10 Days in Chile - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Central Chile, Lake District & Patagonia

Perfect for first-time visitors to Chile, this 10-day highlights tour ticks off the must-see sites and landscapes of Santiago, Puerto Varas, and Torres del Paine National Park. Throughout the itinerary, you'll enjoy a mix of guide-led city tours, relaxing lake strolls, and more challenging hikes up Cerro San Cristóbal, on Osorno volcano, and in Chiloé National Park.

 
Welcome to Chile! Your well-rounded itinerary begins in Santiago, and after settling into your hotel, the afternoon is yours to hike to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, visit the Plaza de Armas, and enjoy dinner in the Bellavista neighborhood. Spend the next day sampling wine and enjoying strolls in the Cajón del Maipo region; then, it's off to the airport to catch a flight to Puerto Montt. After a transfer to Puerto Varas, you'll head straight out to explore the Petrohué Waterfalls before spending the following day touring Osorno Volcano, the electric blue Petrohue Falls, and Lago Todos los Santos.

After a day set aside to explore the quiet scenery of Chiloé National Park, it's off to Punta Arenas, where you'll spend the afternoon touring Palacio Sara Braun and visiting Reserva Nacional Magallanes. Next, hop over to Isla Magdalena to admire its large Magellanic penguin colony before continuing to Torres del Paine National Park. You'll then have the option to explore the dramatic park by foot, horse, vehicle, or a mix of all three over the following two days, and be sure to include Salto Grande waterfall and Laguna Azul on your agenda, before catching your flight home from the Punta Arenas airport. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Explore Santiago & Torres del Paine National Park

Travelers looking for a mix of urban sightseeing, easy hikes, and wine tasting will find this alternate highlights itinerary the perfect fit. Starting with three days in Santiago, you'll tour its famous highlights alongside a guide and roam the stunning gardens of the nearby Viña del Mar. Then, spend two days in Torres del Paine National Park, hiking, horseback riding, or boating, before ending your stay relaxing and sipping wine at Viña Matetic.

Begin your trip in the bustling capital of Santiago, shrugging off jet lag while strolling the streets of Bellavista and joining a half-day guided city walking tour. Then, embark on a day trip to Valparaíso, famous for its colorful old houses, and Viña del Mar, home to lavish gardens and fabulous beaches, before catching a flight to Punta Arenas. After a four-hour transfer, you'll find yourself in Torres del Paine National Park. Enjoy a relaxing first evening before getting your first taste of the park's magnificence during a hike to Base de las Torres.

Over the following two days, you'll delve deeper into Torres del Paine National Park's impressive highlights, either by foot, boat, or horseback. Join a guided tour to Lago Grey and Grey Glacier, and capture iconic shots of the park while enjoying a relaxed-pace tour to Laguna Azul. Next, it's time to switch gears and fly back to Santiago. Continue to Viña Matetic, where you'll have time to relax and unwind at La Casona de Viña Matetic and go cycling, hiking, or horseback riding in nearby Valle Rosario before returning to Santiago and catching your onward flight. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Santiago & "W" Trek Adventure

Crafted especially for eager hiking enthusiasts, this active adventure combines time in Santiago with an epic five days on the W Trek. Before hitting the trail, you'll get to know Santiago's bustling markets, peaceful parks, and nearby colorful coast towns. Then, head into Torres del Paine National Park and spend long days hiking among dramatic landscapes, including French Valley, Grey Glacier, and the Ascencio Valley.

After landing in Santiago and transferring to your hotel for three nights, you'll head out on foot to explore the historic barrios of Yungay and Italia. Enlist the help of a local guide the following day and meander through the busy aisles of Mercado Central and Mercado La Vega before taking in epic city views at Sky Viewpoint. Next, make a quick detour to visit the coastal cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. Then, hop on a plane to Punta Arenas and continue to Puerto Natales, where you'll enjoy a relaxing evening knowing Torres del Paine National Park is next on the agenda.

The following five days are all about taking in the mighty mountains and dramatic valleys of Patagonia while hiking the W Trek. Highlights include Lago Nordenskjöld, the impressive French Valley, Grey Glacier, the Ascencio Valley, and Laguna Azul. And in between memorable days on the trail, you'll spend nights in cozy mountain refuges like the Refugio Los Cuernos and Refugio Paine Grande. Your last day on the trail then ends at the Laguna Amarga ranger station, and after a celebratory dinner back at camp, it's time to transfer to Punta Arenas the following morning to catch your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Wine Regions of Chile & Argentina

Taste wine across Chile and Argentina on this relaxing 10-day trip filled with vineyard tours and impressive landscapes. From Santiago, there's ample time to sip the flagship carménère in Valle de Cachapoal, tour Concha y Toro's tranquil gardens, and enjoy a full-day trip to Valle de Maipo. Then, in Mendoza, you'll split your time between Luján de Cuyo and Maipú Valley wineries and join a tour into the dramatic Andes.

After a leisurely afternoon roaming Santiago's highlights and enjoying dinner on your own, you'll head to the Valle de Cachapoal wine region of central Chile, where you'll tour three vineyards and learn about the production process. Next, embark on a day trip to Pirque, a town south of Santiago, and enjoy an afternoon at Concha y Toro before spending the following day in the wine-producing region of Valle de Maipo. Here, you'll hop between Viña Cousiño Macul and Viña Undurraga vineyards and learn about the history of wine and all that goes into its production.

As Day 5 rolls around, you'll say goodbye to Chile and take a short flight to Mendoza, Argentina. With four nights based in this laid-back city, there's never a need to hurry, and instead, you'll enjoy long afternoons in the Maipú Valley and around the town of Luján de Cuyo sipping wines and sampling locally-grown olives and artisanal cheeses. Then, take a day to explore the wild landscapes you've been admiring from Mendoza and head to the impressive viewpoint at Cerro Aconcagua before passing through Aconcagua National Park on your bus ride back to Santiago, where you'll catch your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Hiking the Atacama Desert

Pack your hiking boots and sense of adventure, as this 10-day hiking trip gets you out exploring some of Chile's most dramatic landscapes. Multi-hued valleys, rocky canyons, towering dunes, and azure-colored lagoons set the stage for epic excursions in the otherworldly scenery of the Atacama Desert. Throughout the trip, your afternoons will be packed with memorable treks, while leisurely evenings in San Pedro will ensure you're rested up for the next day's adventure.

After a relaxing evening in Santiago, you'll return to the airport and catch a flight north to Calama. Continue to San Pedro de Atacama in the Atacama Desert, known as the driest desert in the world and the perfect base to explore the region's salt flats, painted hills, and pointed Andean peaks. For the next several days, you'll go on organized tours to the region's most spectacular natural attractions, including the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), the Cordillera de la Sal, and the Reserva Nacional los Flamencos (National Flamingo Reserve).

You'll also hike to a relaxing soak in the Puritama Hot Springs and trek past the striking rock formations of Nacimiento Gorge, where the landscape was carved by ancient lava flows en route to the salt flat of Talar. On Day 8, you'll trek through the colorful Rainbow Valley, float in the salty Laguna Cejar, and enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset from Laguna Tebinquinche. Then, with your trip winding down, you'll squeeze in an early-morning excursion to the high-altitude Tatio Geysers before heading back to Santiago to catch your onward flight. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Chile Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Chile? Check out these other 10-day Chile itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.