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Chile 🇨🇱

backpacking South America Chile 🇨🇱A thin country of desert, glacier and Pacific port hills.

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Backpacking Chile in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
Traveling in Chile: what to expect

Backpacking Chile
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

On Patagonian trails, the wind sets your schedule. Summer gusts in Torres del Paine regularly pass 100 km/h, and rangers close exposed sections such as the John Gardner Pass when conditions turn dangerous. Experienced hikers build a spare day into every trek here rather than a tight itinerary.

Chile earns the trip through sheer geographic range. The Atacama, one of the driest places on Earth, sits about 4,300 kilometers north of the Patagonian ice fields, with the Andes running the whole way. The geyser field at El Tatio and the shingled wooden churches of Chiloé are worth planning a route around. At El Tatio, at 4,320 meters before sunrise, my fingers went numb around a paper cup of instant coffee while the steam columns turned pink. The challenges are structural. Distances are huge, so the smart move is choosing two or three regions instead of racing the full length. Prices sit closer to Southern Europe than to Bolivia, because Chile is one of South America’s wealthier economies, so cooking in hostel kitchens saves a lot. Bag snatching happens in central Santiago and Valparaíso, so keep phones off café tables.

Compared with Argentina, the country is more orderly and predictable, with steadier prices and a quieter night scene. Compared with Peru, it has fewer ancient ruins but far better trail infrastructure. It suits hikers, self-drivers and anyone who likes things to work. Travelers chasing rock-bottom costs or dense pre-Columbian heritage will be happier next door.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Chile

Santiago and Valparaíso (Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar)

Nearly every trip through Chile starts in Santiago, because the long, narrow map funnels international flights and most domestic routes through one hub. Give the capital two days for Barrio Lastarria, Cerro San Cristóbal and the Mercado Central. Then take the 1.5 to 2 hour bus to Valparaíso, where funiculars climb mural-covered hills and the nightlife runs on students and port workers. Sleep there rather than day-tripping, since the hills come alive after dark and Viña del Mar’s beach is a short metro ride away.

Atacama Desert (San Pedro de Atacama, Calama, Valle de la Luna)

San Pedro de Atacama sits at about 2,400 meters, which is why so many arrivals feel rough on day two. The town is a grid of adobe streets packed with tour agencies. You reach it by flying roughly 2 hours from Santiago to Calama, then taking a 1.5-hour transfer. Experienced travelers do Valle de la Luna and the lower lagoons first and save the El Tatio geysers (around 4,300 meters, pre-dawn start) for later in the week. Nights drop below freezing. It suits stargazers and lovers of dry, high, sunburnt days.

Lake District (Pucón, Puerto Varas, Villarrica Volcano)

Pucón and Puerto Varas became the adventure towns of Chile because volcanoes, lakes and hot springs sit within an hour of each other here. Pucón is louder and younger, built around guided climbs of Villarrica Volcano; Puerto Varas is calmer, with wooden houses from the German settler era and views of Osorno. Overnight buses from Santiago take 10 to 12 hours, or you can fly 1.5 hours to Temuco or Puerto Montt. Rain keeps everything green, so hold two flexible days for the volcano climb, which is canceled in bad weather.

Carretera Austral (Coyhaique, Futaleufú, Marble Caves)

The Carretera Austral runs about 1,200 kilometers through northern Patagonia, long stretches of it gravel, and the tiny population is why some sections see buses only a few times a week. Fly 2 to 3 hours from Santiago to Balmaceda, near Coyhaique, then head south to the Marble Caves at Puerto Río Tranquilo or north to raft the Futaleufú. Seasoned travelers rent a car or hitchhike, which locals treat as normal, and build slack into every plan. It suits self-sufficient people with time to spare.

