Chile
May 27 - June 10 (12D11N): How do you fully appreciate the longest and narrowest country in the world? Aside from drinking lots of Chilean wine, you should plan to visit three significant regions in mainland Chile - South (Patagonia), Central (Santiago & Valparaiso), and North (Atacama Dessert). Since we visited during Chile’s winter season (late May to early June), we didn't plan for any beach vacay, but instead, we explored Chile’s beautiful outdoor nature.
*Highly Recommended
Day 1 (Punta Arenas/ Puerto Natales):
Punta Arenas:
Afternoon arrival in PUQ from JFK (layover in SCL via Delta/LATAM; access airport lounge in SCL via Priority Pass)
Car rental @ Avis (the airport location has been closed since COVID-19; a taxi driver with your name will be waiting for you at the airport to bring you to the downtown location that’s 20 minutes away)
Lunch @ La Luna*
Puerto Natales:
Check-in @ Cumbres Apart* (a nice apartment stay with a great water view)
Shop @ Unimarc
Dinner & drinks @ Baguales Brewery & Restaurant*
Day 2 (Torres del Paine):
6:30 AM - 7 PM Full Day Torres del Paine + Trekking Base Torres*:
Tour pick-up & drive to Torres del Paine National Park (~2 hrs; enter via Laguna Amarga)
Hike the hardest part of the W-Trail (8 hrs RT)
Cross the Asencio River
Rest @ Camping El Chileno
Reaching the peak - Las Torres Base
Dinner @ Jose Antonio Patagonia*
Day 3 (Torres del Plaine):
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Full Day Torres del Paine + Trekking Base Torres*:
Cerro Castillo (a small village by the border of Chile & Argentina):
El Ovejero (get the hot chocolate)
Torres del Paine:
Guanaco sighting
Mirror Lake
Mirador Salto Grand (~30 mins easy hike)
Lake Pehoé (my favorite!!)
Picnic lunch @ Lake Gray
Lake Gray viewpoint
Cueva del Milodón (a natural monument made up of three caves; 9,000 CLP admission)
Pueblo Artesanal Erherh Aike (a cute souvenir village)
Selk Nam (a reasonably priced shop for souvenirs)
Cocktails @ La Guanaca* (try the Calzone Guanaco)
Dinner @ El Brisket
Day 4 (Puerto Natale):
Working remotely
Walk along the waterfront:
Lunch @ Espacio Nandu* (delicious ceviche)
Dinner @ Los Coigues - Jechef* (the best meal in Chile; get the ceviche & Calafate sour)
Day 5 (Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas/Santiago):
Drive down Rt. 9 towards San Isidro Lighthouse / Watch the sunrise from Fin de Camino.
Puerto del Hambre - Bahia Mansa
Punta Arenas:
Noon: Return rental @ Avis
Afternoon flight to SLC (via Sky; access airport lounge via Priority Pass)
Uber (~20,000 CLP) to Mandarin Oriental*
Dinner @ Ambrosia Bistro*
Day 6 (Santiago):
Breakfast @ Salvador Cocina y Cafe* (get the lengua sandwich)
10 AM - 12:30 PM: Essential Santiago Free Tour, Iconic Places and Recommendations
Church of Saint Augustine (the most haunted church in Santiago)
av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins (the avenue that cuts across the east and the west side of Santiago)
Stock Exchange Building (pic only)
Presidential Palace (pic only) / Plaza de la Constitucion
Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (pic only)
Museo La Merced (pic only)
Santa Lucia Hill* (beautiful Views)
Casa Museum La Chascona (pic only)
Sky Costanera observation deck (10 AM - 9 PM; 12,000 - 16,000 CLP)
Sunset drinks @ 300 Sky Bar & Coffee
Dinner @ Happening*
Cocktail @ Siete Negronis*
Day 7 (Santiago)
Working remotely
Lunch @ Lulupok* & Kaleta at Parque Arauco
4:30 PM-6:30 PM: Essential free tour of the Yungay and Brazil neighborhood*
Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (pic only; free admission)
Pasaje Adriana Cousiño* (beautiful street with courtyards)
Peluquería Francesa* (2nd oldest barber shop in the world/restaurant/museum; we only got to tour the place & had a shot shave)
Cocktails @ Cosmopolitan* (an extensive cocktail list)
Dinner @ La Mesa
Day 8 (Valparaíso - Vina del Mar)
Rental car @ Avis in Los Condes*
Valparaíso (park @ Estacionamientos)
12-3pm: Free tour Barrio Puerto, where Valparaíso is born*
Ascensor El Peral (alternatively, you can walk up the steps)
Baburizza Palace (pic only; free admission)
Lunch @ Puerto Mil-Nay (order the seafood empanadas)
La Escala Galería - Cochrane (art gallery)
Flea market @ Plaza Sotomayor
Beautiful drive up the coast
Sunset @ Dunas de Concón* (park at Lider Express lot across the street)
Vina del Mar:
Waterfront
Drinks @ Sheraton Miramar Hotel
Sushi burritos take-out @ Kazoku Sushi in Casablanca
Day 9 (SPA)
We took an early flight from Santiago (SCL) to La Paz (PBL) - check out our 4D3N trip in Bolivia. Alternatively, you can skip Bolivia and fly to Camala (CJC) for the Atacama Desert.
