One of the best features of Chile is the multiple climate zones that a visitor can come across during their vacation; from shimmering icy glaciers and luscious green rainforests to dry deserts and endless sandy beaches , Chile has a place for everyone.
Cajon del Maipo
Cajon del Maipo is an expansive canyon near Santiago. The gorge features the Maipo River, El Volcan River, Colorado River, and Yeso River as well as many other minor streams. There are many tourist companies that offer day trips to Cajon del Maipo and take visitors on a journey to explore the valley. The sites around the canyon are breathtaking, and visitors will be able to see panoramic views of the mountains that surround them. Outdoor activities such as trekking, swimming in the hot springs, horse riding, and bike riding, are available for visitors to take part in.
Cajon del Maipo, 19790, Comercio 19708, San José de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile, Phone: +5-69-45-55-60-17
Tunquen Wetland Nature Sanctuary
The Tunquen Wetland Nature Sanctuary includes dunes, ravines, cliffs and a stunning sandy beach. The sanctuary is home to unique animals, plants and numerous species of birds, including herons, the Huairavos, Trile, Oyster Catcher, the Taguas and Hualas. The Tunquen Wetland Nature Sanctuary is loacted at the northern end of Tunquen Beach, at the mouth of the Estero Casablanca River. The closest place to stay is Tunquen Magico which offers magnificent ocean views and a number of luxury amenities. Map
Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts
The Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts was established in 1880, making it the oldest museum of its kind in South America. The museum is managed by the Artistic Union and has grown to become one of the leading centers for Chilean and South American art. Housed in the Palace of Fine Arts, the beaux arts-style building itself is a stunning piece of work designed by Chilean architect Emile Jequier. Some of the current exhibitions visitors can enjoy include The Traffic of the Earth, which is a photographic installation by Spanish photographer Xavier Ribas, Another Way of Looking at Infinity, which is a fractal set by Soledad Chadwick, and Draw the Limit, which includes a collection of videos, photographs, and drawings by artist Janet Toro.
Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, Ismael Valdés Vergara 506 Santiago, Bellas Artes, Phone: +5-62-29-77-17-55
Chungara Lake
Located all the way in the north of Chile, Chungara Lake can be found within the exquisite Lauca National Park. The park itself is filled with mountains and volcanoes but the lake is a special feature of the park and attracts many visitors throughout the year. Ranked as the 31st highest lake in the world, visitors will get a stunning view of the expansive water of body and the Parinocota and Pomerape volcanoes beside it. There are many animals near the lake that visitors will be able to see, including alpacas, guanacos, llamas, and foxes. Ornithology lovers will see many species of birds such as the Chilean flamingo, small jergon duck, and the puna partridge. Map
El Tatio
A geyser found on the Andes Mountains in northern Chile, El Tatio is one of the highest-elevated geysers in the world. The field has over 80 active geysers, with some of them erupting to over 6 meters high. The site has become a major tourist attractions and visitors can find many tour companies that offer transport to and tours of El Tatio. Sunrise is the most popular time for visitors to head to the geyser field as the cold air condenses the stream and creates some stunning views. Visitors are also able to bathe in the small pools of hot geyser water that can be found in the area. Map
La Moneda Palace
La Moneda Palace, which translates to Palace of the Currency, is the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile. Occupying an entire block in downtown Santiago, is also houses the offices of three of the country’s cabinet ministers. La Moneda Palace has become a Chilean attraction mostly because of its stunning neoclassical architecture with Roman Doric influences. It is often said that the palace is the only structure in Latin American that was built in pure Italian neoclassical style. Visitors are invited to explore the public Citizenry Square as well as the Palacio de La Moneda Cultural Center, which hosts historical and cultural exhibitions throughout the year.
