Beaches, vineyards, mountains and fascinating cities – what more could you ask for? Click for Luxury, Mid-range or Budget. Read my article about Chile’s most beautiful places here. Here’s your Northern Chile itinerary:
| Luxury |  |
||||
| 1 | ✈To Santiago (Book >) | Dep: Evening | 🏨 In flight! | ||
| 2 | Arr: Morning | 🏨The Aubrey (Book >) | All hotels > | ||
| Visit the city’s many museums (Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombiano is our favourite), all the while marvelling at the dramatic Andes in the background. | |||||
| 3 | If it’s a clear day head up the Sky Costanera tower, otherwise wander around the Plaza de Armas or visit Villa Grimaldi (free, but donations appreciated) where you can learn about life under Pinochet. | You’ll need to buy a (wonderfully-named) Bip! card to travel on the easy-to-use metro. | |||
| 4 | 🚗Santiago to Cajon del Maipo drive (Hire car >) | Dep: 09:30 | Arr: 10:30 | 🏨Cascada de las Animas (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Spend the day hiking, biking, rafting…or simply relaxing in the Andes. | Bring a filter water bottle and cash – there are no ATMs in the valley. | ||||
| 5-6 | 🚗Cajon del Maipo to Santa Cruz drive | Dep: 10:00 | Arr: 12:30 | 🏨Posada Colchagua (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Santa Cruz has the perfect setting; rolling grasslands, endless vineyards and Andean foothills. The town itself is picture perfect. Visit the museum, sample some wine and enjoy! | Take a vineyard tour from town so that you don’t need to worry about designated drivers. | ||||
| 7-8 | 🚗Santa Cruz to Valparaiso drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 12:00 | 🏨Hotel Boutique Acontraluz (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| Two days to explore the colourful, enigmatic city of Valparaiso. Take the Peral elevator up to bustling Cerro Alegre, stroll along Ruben Dario walk, admire the view on Cerro Concepcion and visit Neruda’s modernist La Sebastiana home. I can also highly recommend the free (tips encouraged!) street art tour. | Enjoy exquisite fish dishes in Caleta Portales. | ||||
| 9 | 🚗Valparaiso to Zapallar drive | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 12:30 | 🏨Casa Zapallar (Book >) | All hotels > |
| A beautiful Pacific beach awaits you in Zapallar – the perfect picturesque pit stop on your way north. | Book many months in advance if visiting during January or February. | ||||
| 10 | 🚗Zapallar to La Serena drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 13:00 | 🏨Enjoy Coquimbo (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Unforgettable drive along the coast to historic La Serena. The Plaza de Armas features buildings such as the cathedral and Museo Histórico Regional. | Write to ctio@noao.edu to apply for a permit to El Tololo observatory. | ||||
| 11 | Enjoy a final visit to the beach and visit one of the nearby famous observatories. | You may wish to extend your trip by heading north to San Pedro de Atacama – a 12hr drive away. | |||
| 12 | 🚗Zapallar to Santiago drive | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 16:00 | 🏨The Aubrey(Book >) | All hotels > |
| See the sights that you weren’t able to visit on days 2-3 of this Northern Chile itinerary. | Most museums close on Mondays. | ||||
| 13 | ✈Santiago to home (Book >) | Dep: Morning | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this Southern Chile itinerary with the Northern Chile, Southern Argentina, Bolivia or Peru itinerary | |
| Book your transfer to the airport. | |||||
| Mid-range |  |
||||
| 1 | ✈To Santiago (Book >) | Dep: Evening | 🏨 In flight! | ||
| 2 | Arr: Morning | 🏨Hotel Plaza San Francisco (Book >) | All hotels > | ||
| Visit the city’s many museums (Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombiano is our favourite), all the while marvelling at the dramatic Andes in the background. | |||||
| 3 | If it’s a clear day head up the Sky Costanera tower, otherwise wander around the Plaza de Armas or visit Villa Grimaldi (free, but donations appreciated) where you can learn about life under Pinochet. | You’ll need to buy a (wonderfully-named) Bip! card to travel on the easy-to-use metro. | |||
| 4 | 🚌Santiago (Bellavista) to Cajon del Maipo bus (Times >) | Dep: 09:18 | Arr: 11:18 | 🏨Lodge Andino El Ingenio (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Spend the day hiking, biking, rafting…or simply relaxing in the Andes. | Bring a filter water bottle and cash – the bus doesn’t accept Bip! and there are no ATMs in the valley. | ||||
| 5-6 | 🚌Cajon del Maipo to Santiago (Bellavista) Santiago (Terminal Sur) to Santa Cruz bus (Book >) |
Dep: 08:00
Dep: 11:10 |
Arr: 10:00
Arr: 14:10 |
🏨Hotel Boutique Vendimia (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Santa Cruz has the perfect setting; rolling grasslands, endless vineyards and Andean foothills. The town itself is picture perfect. Visit the museum, sample some wine and enjoy! | Take a vineyard tour from town so that you don’t need to worry about designated drivers. | ||||
| 7-8 | 🚌Santa Cruz to Santiago bus (Book >) 🚌Santiago to Valparaiso bus (Book >) |
Dep: 08:10
Dep: 11:55 |
Arr: 11:30
Arr: 13:45 |