Southern Patagonia (Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine)

Torres del Paine draws the crowds, and the campsites and refugios on its W and O treks are run by concessions that require reservations, so turning up with a tent no longer works. Fly about 3.5 hours from Santiago to Punta Arenas, then ride the 3-hour bus to Puerto Natales, a windswept town of gear shops and hostels where everyone is either about to hike or just back. Gusts often top 80 km/h, so a solid wind shell matters more than extra fleece. Trekkers belong here.
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Why go?Why Chile is worth visiting

Mountains

Chile has the Andes along its entire eastern edge, and the range here is volcanic, which changes how … read more 👉
Chile has the Andes along its entire eastern edge, and the range here is volcanic, which changes how you hike. The country counts around 90 active volcanoes, and Ojos del Salado, at 6,893 meters, is the highest volcano on Earth. Because the Pacific lies so close, you can drive from sea level to alpine terrain in a few hours, and summits come with views of both. Trails in the national parks are generally marked and managed by CONAF, the forestry agency, so even remote routes have clear rules and ranger posts. Climbing Villarrica (2,847 meters) above Pucón requires a guide or proven experience, since crevasses and fumes sit near the crater. In February, I would choose the four-day Cerro Castillo trek in Aysén over the W Trek, for jagged spires and far emptier campsites.

Scenery

Chile is about 4,300 kilometers long but averages under 200 kilometers wide, so climate zones change … read more 👉
Chile is about 4,300 kilometers long but averages under 200 kilometers wide, so climate zones change over short distances and the landscapes shift faster than in most countries. In the north, the altiplano lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques sit at over 4,000 meters, deep blue against ochre volcanoes. In the far south, glaciers calve into fjords and lakes take on improbable colors from glacial silt. The Marble Caves on General Carrera Lake, reached by boat from Puerto Río Tranquilo, are swirled caverns of white and blue stone shaped by water. Go in the morning, when the lake is usually calmer and the light reflects off the water into the caves. In Patagonian summer, daylight lasts until around 10 pm, so schedule viewpoints for late evening, when tour groups have left and the low sun sharpens every ridge.

Wildlife

Chile’s wildlife is driven by the Humboldt Current, a cold, nutrient-rich flow along the coast that … read more 👉
Chile’s wildlife is driven by the Humboldt Current, a cold, nutrient-rich flow along the coast that feeds huge fish populations and everything that eats them. Near La Serena, boat trips from Punta de Choros to the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve pass penguin colonies, sea lions and resident bottlenose dolphins. Blue whales feed in the Gulf of Corcovado between Chiloé and the mainland, mainly from January to April. On Tierra del Fuego, a small colony of king penguins lives at Bahía Inútil. Inland, the Salar de Atacama hosts three flamingo species, all best seen in early morning light. Torres del Paine has one of the densest puma populations in South America because guanacos, their main prey, graze the open steppe. For puma sightings, book a specialist tracker on the private estancias bordering the park in autumn or winter, when visitor numbers drop.

Backpackers

Backpacking Chile works well because the country is safe by regional standards, hostels are well run, … read more 👉
Backpacking Chile works well because the country is safe by regional standards, hostels are well run, and the travel circuit is concentrated in a handful of hubs. San Pedro de Atacama, Valparaíso, Pucón and Puerto Natales each have clusters of hostels with shared kitchens, notice boards and people heading the same direction. That density matters, because many Chilean experiences cost less when shared: tours, rental cars and gear. Puerto Natales is the clearest example, with shops renting tents, stoves and sleeping bags so you avoid hauling them around the country. Hitchhiking is socially accepted along the Carretera Austral, and in summer you will often wait beside other backpackers holding cardboard signs. Use hostel notice boards and WhatsApp groups to split costs on Atacama tours or a car for the Lake District, where buses skip the best trailheads.

Architecture

Architecture in Chile tells the story of isolation and mining more than grandeur. Chiloé has 16 wooden … read more 👉
Architecture in Chile tells the story of isolation and mining more than grandeur. Chiloé has 16 wooden churches on the UNESCO World Heritage list, built by Jesuit and later Franciscan missions using local timber and island boatbuilding techniques, with shingled facades and barrel-vaulted ceilings that resemble upturned hulls. In the north, the Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works near Iquique are rusting company towns from the nitrate boom, complete with a theater and an empty swimming pool made of a ship’s hull. Sewell, high above Rancagua, is a UNESCO-listed copper town built on stairs because cars could not climb the slope. In Santiago, Barrio Lastarria and the area around La Moneda hold the best neoclassical streets. Many Chiloé churches stay locked on weekdays, so time your visit around Sunday mass or start with Castro’s yellow-and-purple Iglesia San Francisco.

