Chile brings together UNESCO World Heritage sites, wine routes and highly diverse landscapes. When choosing accommodation, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: cultural history, a route through Patagonia, or the wines of the central valleys? The places mentioned do not form a ready-made itinerary. So choose a hotel that suits the place where you would like to begin your planned explorations.
World Heritage and Cultural History
The Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works are among Chile’s UNESCO World Heritage sites; they were inscribed in 2005. Sewell Mining Town followed in 2006. It is an outstanding example of a company town created for the extraction and processing of high-quality copper. Visiting the site is subject to certain conditions: access is controlled, tours are limited and take place only under the supervision of authorized operators. Check the access requirements if you plan to visit Sewell.
Another World Heritage highlight is Rapa Nui: its national park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995. A protected Chilean wildlife area on Easter Island, it covers approximately 40 percent of the island and includes an ensemble of archaeological sites. Rapa Nui is also home to the moai, the Rano Raraku quarry and the ceremonial site of Orongo. Two different experiences may also be relevant when planning a trip: Anakena Beach is suited to relaxation and diving, while the Tapati festival takes place in February.
Valparaíso: Port City and Architecture
Valparaíso is a UNESCO World Heritage port city known for its architecture, hills, historic funiculars and maritime tradition. The Reina Victoria and El Peral funiculars offer views of the bay. La Sebastiana adds a cultural perspective on the city: the house is a museum dedicated to the poet Pablo Neruda. If you want to prioritize urban culture and named historic sites when choosing where to stay, these attractions offer specific points of interest, without implying any particular length of visit.
Routes and Landscapes
The Carretera Austral, also known as Ruta 7, is a route of more than 1,200 kilometers through Chilean Patagonia. Its landscapes include native forests, glaciers, clear rivers and fjords; some sections are traveled by ferry. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended because of gravel sections and changeable weather. Ferries are required at key crossings, including Caleta La Arena and Puerto Yungay. Check ferry schedules when planning your trip.
Torres del Paine also offers several options to consider: the national park covers 227,000 hectares of natural landscapes featuring rocky peaks, golden steppes and turquoise Lago Pehoé. Pumas, guanacos and condors live there, and the Circuit W and Circuit O are named trekking routes. In northern Chile, the Atacama Desert and its salt flats offer a different landscape, and are considered a world-class destination for astrotourism. Choosing between these themes also means choosing between different kinds of travel experiences.
Wine and Cuisine
The Ruta del Vino stretches from Casablanca to Maule through Chile’s central valleys. Wine pairings, insights into winemaking and walks through vineyards make this route a way to combine landscapes and wine. In the Valle del Maipo, centuries-old wineries offer tours where visitors can explore cellars and vineyards, learn about history and colonial architecture, and taste wine.
Chile’s culinary traditions include contributions from the Mapuche, Aymara, Rapa Nui, Atacameño, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Chango, Kawésqar, Yagán and Selk’nam peoples. Restaurants and coastal coves across the country serve oysters, scallops, razor clams, sea urchins, jaibas, locos and piures. This makes it possible to pair a cultural or landscape focus with regional wine and food themes when planning your trip, without combining every offering into a single route.
Discover more destinations: Metropolitan Region, Valparaíso, Los Lagos Region, Bío-Bío, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region, Los Ríos Region, Aisén Region, Maule Region, Antofagasta, Tarapacá Region, Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins Region, Coquimbo Region, Araucanía Region, Fifteenth Region of Arica and Parinacota, Atacama Region, Arica and Parinacota Region.
