Chile
Desert to Patagonia
Follow a narrow country through high desert, Pacific cities, volcano country and some of Patagonia's defining trails.
Butterfly voyages Serge Ouachée / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Image licence
The honest overview
Get to know Chile before fixing the route.
Chile is famed for stretching further than logic should allow, from the driest desert on earth to glaciers calving into fjords, taking in vineyards, volcanoes and a world-class hiking scene along the way, attracting trekkers, wine lovers and long-haul backpackers alike from all corners of the globe. Chile is known for being one of South America's most reliable regional legs, thanks to safe, modern infrastructure, a well-run long-distance bus network and hostels that wouldn't look out of place in Europe, making it a country that rewards time rather than rushing.
Part of the joy of backpacking in Chile is deciding what deserves more time. Keep space for weather changes, longer travel days and recommendations from people you meet on the road.
Card is widely accepted in Santiago and other cities, but carry cash for San Pedro de Atacama, rural Patagonia, park entrance fees and smaller towns, where card machines are unreliable or simply don't exist.
There's no single fixed route through Chile, and the country's shape makes flexibility essential – plans built around one bus schedule can unravel fast if a border crossing or ferry gets cancelled. That said, most backpackers follow a rough north-to-south (or south-to-north) line: starting in the Atacama Desert around San Pedro, working down through Santiago and the Central Chile wine valleys, on to Pucón and the Lake District, and finishing in Chilean Patagonia around Puerto Natales for the Torres del Paine treks. Many combine this with Argentina, crossing from San Pedro to Salta, from Santiago to Mendoza for the wine region, or from Puerto Varas to Bariloche across the lakes. At the southern end, El Calafate (Argentina) and Puerto Natales are close enough that most Patagonia-bound backpackers treat them as one loop rather than two separate stops.
Season by season
What each season means for your trip
Chile's weather can change sharply by region and elevation. These are planning patterns, not guarantees.
Seasonal conditions
Chile's north-south stretch of over 4,000km means "the weather" depends entirely on which third of the country you're asking about.
Summer
The best window for most of the country: 25–32°C and dry in Santiago and the Central Valley, mild and breezy on the coast, and the only realistic season for Patagonia, where daytime highs reach 15–20°C but wind is a constant factor on the W and O treks. The Atacama stays hot by day (25–30°C) and cold at night year-round regardless of season.
Autumn
Grape harvest season in the Central Valley, with warm days easing to 18–24°C and the first rain returning to the south. Patagonia's trekking season is winding down by late April, with many refugios and campsites closing for winter.
Winter
Cold and wet in the Central Valley and Lake District (8–14°C, frequent rain around Pucón and Puerto Varas), while Patagonia is largely shut to independent trekking – short days, closed refugios and dangerous conditions on the trails. The Atacama is unaffected and remains a viable year-round destination, though nights can drop below freezing.
Spring
A good shoulder season for the Central Valley and Lake District, with wildflowers and fewer crowds, though Patagonia's season only really opens up from mid-October and early visitors can still hit closed trails or unpredictable weather.
Check the forecast for the exact region and elevation on your route, then leave room to change outdoor plans when conditions move.
Cost of day to day travel
Build a budget around the route
Across Santiago, the Central Valley and the Lake District, £35–45 a day covers a dorm bed, food from markets and casual restaurants, local buses and the odd museum or activity comfortably.
Across Santiago, the Central Valley and the Lake District, £35–45 a day covers a dorm bed, food from markets and casual restaurants, local buses and the odd museum or activity comfortably.
Long transfers, specialist tours and headline activities can change the daily total quickly.
Card is widely accepted in Santiago and other cities, but carry cash for San Pedro de Atacama, rural Patagonia, park entrance fees and smaller towns, where card machines are unreliable or simply don't exist.
Average the full trip rather than forcing every day into the same number. Keep emergency funds separate from daily spending.
Key backpacker routes
Find the route that feels right for you
There is no single route you need to follow. Let your timeframe, interests and season shape the journey through Chile.
