How Many Days Do You Need in Chile?
For a well-rounded trip, you should spend at least two to three weeks in Chile, allowing you to explore Santiago, Atacama, Patagonia, and the Lake District.
However, if you only have one week, you can still experience Chile’s highlights by focusing on one or two regions. A one-month itinerary gives you enough time to experience the country’s full diversity at a relaxed pace.
Here’s a breakdown of different trip lengths:
| Trip Length | Regions Covered | Perfect For... |
|---|---|---|
|
7 Days |
Santiago & Atacama / Santiago & Lake District / Torres del Paine |
Short trips, seeing highlights |
|
10 Days |
Santiago, Atacama, and Lake District / Santiago & Patagonia |
Balanced exploration |
|
2 Weeks |
Santiago, Atacama, Lake District, Patagonia |
Seeing the main highlights |
|
3 Weeks |
Santiago, Atacama, Lake District, Chiloé, Patagonia |
In-depth exploration of Chile’s best regions |
|
1 Month |
Full Chile experience, including all major regions |
Ultimate adventure, slow travel |
Is 7 Days Enough in Chile?
Summary Table of 7-Day Itineraries
| Itinerary | Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1: Santiago & Atacama |
1-2 |
Santiago |
Free walking tour, Sky Costanera, San Cristóbal Hill |
|
|
3-7 |
San Pedro de Atacama |
Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, Stargazing |
|
2: Santiago & Lake District |
1-2 |
Santiago & Valparaíso |
Colorful street art, funicular rides |
|
|
3-7 |
Pucon & Puerto Varas |
Villarrica Volcano, Geometric Hot Springs, Petrohué Falls |
|
3: Torres del Paine |
1-2 |
Puerto Natales |
Prepare for W Trek |
|
|
3-6 |
Torres del Paine |
Mirador Base Torres, French Valley, Grey Glacier |
|
|
7 |
Return to Santiago |
Final explorations, flight home |
One week is not enough to see all of Chile, but you can still experience one or two regions. You’ll need to fly between destinations to maximize your time. Here are three different ways to spend one week in Chile.
Itinerary 1: Santiago & Atacama (7 Days)
- Day 1-2: Explore Santiago, take a free walking tour, visit San Cristóbal Hill and Sky Costanera.
- Day 3-7: Fly to San Pedro de Atacama, visit Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, Salar de Atacama, and experience world-class stargazing.
Itinerary 2: Santiago & Lake District (7 Days)
- Day 1-2: Discover Santiago and Valparaíso’s colorful street art and funiculars.
- Day 3-7: Fly to Pucon, hike Villarrica Volcano, relax in Geometric Hot Springs, and visit Puerto Varas to see Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls.
Itinerary 3: Torres del Paine (7 Days)
- Day 1-2: Arrive in Puerto Natales and prepare for Torres del Paine.
- Day 3-6: Complete a condensed W Trek, visiting Mirador Base Torres, French Valley, and Grey Glacier.
- Day 7: Return to Santiago for your flight home.
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Is 10 Days Enough in Chile?
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Santiago & Valparaíso |
Free walking tour, coastal views, wine tasting |
|
4-6 |
Atacama Desert |
Valle de la Luna, Lagunas Altiplánicas, El Tatio Geysers |
|
7-10 |
Puerto Varas & Chiloé |
Osorno Volcano, Petrohué Falls, Chiloé Island culture |
Day 1-3: Santiago & Valparaíso
- Start with Santiago and Valparaíso’s cultural highlights, including street art, funicular rides, and wine tasting.
Day 4-6: Fly to San Pedro de Atacama,
- Fly to the Atacama Desert for moon-like landscapes, geysers, and salt flats.
- Visit Valle de la Luna, Lagunas Altiplánicas, and El Tatio Geysers.
Day 7-10: Fly to Puerto Varas,
- Finish in the Lake District, with hikes around volcanoes and a visit to Chiloé Island for traditional palafito houses and national parks.
With 10 days, you can visit multiple regions, but expect some fast-paced travel.
Here’s a recommended itinerary:
Is Two Weeks Enough in Chile?
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Santiago & Valparaíso |
Street art, funicular rides, historic sites |
|
4-7 |
Atacama Desert |
Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, Stargazing |
|
8-10 |
Lake District |
Pucon, Villarrica Volcano, Geometric Hot Springs |
|
11-14 |
Patagonia |
Torres del Paine, W Trek highlights, Grey Glacier |
- A balanced itinerary covering Chile’s cultural, desert, and adventure highlights.
- Start in Santiago and Valparaíso, then fly north to the Atacama Desert.
- Travel south to the Lake District for hikes around volcanoes and lakes.
- Finish in Patagonia, hiking in Torres del Paine.
Two weeks is ideal for seeing Chile’s major highlights, balancing nature, adventure, and culture.
“Joe saved us so many hours of research and planning. His expertise turned our stress into a clear, custom itinerary we could actually enjoy.”
Maeve & Martin – 6 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Is Three Weeks Enough in Chile?
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Santiago & Valparaíso |
Street art, city markets, wine tasting |
|
4-8 |
Atacama Desert |
Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, Stargazing |
|
9-13 |
Lake District |
Pucon, Puerto Varas, Chiloé Island |
|
14-21 |
Patagonia |
Torres del Paine, Punta Arenas, Magdalena Island penguins |
- Spend three days in Santiago and Valparaíso, then head north to the Atacama Desert for surreal landscapes.
- Travel south to the Lake District, visiting Pucon and Puerto Varas before exploring the traditional culture of Chiloé Island.
- End your trip in Patagonia, hiking the W Trek in Torres del Paine and visiting the penguin colonies of Punta Arenas.
Three weeks allows you to explore at a more relaxed pace while covering Santiago, Atacama, the Lake District, Chiloé, and Patagonia.
Is One Month Enough in Chile?
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Santiago |
Free walking tour, San Cristóbal Hill, Bellavista nightlife |
|
4-8 |
Atacama Desert |
Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, Stargazing |
|
9-10 |
Santiago & Valparaíso |
Street art, coastal views, wine tasting |
|
11-14 |
Pucon |
Villarrica Volcano, Geometric Hot Springs |
|
15-17 |
Puerto Montt & Chiloé |
Castro palafitos, Chiloé National Park |
|
18-19 |
Puerto Varas |
Osorno Volcano, Petrohué Falls |
|
20-21 |
Travel to Puerto Natales |
Scenic ferry, Patagonian landscapes |
|
22-27 |
Torres del Paine |
W Trek highlights, Grey Glacier, Base of the Towers |
|
28-29 |
Punta Arenas |
Magdalena Island penguins, Strait of Magellan |
|
30 |
Santiago |
Final explorations, flight home |
- A full-month itinerary lets you explore Chile’s best landscapes without rushing.
- Start with Santiago and Valparaíso, then head north to Atacama for desert adventures.
- Explore the Lake District and Chiloé Island, experiencing volcanoes, lakes, and culture.
- Travel south to Patagonia, completing the W Trek in Torres del Paine before visiting Punta Arenas and Magdalena Island’s penguins.
A full month in Chile lets you fully immerse yourself in the country’s diverse landscapes, moving at a comfortable pace.
Final Thoughts
How many days you need in Chile depends on how much you want to see. One week lets you visit one or two regions, two weeks covers the highlights, and one month gives you the full Chilean experience. No matter how long you stay, Chile’s diverse landscapes and outdoor adventures make it a destination worth returning to!
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the hefty price tag!
Jerry & Maria – 5 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