Food

Chile’s best food comes from the sea, because the country has one of the longest coastlines on Earth … read more 👉
Chile’s best food comes from the sea, because the country has one of the longest coastlines on Earth and cold Pacific water full of shellfish that rarely appears elsewhere. Look for machas a la parmesana (razor clams baked with cheese), chupe de jaiba (a creamy crab gratin) and caldillo de congrio, the conger eel soup Pablo Neruda wrote an ode to. On Chiloé, curanto is cooked in an earth pit lined with hot stones and layered with mussels, clams, sausage, pork and potato dumplings under nalca leaves. Inland comfort food leans on corn and beef: pastel de choclo in summer, baked empanadas de pino year-round, and the completo, a hot dog buried under avocado and mayonnaise. Pair it with Carménère, the red grape Chile made its own. Eat seafood at market stalls, such as those at Angelmó in Puerto Montt, where turnover keeps it fresh.

Low cost

Backpacking Chile on a careful budget averages roughly 42,000 to 75,000 pesos (US$45 to 80) a day, which … read more 👉
Backpacking Chile on a careful budget averages roughly 42,000 to 75,000 pesos (US$45 to 80) a day, which is higher than Peru or Bolivia but manageable because the country gives you good ways to cut costs. Most hostels have well-equipped kitchens, and large supermarket chains such as Líder, Jumbo and Unimarc stock everything you need in any town of size. Lunchtime set menus at local restaurants are the cheapest way to eat a full hot meal, so locals and smart travelers make lunch the main meal and cook dinner. Tip-based walking tours run in Santiago and Valparaíso. Camping cuts accommodation costs sharply in the Lake District and along the Carretera Austral. Costs rise noticeably in Magallanes, San Pedro de Atacama and on Easter Island, so balance those stretches with slower, cheaper weeks in central Chile or Chiloé.

⭐ HighlightsHighlights of Chile

  • Torres del Paine National Park: The final scramble to the Base de las Torres is loose granite and burning calves, then it opens onto a milky turquoise lagoon under three vertical towers. Wind carries grit into your teeth, and on clear mornings the rock flares orange at sunrise. Arrive before dawn and the crowds are still on the moraine behind you.
  • Valle de la Luna, San Pedro de Atacama: Salt crust crackles under your boots like thin ice, and the ridges of the Cordillera de la Sal shift from beige to red to violet as the sun drops. The air goes cold within minutes of sunset. Cycle in from town in the late afternoon to skip the tour buses.
  • Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, Valparaíso: These two hills stack pastel houses clad in corrugated iron above the port, with murals covering nearly every staircase. Old wooden funiculars clank up the slopes, and the smell of the Pacific mixes with frying empanadas from corner shops. Walk down rather than up, and let gravity do the work.
  • Queulat National
… read more 👉
  • Torres del Paine National Park: The final scramble to the Base de las Torres is loose granite and burning calves, then it opens onto a milky turquoise lagoon under three vertical towers. Wind carries grit into your teeth, and on clear mornings the rock flares orange at sunrise. Arrive before dawn and the crowds are still on the moraine behind you.
  • Valle de la Luna, San Pedro de Atacama: Salt crust crackles under your boots like thin ice, and the ridges of the Cordillera de la Sal shift from beige to red to violet as the sun drops. The air goes cold within minutes of sunset. Cycle in from town in the late afternoon to skip the tour buses.
  • Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, Valparaíso: These two hills stack pastel houses clad in corrugated iron above the port, with murals covering nearly every staircase. Old wooden funiculars clank up the slopes, and the smell of the Pacific mixes with frying empanadas from corner shops. Walk down rather than up, and let gravity do the work.
  • Queulat National Park, Carretera Austral: A hanging glacier spills a waterfall off a cliff into a green lagoon, framed by temperate rainforest so wet that moss grows on the moss. Giant nalca leaves, some wider than an umbrella, line the trail. The hike to the viewpoint takes around 3 hours return and the drizzle rarely stops, which keeps everything glowing.
  • Ahu Tongariki, Rapa Nui (Easter Island): Fifteen restored moai stand in a row with their backs to the sea, and at sunrise they turn into black silhouettes against a pink sky while waves thump the rocks behind. Combine it with Rano Raraku, the quarry where nearly 400 statues lie half-carved in the grassy slope, only a few minutes away.
Off the map, Lauca National Park with Lake Chungará at 4,517 meters, the desert coast of Pan de Azúcar and the Dientes de Navarino circuit near Puerto Williams all see few visitors, and I would pick Lauca first for its vicuñas, flamingos and snowcapped volcanoes reflected in still water.
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🧭 RoutesHow to structure a trip