Return rental @ Avis (SCL)
Flight from SCL to CJC
Pick-up rental @ Avis
Check-in @ Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas*
Lunch @ Jardin Meraki
Walk around the main streets of SPA
Dinner @ Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas* (order the lamb chops)
Day 10 (SPA)
Breakfast @ hotel
South:
Pic @ Tropico de capricornio*
Piedras Rojas (need to purchase the ticket in Socaire to enter the official entrance; it is possible to look for another free entrance elsewhere)
Laguna Miscanti (need to purchase the ticket in Socaire)
Socaire:
Picnic/lunch
Valle De Jere* (2,000 CLP/person; beautiful greenery)
Book tours @ Alabalti Atacama* (look for Gabriel)
Drinks & pizza @ Perrock Restobar
Astronomical tour with Mayu Sky & Travel* (a must-do!! We saw the Milky Way; book through Alabalti Atacama)
Day 11 (SPA)
Breakfast @ hotel
Work remotely
West:
Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache* (weightless floating at the first lagoon; CLP$10,000/p - cash only)
Dinner @ Adobe Resturant* (best salmon in town)
Day 12 (SPA)
Breakfast @ hotel
8:30 AM -12 PM: Sandboarding with Javier @ Sandboard Atacama* (40,000 CLP/person; DM @IG: sandboard.atacama; book through Alabalti Atacama)
Lunch @ Aura Andina* (live music during lunchtime)
Return car @ Avis (CJC)
Evening/red-eye flight from CJC to JFK (layover in SCL via Delta/LATAM; access airport lounges via Priority Pass)
Other points of interest & food:
Puerto Natales (PN)/Punta Arenas (PA):
Stay @ Toore Patagonia (cozy bungalow) or Hotel Vendaval (modern hotel)
Dine (PN) @ Santolla, La Disqueria Restaurant, Restaurant Bahía Mansa
Visit Cerro Tenerife
Dine (PA) @ Restaurante La Yegua Loca
Santiago:
San Cristobal Hill (we couldn’t visit as there was a strike during our time in Santiago)
Dine @ Peluquería Francesa, Fuente Alemana, Liguria, Boragó
Crepes @ Cretos
Valparaíso:
Lunch @ Tres Peces Valparaíso (opens from 12:30 PM-4 PM Wed-Sun)
Chorrillana @ J Cruz M
Drink @ Bar Liberty
SPA:
Stay @ Planeta Atacama Lodge (rustic & budget friendly) or Casa Solcor Boutique Bed & Breakfast (an upscale BnB)
Laguna Chaxa (might see the flamingo)
Sunset @ Valle de la Luna (need reservations for the sunset)
Dine @ Restaurante Bar Agua Loca, Aura Andina Resto-bar, Roots Cafe Pizza
Monjes de La Pacana (weird sand structure and off-roading experience)
Tips:
Don’t forget that seasons in Chile are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. Pack accordingly, as the winter is no joke here.
Puerto Natales (PN):
Purchase your entrance ticket to TDP here. May 27 & 28 are free to enter.
Be sure to fill up gas whenever you see one, as there aren’t too many gas stations between PN and Punta Arenas.
The day hike in Torres del Paine is highly recommended to “experience” the park, as we could not partake in the W-trail during winter. But it was an intense and moderately difficult hike.
Santiago/Valparaíso:
Restaurant reservations are highly recommended, even during the winter season.
It is easy to get around within Santiago via public transportation & Uber. While taking a bus to Valparaiso is possible, driving is faster and relatively easy as it is mainly on the highway.
SPA:
Book a transfer with your hotel to save money getting to the airport.
If you are visiting SPA from a lower-altitude city, take it easy on your first day and have some aspirin to combat acute mountain sickness.
A rental car is highly recommended as one can easily visit the attractions independently.
There is limited cellular reception once you are outside of SPA. Be sure to download offline maps on your phone and purchase tickets beforehand.