Start with the natural route Core journey
There's no single fixed route through Chile, and the country's shape makes flexibility essential – plans built around one bus schedule can unravel fast if a border crossing or ferry gets cancelled. That said, most backpackers follow a rough north-to-south (or south-to-north) line: starting in the Atacama Desert around San Pedro, working down through Santiago and the Central Chile wine valleys, on to Pucón and the Lake District, and finishing in Chilean Patagonia around Puerto Natales for the Torres del Paine treks.
Add the region that earns your time Build depth
Many combine this with Argentina, crossing from San Pedro to Salta, from Santiago to Mendoza for the wine region, or from Puerto Varas to Bariloche across the lakes. At the southern end, El Calafate (Argentina) and Puerto Natales are close enough that most Patagonia-bound backpackers treat them as one loop rather than two separate stops.
Main destinations and attractions
Where to spend your days
Pick a connected group and leave room for hostel friendships and changing plans. Chile rewards depth more than a checklist of stops.
Santiago & Central Chile. Photo: alobos life / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0.Santiago & Central Chile
Santiago sits in a valley ringed by the Andes, and on a clear day the mountain views from Cerro San Cristóbal or Cerro Santa Lucía are the city's best free attraction.
Atacama Desert. Photo: AdeRussell / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0.Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama is the base for the driest non-polar desert on earth, and the town itself is little more than dirt roads and adobe walls, but the surrounding landscape does the work: Valle de la Luna's dunes and rock formations at sunset, the El Tatio geysers (best visited at dawn, when it's coldest and most active), the high-altitude Altiplanic lagoons, and flamingo-dotted salt flats.
Chilean Patagonia. Photo: WanderingtheWorld (www.ChrisFord.com) / flickr, BY-NC 2.0.Chilean Patagonia
Puerto Natales is the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, home to the W and O treks – multi-day routes past granite towers, glaciers and turquoise lakes that draw hikers from across the world.
Lake District and Chiloé. Photo: Trey Ratcliff / flickr, BY-NC-SA 2.0.Lake District and Chiloé
Pucón, sitting beneath the (still active) Villarrica volcano, is Chile's adventure-sports hub – volcano climbs, white-water rafting and hot springs all within reach.
Chile covers enough ground that most backpackers pick a slice rather than attempt all of it in one trip – here's what each region offers. To get a feel for Santiago and Valparaíso before diving into the sights, a Guruwalk-style tip-based walking tour is a solid, low-cost way in. Our Outpacker chatbot is available to help you plan and build out your itinerary to make the most of your trip.
Getting around
Compare time, comfort and cost
Chile's long-distance bus network is extensive, comfortable and good value for the distances covered – Recorrido.cl is a useful site for comparing and booking routes and operators across the country in one place.
Bus
Long-distance coaches (Pullman Bus, Tur Bus and others) connect nearly every town, with semi-cama (reclining) and salón-cama (near-flat) seats worth the small upgrade on overnight legs.
Plane
Given Chile's length, flying is often the only practical option for covering big distances quickly – Santiago to Calama (for the Atacama) or Punta Arenas (for Patagonia) can each take 20+ hours by bus versus around 2–3 hours by air.
Rideshare/Taxi
Uber and Cabify both operate in Santiago and most larger cities, and are generally cheaper and more straightforward than hailing a metered taxi.
Ferry
Navimag runs multi-day ferries through the Patagonian fjords between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales – a slower, scenic alternative to flying or the long bus-and-border-crossing route through Argentina.
Download offline maps, keep key booking details available without data and avoid placing an international departure immediately after a fragile overland transfer.
Culture and events
Events worth knowing about
Dates can shift, so verify the current programme before building a trip around an event in Chile.
A religious and cultural festival in Chile's far north, particularly around Arica and Putre, blending Aymara and Catholic traditions with colourful costumed dancing and brass bands processing through the streets.
wine harvest festivals (March, dates vary by valley) – A harvest festival held across the Central Valley wine regions, particularly Colchagua and Casablanca, with grape-stomping, live music and tastings straight from the barrel.
