves coming towards us. Gasps and clicks of cameras were the only other sounds as we watched in amazement.

We continued on to a second glacier face which was even larger and then finally reached floating icebergs adrift from the main structure.   T

he crew actually came off the boat and picked up a chunk of ice that was washed up on the beach.  With a pick they cut off a few pieces bringing them back for us to see and enjoy in a pisco sour cocktail.  Was I really drinking ancient water?  Yes!!

Glacier Chile
Up close to the Ice!

Hike to Cuernos Point

This hike started within the national park.  We drove for around an hour to our starting point.  You need to purchase an entrance ticket to the park and costs depend on how long you plan to visit. It’s easy to book directly on Torres Del Paine National Park Website.  Just have the QR code ready for the guide to show at the gate and you’re good to go!

This hike followed a fairly flat but incredibly picturesque route.   The infamous Patagonian winds blew at a  constant 85km/hr+!   It added a wee challenge but nothing more than a stormy highland night back in Scotland:).  Along the route, we saw waterfalls, guanacos, Calafate (berries), but most of all fascinating geology and mountain structures. 

After a couple of hours, we reached the end of the trail, where we truly felt the ‘wind tunnel’ impact. Sunglasses were blown off heads in seconds and we all had our hoods up! But who cared?

Blue glacial-fed waters were a feast for our eyes. Stark enormous mountains with hanging glaciers towered above us, memorizing us. This was like nowhere we’d ventured in decades of exploring. 

🎒TPOP Tip:

Bring binoculars on these hikes – you will see so much more detail using them as the scale of these mountains is incredible.

two birds of prey sitting on leafless trees in Patagonia Chile.
Birds of Prey Patagonia
Woman is wrapped up warm as she hikes in Chile's Patagonian mountains.
Beautiful Cuernos Hike

Did you know? Italian climbers first conquered Los Cuernos face: followed by French and British adventurers.  Then, the 4th successful climb was by a local Chilean!

Condor Lookout Hike

This hike is shorter but steeper than Cuernos. As you rise in elevation, the views out to Pekoe Lake are stunning with turquoise water filling the lake; a vibrant contrast to the granite and basalt topped sheer peaks. 

Once at the top, our guides Izzy and Viktor had us sit and just ‘feel the view’ as we waited for a condor to appear. 

Suddenly two of these giant birds (their wing span is around 3 meters, 9 feet) flew towards us, playing in the thermals, before landing on a ledge just below the brow of the mountain top. We had no words to explain how amazing it was to see these birds up close.

Condors flying in Chile against a clear blue sky.
Condors flew right over us!

Waiting for Condors to Take Flight

We hung around waiting for them to reappear but these giants seemed to want to stay in their nests. So we proceeded down a different route, through a notorious wind channel (which was unusually less windy that day!). We paused at the mid point of the mountains. 

From here, we had a vantage point of the nest where the condors were resting. As we stood, wings started flapping and again two condors (a parent and child, the guide thought) were back inflight, soaring above us, like an aerial show.

Woman standing on a mountain peak waiting for condor birds to fly near by. These birds nest on a ledge just below where she is standing,
Waiting for the Condors

Taste Chile’s Wild Berries

On this hike, we also got an education on foraging with three types of delicious berries. Calafate (as I mentioned above), but also the tiny tasty Chaura Berry (tastes like a red delicious apple) and Maqui. 

There is a lovely story about the Calafate Berry. In Chile if you find and eat the Calafate berry, its a sure sign you’ll return 🙂 – As if I needed an excuse!

Calfate Berry Chile
Delicious Calafate Berries

Lake Azul and Cuernos Base

We ventured to the east of the National Park which gave us the opportunity to get closer to the ‘horns’ or ‘Cuernos’ base.  As we drove through the park, clouds danced around the tips, not quite fully revealing them to us.  We continued on rough roads (note, any drive in the park is bumpy as roads are dirt). Then suddenly from arid lands came the base, a first glimpse albeit from a distance.

As we continued, the Cuernos became closer and more imposing.  We made it to Lago Azul where we had a picnic in front of the majestic mountain peaks. While you are here do take a walk along the shore lakes.

The horns are a famous part of the Torres del Paine mountains. The 3 sheer peaks rise straight out of the ground to thousands of feet tall.
Los Cuernos from Azul Lake

Cascada Falls

The Cascada Waterfalls roared next to us in contrast to the quiet stunning backdrop of the mountains.  Be quite the kayak trip here! There are longer day hikes on offer that guide you further to the base in this area.  I would definitely recommend this for anyone going who is reasonably fit and likes hiking!

Four days was a good length of time to spend in Patagonia as part of a 1 week in Chile itinerary. Honestly though with 5 days I think a couple more great hikes would be great to add on.

Waterfall Chile
Cascada Azul

If hiking and climbing are not your passion, you can fly fish here, horse ride amongst the most stunning scenery, kayak or simply walk around the flatter areas and explore.  Check some of the hike requirements if you have kids as they may need to be a minimum age.  


Day 7 – Puerto Natales, Patagonia

We chose  to spend a night in Puerto Natales as we couldn’t make a flight connection back to Santiago until the next day.  It was definitely worthwhile to get an appreciation of coastal town life. And being here reminded me of  when I visited remote villages in northern Alaska when I lived there. 

Restaurant in Puerto Natales in Southern Patagonia on the Main Street.
El Bote Restaurant
Bear carved out of wood outside a gift shop in Puerto Natales, Chile.

While not a cute postcard place, it had real authenticity and character. Imagine a town full of back-packers who stay here in hostels and then travel to the park (cheapest option).  It’s also possible to do a number of other trips from here so if budgets are tight, check this out!   

With a surprisingly decent choice of coffee shops and restaurants it was a fun experience.  We had our first Patagonia rain here but it didn’t stop us having a good walk around. We picked up a few authentic souvenirs like Calafate Jam and Patagonia Gin before dinner at El Bote!

Art up in the air. Figures are hanging from poles similar to how a pole vaulter would look in the air.

FAQs

Are there Earthquakes in Chile?

Yes, but don’t let that put you off visiting. For example in Santiago the main cathedral has apparently it has been rebuilt 8 times! This is due to a combination of reasons! But as with a lot of this city, earthquakes have created an acceptance culture that things will fall down at some point and, at some future point, be rebuilt.

This practical outlook is quite reassuring given Chile is up there on seismic activity.  For anyone interested this Global Earthquake Monitoring Website shows all the earthquakes around the world and more details on Chile! 

Wrap Up: How to spend a week in Chile

It’s a long way from anywhere to get to Southern Patagonia.  It may feel daunting and it is a journey that needs careful planning.  But, don’t let the remoteness put you off.

Next time, we plan to combine the 4-5 day W hike in Torres del Paine with a cross over to El Calafate, Argentina in our Chile Itinerary.

Also consider a separate trip or extend your time for driving around the Lake District. Maybe fly north to check out Atacama with a hop into Bolivia to the salt flats. Or what about Easter Island or down to Antarctic? 

Horse back riders are crossing a road in Torres Del Paine Chile, a popular destination from January to March, when it is summer in the southern part of Chile.
A morning ride!

Seriously though travel friends, without doubt , Patagonia deserves its spot  as one of our planet’s Wonders of the World. I  wish everyone who can, takes the opportunity to spend time here during their lives, to appreciate the incredible nature.

As one of our guides said, we need your tourism to survive. However, with this comes a joint responsibility to protect nature and avoid exploitation of what is left of our natural world.  Well said!

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