🏨Hotel Fauna (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| Two days to explore the colourful, enigmatic city of Valparaiso. Take the Peral elevator up to bustling Cerro Alegre, stroll along Ruben Dario walk, admire the view on Cerro Concepcion and visit Neruda’s modernist La Sebastiana home. I can also highly recommend the free (tips encouraged!) street art tour. | Enjoy exquisite fish dishes in Caleta Portales. | ||||
| 9 | 🚗Valparaiso to Zapallar drive (Hire car >) | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 12:30 | 🏨Casa Zapallar (Book >) | All hotels > |
| A beautiful Pacific beach awaits you in Zapallar – the perfect picturesque pit stop on your way north. | Book many months in advance if visiting during January or February. | ||||
| 10 | 🚗Zapallar to La Serena drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 13:00 | 🏨Primera Hacienda Hotel Boutique (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Unforgettable drive along the coast to historic La Serena. The Plaza de Armas features buildings such as the cathedral and Museo Histórico Regional. | Write to ctio@noao.edu to apply for a permit to El Tololo observatory. | ||||
| 11 | Enjoy a final visit to the beach and visit one of the nearby famous observatories. | You may wish to extend your trip by heading north to San Pedro de Atacama – a 12hr drive away. | |||
| 12 | 🚗Zapallar to Santiago drive | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 16:00 | 🏨Hotel Plaza San Francisco (Book >) | All hotels > |
| See the sights that you weren’t able to visit on days 2-3. | Most museums close on Mondays. | ||||
| 13 | ✈Santiago to home (Book >) | Dep: Morning | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this Southern Chile itinerary with the Northern Chile, Southern Argentina, Bolivia or Peru itinerary | |
| Take the bus to the airport. | |||||
| Budget |  |
||||
| 1 | ✈To Santiago (Book >) | Dep: Evening | 🏨 In flight! | ||
| 2 | Arr: Morning | 🏨Eco-Hostal Tambo Verde (Book >) | All hostels > | ||
| Visit the city’s many museums (Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombiano is our favourite), all the while marvelling at the dramatic Andes in the background. | |||||
| 3 | If it’s a clear day head up the Sky Costanera tower, otherwise wander around the Plaza de Armas or visit Villa Grimaldi (free, but donations appreciated) where you can learn about life under Pinochet. | You’ll need to buy a (wonderfully-named) Bip! card to travel on the easy-to-use metro. | |||
| 4 | 🚌Santiago (Bellavista) to Cajon del Maipo (Times >) | Dep: 09:18 | Arr: 11:18 | 🏨Hostal Los Peñones (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| Spend the day hiking, biking, rafting…or simply relaxing in the Andes. | Bring a filter water bottle and cash – the bus doesn’t accept Bip! and there are no ATMs in the valley. | ||||
| 5-6 | 🚌Cajon del Maipo to Santiago (Bellavista) Santiago (Terminal Sur) to Santa Cruz bus (Book >) |
Dep: 08:00
Dep: 11:10 |
Arr: 10:00
Arr: 14:10 |
🏨Casa Suiza (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Santa Cruz has the perfect setting; rolling grasslands, endless vineyards and Andean foothills. The town itself is picture perfect. Visit the museum, sample some wine and enjoy! | Take a vineyard tour from town so that you don’t need to worry about designated drivers. | ||||
| 7-8 | 🚌Santa Cruz to Santiago bus (Book >) 🚌Santiago to Valparaiso bus (Book >) |
Dep: 08:10
Dep: 11:55 |
Arr: 11:30
Arr: 13:45 |
🏨La Galería B&B (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Two days to explore the colourful, enigmatic city of Valparaiso. Take the Peral elevator up to bustling Cerro Alegre, stroll along Ruben Dario walk, admire the view on Cerro Concepcion and visit Neruda’s modernist La Sebastiana home. I can also highly recommend the free (tips encouraged!) street art tour. | Enjoy exquisite fish dishes in Caleta Portales. | ||||
| 9 | 🚗Valparaiso to Maitencillo drive (Hire car >) | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 12:10 | 🏨Hostal Maitencillo Norte (Book >) | All hotels > |
| A beautiful Pacific beach awaits you in nearby Zapallar – the perfect picturesque pit stop on your way north. | Book many months in advance if visiting during January or February. | ||||
| 10 | 🚗Maitencillo to La Serena drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 13:20 | 🏨Hostal El Árbol (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Unforgettable drive along the coast to historic La Serena. The Plaza de Armas features buildings such as the cathedral and Museo Histórico Regional. | Write to ctio@noao.edu to apply for a permit to El Tololo observatory. | ||||
| 11 | Enjoy a final visit to the beach and visit one of the nearby famous observatories. | You may wish to extend your trip by heading north to San Pedro de Atacama – a 12hr drive away. | |||
| 12 | 🚗Zapallar to Santiago drive | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 16:00 | 🏨Eco-Hostal Tambo Verde (Book >) | All hostels > |
| See the sights that you weren’t able to visit on days 2-3. | Most museums close on Mondays. | ||||
| 13 | ✈Santiago to home (Book >) | Dep: Morning | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this Southern Chile itinerary with the Northern Chile, Southern Argentina, Bolivia or Peru itinerary | |
| Take the bus to the airport. | |||||
A Plan To Go 