The 7-Day Torres del Paine Route


One week in Chile’s far south built around a single big hike, with towns at either end for gear and rest. Expect wind, granite spires, glacier ice and a lot of Patagonian lamb.
  • The Strait of Magellan waterfront in Punta Arenas
  • Puerto Natales, the trekking base on a fjord
  • Four nights on the W Trek
  • Grey Glacier and the Valle del Francés

👉 explore this 7-day route

The 14-Day Desert-to-Lakes Route


Two weeks that swing from the capital and a hillside port to the high desert, then down to a land of volcanoes and lakes. It’s a varied first trip to the country at an unhurried pace.
  • Santiago’s Museum of Memory and Human Rights
  • Neruda’s houses in Santiago and Valparaíso
  • Sunset over the Valle de la Luna
  • Puerto Varas and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day Full-Length Route


Three weeks covering the whole length of the country, from markets and murals to the Atacama, Lake District volcanoes, Chiloé’s wooden churches and the Patagonian steppe. … read more 👉

The 7-Day Torres del Paine Route


One week in Chile’s far south built around a single big hike, with towns at either end for gear and rest. Expect wind, granite spires, glacier ice and a lot of Patagonian lamb.
  • The Strait of Magellan waterfront in Punta Arenas
  • Puerto Natales, the trekking base on a fjord
  • Four nights on the W Trek
  • Grey Glacier and the Valle del Francés

👉 explore this 7-day route

The 14-Day Desert-to-Lakes Route


Two weeks that swing from the capital and a hillside port to the high desert, then down to a land of volcanoes and lakes. It’s a varied first trip to the country at an unhurried pace.
  • Santiago’s Museum of Memory and Human Rights
  • Neruda’s houses in Santiago and Valparaíso
  • Sunset over the Valle de la Luna
  • Puerto Varas and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day Full-Length Route


Three weeks covering the whole length of the country, from markets and murals to the Atacama, Lake District volcanoes, Chiloé’s wooden churches and the Patagonian steppe. It suits travelers who want depth and are happy to ride buses between big experiences.
  • A guided climb of Villarrica volcano from Pucón
  • Chiloé’s UNESCO-listed wooden churches
  • The penguin colony on Isla Magdalena
  • Finishing on the W Trek in Torres del Paine

👉 explore this 21-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Chile

The best time to go backpacking in Chile is October to November or March to April, when central Chile sits around 20 to 27°C, Patagonia’s trails are open and you dodge the January and February domestic holiday rush that fills buses and pushes up hostel rates. The country stretches about 4,300 kilometers north to south, so timing shifts with latitude. Patagonia and the Carretera Austral work best from December to March, the Atacama is good almost all year, and the Andes ski resorts run in winter.
  • Summer peak (December to February): Patagonia gets its warmest weather (roughly 10 to 18°C) and longest days, but also its fiercest winds. Chilean school holidays fill campsites, refugios and the central coast, and prices hit their yearly high. In the Atacama highlands, the “invierno altiplánico” brings afternoon storms that can close high roads.
  • Autumn shoulder (March to May): Crowds drop once schools restart in early March. Wine valleys hold harvest festivals, southern forests turn red and gold in April, and by May rain returns to the south while many Patagonian services start closing.
  • Winter (June to August): Santiago is cold and often smoggy, the Lake District and Chiloé are wet, and southern Patagonia is snowy with limited trekking. Ski resorts near Santiago are at their best, and the Atacama’s dry, clear air makes for top stargazing. Prices are lowest outside ski areas.
  • Spring shoulder (September to November): Fiestas Patrias fills September with fondas, then Patagonia reopens in October and November with thinner crowds and shoulder prices.
The narrowest window is the “desierto florido”, when wildflowers carpet the desert around Copiapó and Vallenar from roughly September to October, and only in years after unusual rain.
I’d reserve Torres del Paine campsites or refugios the moment your dates are fixed, since December to February spots go months ahead, and I’d pack a real windproof shell whatever the month.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
!chile - pixabay -landscape-74572