A major religious festival in the Tarapacá region of northern Chile, drawing well over a hundred thousand pilgrims and dancers to a small desert town for days of costumed processions honouring the Virgen del Carmen.
Chile's Independence Day, a national holiday celebrated with fondas (temporary fairgrounds) serving asado and empanadas, cueca dancing in the streets, and rodeos in rural areas.
Confirm the official programme, accommodation pressure and transport changes before committing non-refundable plans.
Chilean food
Discover the flavours that make Chile memorable
Chilean food leans hearty and coastal rather than spicy, built around empanadas, seafood and an enduring love of mayonnaise on almost everything.
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Empanada de pinothe classic, filled with minced beef, onion, olive and hard-boiled egg.Photo: austinevan / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Completoa hot dog piled with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise, sold everywhere from street carts to sit-down chains.Photo: Nicola since 1972 / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Pastel de chocloa baked corn and beef casserole, warming and filling, a home-cooking staple that's easy to find in casual restaurants.Photo: Helga's Lobster Stew / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Curantoa Chiloé speciality of shellfish, meat and potato traditionally cooked in a pit over hot stones, worth timing a visit around if you make it to the archipelago.Photo: thisfeministrox / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Mote con huesilloa sweet, cold summer drink of husked wheat and dried peach, sold from street carts in the warmer months.Photo: Nicola since 1972 / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Congrioa firm white fish usually served in a chowder (caldillo de congrio), immortalised in a Pablo Neruda poem and a real point of local pride.Photo: powerplantop / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0 -
Pisco sourChile's answer to the pisco debate with Peru, sharper and less sweet than its neighbour's version.Photo: Nicola since 1972 / flickr, BY 2.0
Visible turnover is a useful guide. Explain allergies carefully and carry a translated note when an ingredient could cause a serious reaction.
Hostels
Choose the atmosphere, not just the bed
Where you stay in Chile depends heavily on which region you're in – Santiago has a dense, social hostel scene, while Atacama and Patagonia hostels double as tour-booking desks and gear-rental points.
The Hostel Santiago
Santiago, ChileProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Hostal Lili
Puerto Natales, ChileProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Casa Voyage Hostel
San Pedro de Atacama, ChileProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Hostel Last Hope
Puerto Natales, ChileProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Ventana Sur Hostal
Providencia, Santiago, ChileRecommended by Outpacker founder Ben from his own travels. Ivan and the team are praised for creating a homely, sociable stay in a useful Providencia location. Check the current listing and recent reviews before booking.
Property image from the linked Hostelworld listing.View photos and details →What you need to pack
Pack for the route, not every possibility
The gear you need depends on which parts of Chile you're covering and when, so check out our trip planner for a kit list built around your exact route and dates.
Climate and clothing
Chile's real packing challenge is range, not any single climate – you could be sweating through a desert afternoon in the Atacama and layering up against a Patagonian gale within the same fortnight.
- A head torch – essential for early starts on Atacama tours (El Tatio geysers run before dawn) and for refugios with limited lighting.
- A universal travel adapter and a power bank – Chile runs on Type C sockets at 220V, and charging points are scarce on multi-day treks.
- One more to flag: altitude affects San Pedro de Atacama and several of its day trips (some push above 4,000m) – give yourself a rest day on arrival rather than heading straight out on a full-day tour.
Rain and terrain
For the desert and Central Chile heat, breathable synthetic sports gear is the cheap, effective default, while merino is worth the extra spend if your budget allows – it manages temperature swings between hot days and cold desert nights better than synthetics, and doesn't hold onto smell over a multi-day trek when laundry isn't an option.
- A buff or neck gaiter – cuts the wind on Patagonian trails and doubles as sun protection in the desert.
- A basic first aid kit – blister plasters are worth prioritising given how much of this trip involves walking.
Hostels and travel days
Hostels in cities offer affordable laundry, but don't expect it in Patagonian refugios or on multi-day treks – plan for it before and after, not during.
