Destination: Chile

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: From tip to tail

TWO MONTH / ARICA TO PATAGONIA

Chile is 4300km from head to toe. This trip can be completed in six weeks, but it’s more rewarding to linger along the way. Consider a long-term car rental, or a purchase, to give you more freedom to explore off the beaten track. Arriving in Chile from Peru can also be advantageous.



Chile’s beanpole shape lends itself to a straight shot north to south, a journey from one climatic extreme to the other. Start in the Atacama – the driest desert in the world – at seaside Arica and venture into the idyllic altiplano Parque Nacional Lauca. Loop back down to the charming port of Iquique and check out eerie mining ghost towns in its hinterland. Detour to the gargantuan copper mine Chuquicamata before hitting gringo honeypot San Pedro de Atacama, famed for its weird and wonderful landscapes – including the steamy El Tatio Geysers. Linger at beachside La Serena and pisco vineyards of the Elqui Valley before joining the Central Valley.

Don’t bypass the gorgeous tumbledown city of Valparaíso in your rush to wine and dine in and around fast-paced Santiago. Check out vineyards around Talca and frolic in the snow at Chillán on your way further south.

Soak in thermal baths, burn energy volcano-climbing or mountain biking around Pucón, then catch your breath in cultural waterfront Valdivia. Consider a lake-hopping boat trip to Argentinean Bariloche, or a ferry to explore the traditional villages of Chiloé.

Scoot back to Puerto Montt to catch a ferry into the heart of Patagonia, perhaps stopping to ride rapids at Futaleufú or visit the pristine Parque Pumalín en route. Trek the ‘W’ at Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, then sidestep into Argentina to the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier. Venture yet further south to Tierra del Fuego then skip across to Isla Navarino and its town, Puerto Williams, to say you’ve visited the ‘end of the world.’