💰 Costs (as of 2026)What things cost day to day

Plan on US$40 to 60 a day for backpacking Chile on a budget if you sleep in dorms, cook some meals and travel by bus. That makes it one of the pricier countries in South America: Bolivia costs about half as much, Peru noticeably less, and Argentina now comes in at a similar level. You pay in Chilean pesos, and card payments work almost everywhere.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 35 per nightA dorm bed in Santiago or Valparaíso runs US$12 to 20. San Pedro de Atacama costs US$18 to 30, and Puerto Natales in high season costs US$20 to 35. To pay less, book Patagonia early, look for dorms that include breakfast, and travel in the shoulder months (October to November, March to April), when prices drop.
MealsUS$10 to 20 per dayAn empanada de pino from a bakery costs US$2 to 4, and a completo (a loaded hot dog) costs US$2 to 4. A set lunch (menú del día) costs US$7 to 12. A supermarket shop at Lider or Unimarc for pasta, bread, cheese and fruit comes to roughly US$5 to 8 a day. Groceries cost about double what you’d pay in Peru or Bolivia.
Local transportUS$1 to 10 per day, plus long-distance legsA Santiago Metro ride costs about US$0.85 to 0.95 with a Bip! card.
… read more 👉
Plan on US$40 to 60 a day for backpacking Chile on a budget if you sleep in dorms, cook some meals and travel by bus. That makes it one of the pricier countries in South America: Bolivia costs about half as much, Peru noticeably less, and Argentina now comes in at a similar level. You pay in Chilean pesos, and card payments work almost everywhere.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 35 per nightA dorm bed in Santiago or Valparaíso runs US$12 to 20. San Pedro de Atacama costs US$18 to 30, and Puerto Natales in high season costs US$20 to 35. To pay less, book Patagonia early, look for dorms that include breakfast, and travel in the shoulder months (October to November, March to April), when prices drop.
MealsUS$10 to 20 per dayAn empanada de pino from a bakery costs US$2 to 4, and a completo (a loaded hot dog) costs US$2 to 4. A set lunch (menú del día) costs US$7 to 12. A supermarket shop at Lider or Unimarc for pasta, bread, cheese and fruit comes to roughly US$5 to 8 a day. Groceries cost about double what you’d pay in Peru or Bolivia.
Local transportUS$1 to 10 per day, plus long-distance legsA Santiago Metro ride costs about US$0.85 to 0.95 with a Bip! card. The Santiago to Valparaíso bus costs US$4 to 7. An overnight semi-cama bus from Santiago to Puerto Montt costs US$25 to 50, and the 23-hour trip north to San Pedro costs US$45 to 80. Long-distance buses are the cheapest way to cover the country, and they’re far more comfortable than in Bolivia.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 60 per dayPatagonia and the Atacama blow budgets. Torres del Paine’s entry fee for foreigners is about US$50, and campsites on the W Trek cost US$10 to 60 a night. In San Pedro, a Valle de la Luna tour costs US$20 to 30 and an El Tatio geysers trip costs US$40 to 60 plus entry. Free walking tours in Santiago and Valparaíso run on tips of US$10 to 15. I’d save in the cities and spend on one big Patagonia trek, bringing my own tent and stove so I don’t pay refugio prices.
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 10 per dayATM fees for foreign cards often run US$7 to 10 per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often. A prepaid Entel or WOM SIM with a data bundle costs US$5 to 10. Laundry costs US$6 to 10 per load.
Total Daily BudgetUS$40 to 60The lower end means a Santiago dorm at US$15, supermarket meals and city buses. Expect US$60 or more in Patagonia and San Pedro, where tours and transfers add up quickly. In Bolivia, the same style of travel costs about US$25 to 35 a day.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutChile Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (333 pages) contains:
✅ 107 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
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✅ Month by month travel advice
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✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
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🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
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🛏️ Where to stay?Accommodation types and options