- High-factor sunscreen and sunglasses – UV exposure is brutal at Atacama altitude and reflects hard off Patagonian ice and water.
- A reusable water bottle – tap water is drinkable in most of Chile, one of the few South American countries where this holds true, so this cuts down on plastic significantly.
Activities and health
Add specialist equipment only for booked activities and current health guidance.
- A dry bag or waterproof pack liner – for ferry crossings and Patagonian rain that arrives with little warning.
- Run all of this through the trip planner to build your full kit based on your specific route and dates.
Language
A few Spanish phrases go a long way
Given how much of the country runs on tourism, English is reasonably common in hostels and tour operations, but far less so once you're outside the main backpacker towns – Chilean Spanish is also notoriously fast and slang-heavy compared to other Latin American accents, so don't be surprised if your classroom Spanish needs a moment to catch up.
| English | Say it in Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | oh-lah |
| Goodbye | Chao | chow |
| Yes / No | Sí (see) / No | no |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | kwan-toh kwes-tah |
| How are you? | ¿Cómo estái? (koh-moh es-tai) – note the Chilean "estái" rather than standard Spanish "estás" | — |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-vor |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Hablas inglés? | ah-blahs een-glehs |
| Help, please | Ayuda, por favor | ah-yoo-dah por fah-vor |
| Where are you from? | ¿De dónde eres? | deh don-deh eh-rehs |
| What is your name? / My name is... | ¿Cómo te llamas? / Me llamo... | koh-moh teh yah-mahs / meh yah-moh |
| Thank you | Gracias | grah-syahs |
| Use the phrases respectfully: You'll hear "cachai" (roughly "you know?" or "get it?") tacked onto the end of sentences constantly – it's pure Chilean slang and not something you'll find in a standard textbook. | ||
Visa requirements
Check the rule for your passport
Entry rules depend on nationality, journey and length of stay. Confirm the current rule before booking, then check it again shortly before departure.
Check your exact requirements
Use Sherpa to review entry requirements for your passport and journey. Also confirm passport validity, permitted stay, proof of onward travel and any current arrival-form requirements.
Vaccinations
Make the advice fit your route
Vaccination and health advice depends on your route, duration, medical history and activities.
Review current CDC guidance
Read the current CDC Chile traveller guidance, then discuss personal recommendations with a qualified clinician.
Arrange appropriate travel insurance and keep policy details available offline. Consider the practical risks created by climate, altitude, insects, animals, water activities and road travel on your specific route.
Safety and common scams
Standard caution, specific habits
Chile is one of the safer countries in South America for solo travellers, and the backpacker route is well established enough that you'll rarely feel far from other travellers doing the same trip.
Bag snatching on the metro and at bus terminals
Santiago's metro at rush hour and the main bus terminals are the highest-risk spots for pickpocketing and grab-and-run theft. Keep bags zipped and in front of you, and don't leave anything valuable in outer pockets.
Distraction theft in Plaza de Armas and Plaza Italia
A common enough pattern that it's worth naming: someone spills something on you or creates a commotion while an accomplice goes for your bag. Politely brush past and keep moving if this happens.
Unlicensed "taxi" drivers at the airport
Stick to official taxi ranks or a rideshare app from Santiago's airport rather than accepting offers from drivers approaching you in the arrivals hall.
Overpriced or unaccredited tour operators in San Pedro de Atacama and Puerto Natales
Both towns have a lot of small operators competing for the same day trips and treks; check reviews and confirm CONAF accreditation for anything inside a national park before paying.
Protest-related disruption in Santiago
Demonstrations happen periodically, particularly around Plaza Italia, and can disrupt metro and bus services with little warning. They're not usually aimed at tourists, but it's sensible to avoid the immediate area if one's underway.
None of this should overshadow the trip – Chile's reputation as one of the continent's safer, better-organised destinations is well earned, and most visits pass without incident.
Sources and feedback
Help us keep this guide useful
Travel information changes. Verify current entry, health, safety and transport guidance before booking or travelling.
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