Top cities to visit while on a Chile vacation

Santiago

The capital, Santiago, is nestled in the foothills of the Andes with spectacular views of the mountains as a backdrop. It is a modern, progressive city. In the centre of the city known as El Centro, there are historical buildings and sites such as Plaza de Armas, the imposing Moneda Palace (presidential palace) and Santa Lucia Hill, an attractive park with fountains and stairways. Providencia is a lively neighbourhood with good shopping, dining and nightlife. Upscale picturesque Bellavista is another good place for food, the arts and entertainment. San Cristobal Hill dominates the city as it is the highest point reached by either cable car or road with wonderful views of Santiago.

Valparaiso

On the nearby coast is the interesting and colourful UNESCO-protected port city of Valparaiso. The hills surrounding the centre of the city are covered with multicoloured houses perched at crazy angles and connected by an enormous labyrinth of streets, long staircases and look-out points.

What are the top things to do in Chile?

Wine Tours

Heading out of Santiago for the coast, one comes to the Winelands of Chile, famous for both their excellent red and white wines. Stop for tastings, purchases or tours, or stay longer in one of the several boutique hotels and go cycling or horseback riding through the surrounding countryside while on a Chile vacation.

Lakes and Beaches

Further up the coast is one of Chile’s best-known sea resorts, Vina del Mar also known as the “Garden City” with excellent beaches and ideal for swimming and watersports. To the south of Santiago is the Lakes District, a verdant forested area of lakes and islands. A good vantage point is Puerto Varas where one can have great views across a lake at the volcanoes in the distance. A trip to the nearby Chiloe island archipelago with its penguin colony is worth a visit on a Chile vacation.

Atacama Desert Tours

In the north of the country lies the Atacama Desert, an arid sandy desert region including salt flats, hot springs and geysers. It is rich in copper and other minerals. Another interesting aspect is that it has many archeological sites. The area also contains a number of astronomical observatories.

Patagonia

Patagonia covers an extensive tract of land. It has been described as exotic, remote, vast, beautiful, wild and untamable. It is certainly all those things. The best-known national park is Torres del Paine, a biosphere reserve, with hiking trails taking you through forests and by waterfalls and lakes. When you book one of our Patagonia tours you will have an opportunity to get up and close to the many interesting and tame animals found in the park.

Easter Island Tours

While on a Chile vacation, you might want to extend your stay and book one of our Easter Island tours. The Easter Islands officially belong to Chile although it lies 3500 kilometres/2200 miles off the coast of the country. Known also as Rapa Nui, it was populated at one time by the Polynesians. Its claim to fame is the absolutely amazing monolithic structures made of stone carved between 110 and 1680 AD. There are over 800 monumental human figures, the heaviest weighing 82 tons and 10 metres/33 feet in length. Figures are still being excavated here.

 "Globetrotting with Goway" blog articles

For some additional reading, the following articles are from our blog “Globetrotting with Goway”….. a great source of information for those people who are, or who want to be, world travellers!

Experience All the Highlights of Chile in 10 Days!

Book your Chile vacation today. You won't be disappointed!!

Patagonia Tours – Immerse Yourself Into a Jurassic World

Indulge in a Luxury Chile Vacation

Hiking the W Trek in Chile

The Rapa Nui Inhabitants of Easter Island, Chile

Ecotourism Destinations: Central and South America (Part 2)

Treks of South America – Part 2: Patagonia (Chile and Argentina)

The Hidden Secrets of Easter Island Run Deeper Than You Think

Discover Rapa Nui – Easter Island explained

Be Amazed at What a Desert Can Offer on Goway Travel Experiences

A Personal Observation on the Rise of Luxury Travel in South America

Deserts, glaciers, cities & statues…Get to the heart of all that’s cool about Chile

Torres Del Paine Gets its Moment in the Sun

Chile Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to a Chile vacation.

Learn about the history and culture of Chile, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Chile's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips and visa and health information will help ensure you're adequately prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Chile for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Chile tours today!

Extend Your Trip in South America

After your Chile vacation packages,  why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours. These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.