Chile has a solid hostel scene, with dorm beds typically running CLP 12,000 to 25,000 (about US$13 to 27) a night and more in Patagonia and San Pedro de Atacama. In Santiago, Bellavista puts you on top of the nightlife but gets loud on weekends, Lastarria is walkable to the center and calmer, and Barrio Brasil is the cheapest of the three but feels rougher after dark. In Valparaíso, Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción hold most hostels, with views and street art right outside but steep hills and petty theft to keep in mind, while Puerto Natales and Pucón are compact, quiet bases for trekking and … read more 👉
Chile has a solid hostel scene, with dorm beds typically running CLP 12,000 to 25,000 (about US$13 to 27) a night and more in Patagonia and San Pedro de Atacama. In Santiago, Bellavista puts you on top of the nightlife but gets loud on weekends, Lastarria is walkable to the center and calmer, and Barrio Brasil is the cheapest of the three but feels rougher after dark. In Valparaíso, Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción hold most hostels, with views and street art right outside but steep hills and petty theft to keep in mind, while Puerto Natales and Pucón are compact, quiet bases for trekking and volcano trips.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Chile


Best quality hotels in Chile

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around Chile

Chile runs about 4,300 kilometers from north to south, so your biggest decision is whether to spend a night on a bus or a couple of hours on a plane. Low-cost airlines now make the long legs cheaper than most travelers expect. Buses still win on anything under about 12 hours.
  • Long-distance buses: These are the backbone of travel in Chile, because passenger rail barely exists outside a few short lines. Santiago to Valparaíso takes 1.5 to 2 hours for CLP 4,000 to 8,000 (US$4 to 9). Santiago to Pucón
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Chile runs about 4,300 kilometers from north to south, so your biggest decision is whether to spend a night on a bus or a couple of hours on a plane. Low-cost airlines now make the long legs cheaper than most travelers expect. Buses still win on anything under about 12 hours.
  • Long-distance buses: These are the backbone of travel in Chile, because passenger rail barely exists outside a few short lines. Santiago to Valparaíso takes 1.5 to 2 hours for CLP 4,000 to 8,000 (US$4 to 9). Santiago to Pucón takes 10 to 11 hours for CLP 20,000 to 45,000 (US$21 to 47). Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama takes 22 to 24 hours for CLP 35,000 to 60,000 (US$37 to 64). Seat class matters. A “salón cama” or “cama” seat reclines almost flat and is worth the extra 30 to 50 percent on overnight runs, while “semi-cama” is fine by day. Book on Recorrido.cl or the company websites. Fares climb sharply around Fiestas Patrias in September and during the January and February summer peak, so book those dates early. Keep your daypack at your feet rather than in the overhead rack, because theft on buses and in terminals targets bags you can’t see.
  • Domestic flights: JetSMART and Sky Airline compete with LATAM, which keeps fares low if you book 3 to 6 weeks ahead. Santiago to Calama (the airport for San Pedro) takes about 2 hours and often costs US$35 to 90 one way. Santiago to Punta Arenas takes around 3.5 hours for US$60 to 150. The base fare covers only a small personal item, and a checked backpack adds US$20 to 45. Pay for the bag online when you book, because it costs far more at the airport counter.
  • Santiago Metro and Red buses: One rechargeable Bip! card covers both, at roughly CLP 750 to 900 per ride depending on the time band. Red buses don’t take cash, so load the card at a Metro station first. Fares are lowest early in the morning and late in the evening. Avoid riding between 7 and 9 a.m. and between 6 and 8 p.m., when Line 1 is crushed.
  • Colectivos: In Valparaíso, La Serena, Puerto Montt and most regional cities, shared taxis run fixed routes shown on a roof sign, for CLP 700 to 1,500 a seat. Pay with coins or small bills, because few drivers can break a CLP 20,000 note.
  • Hitchhiking: On the Carretera Austral, some stretches see buses only a few times a week, so thumbing rides is common and socially accepted. Stand where drivers can pull over safely, and expect to wait 1 to 4 hours outside the summer months.
I would fly the two extremes (the Atacama and Patagonia) and take buses for everything between Santiago and the Lakes District. That saves about two days without costing much more than a cama seat.
Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), Chile’s main gateway, sits about 17 km (11 miles) northwest of the city center, and the cheapest reliable way in is the airport express bus for roughly CLP 2,200 to 3,500 (about US$2.50 to 4).
  • Centropuerto bus (35 to 45 minutes, about CLP 2,200 to 2,500, US$2.50 to 3): catch it at the bus stand just outside international arrivals, pay the driver in cash or by card, and ride to Los Héroes, where you can connect to Metro Line 1 and Line 2, with departures every 10 to 15 minutes from about 6:00 to 23:30.
  • Turbus airport service (40 to 50 minutes, about CLP 2,500 to 3,500, US$3 to 4): it leaves from the same arrivals curb and runs to Terminal Alameda, handy for onward long-distance buses, with tickets sold at the airport counter or on board and service running from early morning until close to midnight.
  • Shared shuttle van (45 to 90 minutes, about CLP 9,000 to 14,000, US$10 to 15 per person): book at the official counters inside the arrivals hall and pay by card or cash for door-to-door drop-off, with vans running 24 hours but stopping for other passengers along the way.
  • Official airport taxi (30 to 45 minutes, about CLP 25,000 to 35,000, US$27 to 38): prepay at the authorized taxi counters inside arrivals, which run around the clock and quote a fixed price by zone.
  • Uber, Cabify or DiDi (30 to 45 minutes, about CLP 15,000 to 25,000, US$16 to 27): order through the app on the airport Wi-Fi and meet your driver at the designated pickup point, usually on the departures level, with cars available 24 hours.
If you land after the buses stop around midnight, head straight to an official taxi or shuttle counter inside the terminal and ignore anyone offering rides in the arrivals hall, since those unofficial drivers routinely charge double.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: medium)Is Chile safe to visit?