La Moneda Palace, Moneda S/N, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, Phone: +5-62-26-90-40-00
La Portada
La Portada is one of Chile’s 15 natural monuments considered a protected area of Chile. The natural arch can be seen 11 miles off the coast of Chile and is made of black andesite stone, sedimentary rock, yellow sandstone, and layers of remaining fossil shells. Formed by marine erosion, the natural monument is a beautiful site to see. Visitors will also see much of Chile’s fauna as the monument is also considered an observation site for birds such as Inca terns, Peruvian boobys, grey gulls, kelp gulls, pelicans, and Guanay cormorants. Map
Mano del Desierto
Constructed by Chilean artist Mario Irarrazabal, Mano del Desierto is a 36-foot-tall structure of a hand that looks like it’s reaching for the stars from its sandy surroundings. It can be found in the Atacama Desert and is a popular sight to see for visitors traveling the Pan-American Highway. Built with concrete and iron, the artist has said that the exaggerated size of the hand is to emphasize human helplessness and vulnerability. Many visitors enjoy stopping near the structure and taking fun photographs with the large hand – if anything, the photographic opportunity offers a great memory of a trip to Chile. Map
Marble Caves of Chile Chico
The Marble Caves of Chile Chico is a beautiful set of caves formed by over 6,000 years of waves crashing into the calcium carbonate surroundings in the Patagonian Andes. Found on a peninsula bordering Lake General Carrera, the swirling blue patterns of the cavern wall are a stunning reflection of the glacial lake’s blue waters. The caves are accessible by boat, and visitors will find many local tour companies who’ll take them through the Marble Caves and their connecting tunnels. Of Chile’s many natural attractions, the Marble Caves are one of the most beautiful sites to behold. Map
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
An art museum established in 1981, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino is a fun and educational place to spend the day. Here, visitors will find exhibits of pre-Columbian artifacts and artworks from South and Central America, which the museum is dedicated to studying, preserving, and presenting to the public. The museum came to be when Chilean antiquities collector and architect, Sergio Larrain Garcia-Moreno, acquired land to preserve his extensive private collection. Visitors can find the museum in Chile’s capital, Santiago, in the Palacio de la Real Aduana. The collection spans over 10,000 years and some of the pieces that shouldn’t be missed include masks and copper figures from the Central Andes, pottery from the Valdivia people, and more modern pieces from the San Pedro culture.
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, Bandera 361, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, Phone: +5-62-29-28-15-00
Pumalin Park
At over 715,000 acres, Pumalin Park is one of the largest and most diverse park conservation efforts in all of South America. The park stretches from the fjords of the Pacific coast to the heart of the Andes and contains Chile’s most pristine rainforest. At the park, visitors will be able to walk the extensive trails, stay overnight in the campgrounds, and use the many other facilities the park offers. There are twelve trails in the park, each of varying length and difficulty, but all with stunning landscapes of the surroundings. Beyond the park, visitors will come across the Pumalin Project, which comprises a network of organic farms that have been restored through social initiatives. Map
Stone Moai of Easter Island
One of the most renowned attractions in Chile, the Stone Moai of Easter Island are a collection of monolithic human figures carved between 1250 and 1500 by the Rapa Nui people. Surrounded by a great expanse of ocean, the island is a remote getaway that makes for the perfect day trip. The largest stone sculpture on the island is El Gigante and towers over 72 feet tall and weighs nearly 182 metric tons. The statues are scattered throughout the hillside and have minimalist, yet stunning, artistic features; carved in flat planes, the facial expressions of the statue have proud expressions on their faces with heavy brows, elongated noses, and heads that are much larger than the rest of the body. Map
Valle de la Luna
Valley of the Moon, or Valle de la Luna, is a beautiful expansive landscape amidst Chile’s Atacama Desert. There are many sand and stone formations that have been carved by water and wind over the years. The range of textures and colors make for some amazing photographs; the texture of the surface is said to resemble the moon, hence the name. The various natural formations, such as dry lakes, caverns, and hills, are great to explore and show visitors a side of Chile that can’t be seen anywhere else. There are many tour companies that will take visitors on journeys through the valley and pinpoint some of the best features there are. The wonderful natural phenomenon is a geological beauty and shouldn’t be missed. Map
San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region, Chile