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Chile is one of the safer countries in South America for solo travelers, with petty crime being the main risk rather than violent crime. Bag snatching and phone theft are common in central Santiago, Valparaíso and bus terminals, so keep your phone out of sight on the street and use ride-hailing apps at night. Women traveling alone generally travel without trouble but may face catcalling, and they should avoid walking alone through empty streets after dark. LGBTQ+ travelers will find Chile among the more progressive countries in the region, as same-sex marriage has been legal since 2022 and Santiago’s Barrio Bellavista has a visible gay scene, though attitudes are more conservative in rural areas.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
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✈️ VisaDo you need a visa to visit?

Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia, New Zealand and most of Latin America do not need a visa to visit Chile and can stay as tourists for up to 90 days. At entry, the PDI (Investigations Police) issues a digital tourist card that you should keep until you leave the country. Nationalities that do need a visa must apply in advance through the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular portal or the nearest Chilean consulate.
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What you'll need while traveling

Packing for Chile means preparing for several climates in one trip, from the bone-dry Atacama Desert to the wind and rain of Patagonia. Layers matter more than bulk, because desert days can be hot while nights at altitude drop below freezing, and southern weather changes hourly. UV levels are high across the country, especially in the far south and at altitude, so sun protection deserves real space in your bag. Chileans dress neatly but casually in cities, so a clean, simple outfit works for nights out, while sturdy footwear pays off on trails and Valparaíso’s steep cobbled hills.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

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🙋 FAQFrequently asked questions

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Chile can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Chile itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

No vaccinations are required to enter Chile, and yellow fever is not present in the country, including Easter Island. Make sure your routine vaccines are up to date (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria and influenza). Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are commonly recommended for travelers, and typhoid is worth considering if you plan to eat a lot of street food or travel rurally. Rabies shots are only advised for long trips involving animal contact or remote areas far from medical care.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Chile, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

Chileans are warm but fairly reserved and polite, so a calm, courteous manner goes further than loud enthusiasm in Chile. Do expect late meals (dinner often starts after 9 p.m.), and do bring wine or something sweet if you’re invited to an asado or “once” (the early evening tea). Do arrive 15 to 30 minutes late to social gatherings, but be on time for tours and buses. Don’t bring up the Pinochet era or the 2019 protests casually, as these are still sensitive topics with deep family divisions. Avoid comparing Chile unfavorably to Argentina or Peru. In Mapuche communities in the south, ask before photographing people or ceremonies. Women may hear catcalls in cities, and the best response is to ignore them and move on. Public displays of affection by same-sex couples are accepted in central Santiago and Valparaíso, but more discretion is wise in small towns.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Chile.
  1. Pastel de choclo: A clay-dish bake of ground beef, onion, olives, hard-boiled egg and chicken under a sweet corn crust, caramelized with sugar. It is Chile’s summer comfort food, made when fresh corn is in season.
  2. Empanada de pino: A baked pastry filled with beef, onion, raisins, a black olive and egg. It is the centerpiece of Fiestas Patrias in September and is sold by bakeries on every Sunday morning.
  3. Cazuela: A clear broth with a whole piece of beef or chicken, potato, pumpkin, corn on the cob and rice. It is the home-cooked soup most Chileans grew up on.
  4. Completo: A hot dog loaded with tomato, mashed avocado and mayonnaise (the “italiano” version mirrors the Italian flag). It is the country’s go-to cheap street meal and late-night snack.
  5. Curanto: A Chiloé feast of clams, mussels, pork, sausage, chicken and potato dumplings, steamed in a pit under nalca leaves. It shows the island’s Indigenous and seafaring roots.
  6. Chorrillana: A mountain of fries topped with strips of beef, fried onions and fried eggs, made to share. It comes from Valparaíso and is a classic bar order.
  7. Mote con huesillo: A cold, sweet drink of dried peaches and husked wheat in caramel-colored nectar. Street carts sell it all summer, and it counts as a national symbol.
Tap water in most of Chile’s cities, including Santiago, is treated and safe, and most locals drink it without a second thought. Its high mineral content can upset sensitive stomachs for a few days, so drinking filtered or bottled water early in the trip is a good idea. In the far north, around San Pedro de Atacama and parts of the Atacama Desert, the water has natural arsenic and minerals, so stick to bottled or properly filtered water there.
The main language in Chile is Spanish. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Spanish skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Chile includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English is limited in Chile. You’ll get by in hotels, tour agencies and parts of Providencia and Lastarria in Santiago, and in traveler hubs like San Pedro de Atacama and Puerto Natales. Younger Chileans and hostel staff often speak some English, but in rural towns, markets and on buses it is mostly Spanish only. Chilean Spanish is fast and full of slang (“po”, “cachai”), so learn basic Spanish phrases, slow conversations down politely, and download Google Translate’s offline Spanish pack for areas with no signal.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Chile is CLP ($).
ATMs in Chile are easy to find in every city and most towns, usually under the Redbanc network, but foreign cards are charged about CLP 6,000 to 9,000 (US$6 to 10) per withdrawal, and most machines cap each withdrawal at around CLP 200,000 (US$210). Take out the maximum each time to cut down on fees, and stock up before heading to small Patagonian towns or the Carretera Austral, where ATMs can run dry. Visa and Mastercard, including contactless payment, work in supermarkets, restaurants, hostels and bus terminals, but colectivos, street food stalls, markets and rural guesthouses usually take cash only. US dollars are much easier to exchange than euros, so bring clean, untorn notes as a backup. For the best rates, use the casas de cambio along Calle Agustinas in central Santiago, and skip the airport exchange counters, which give poor rates.
Tipping in Chile is expected at sit-down restaurants, where a 10 percent “propina” is suggested on the bill and the waiter will ask whether you want to include it, often when you pay by card. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips beyond rounding up, but tour guides appreciate CLP 3,000 to 5,000 (US$3 to 5) per day. Supermarket baggers and gas station attendants often work for tips alone, so leave them CLP 200 to 500 in coins.

🧩 Nearby countriesOther countries to combine with Chile

📸 PhotosTravel photos from Chile

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Photographed by: Johan Kruseman

We 💚 feedbackWhat to know before planning your trip

Chile runs on a calm, competent rhythm that makes independent travel easier than almost anywhere else in South America, and the biggest surprise for most visitors is how much they end up liking the people once that initial reserve breaks. The small warning is weather: Patagonia can deliver four seasons before lunch, and plans need slack. I would skip trying to cover the whole country and spend the saved days on Chiloé or the Carretera Austral instead. Looking ahead, the country is investing heavily in solar and wind power, especially in the Atacama, and the Route of Parks of Patagonia now links 17 national parks across the south, which is steadily spreading visitors beyond Torres del Paine.

✈️ When did I visit Chile?
I have visited Chile, together with Argentina, in September 2012. While my visit dates back, this guide is continuously refined using feedback from locals and current backpackers (last update: 20 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Chile, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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