No matter where you go in Chile, an epic hike through blockbuster nature is waiting to be discovered.
Stand at the geographic heart of the country near Santiago, and you’ll find the tallest mountains in the Americas snaking along the horizon to your east. Out west, over another mountain range, you’ll hit the pounding surf of the Pacific Ocean.
Down south, beyond a few dozen lakes and volcanoes, you’ll reach the temperate rainforests, crackling glaciers, and foggy fjords of Patagonia. Up north, past an array of verdant wine valleys, you’ll discover the desiccated salt flats, steaming geysers, and soaring sand dunes of the Atacama Desert.
From multi-day circuit treks on remote islands to half-day hikes up Andean volcanoes, the hardest decision will be choosing which trail to tackle.
W Trek
Best hike for a classic Patagonian experience
80km (50 miles) one way, 5 days, moderate
If Chile is known for just one hike, it’s the W Trek, one of the most popular routes in all of South America. This five-day path through Torres del Paine National Park can be extended to eight days by completing the O Circuit. It’s a highlights reel of Patagonia with soaring granite spires, milky-green moraine lakes, and views of the Patagonian Ice Field, the third-largest continental ice sheet outside of Antarctica and Greenland.
While this area is incredibly remote, you can make the trip as rustic or cushy as you’d like. In addition to a string of well-run campsites along the way, hikers can also stay at well-appointed mountain lodges known as refugios, sleeping in a bunk and dining on three-course meals washed down with craft beer.
The trail is absolutely overrun with domestic tourists at the height of summer (in January and February), so it’s best to visit in the shoulder seasons.
Cochamó Valley Trail
Best hike for rock climbers
12km (7.5 miles) one way, 2 days, moderate
Follow in the footsteps of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who drove their cattle over the Andes from Argentina to Chile. The Cochamó Valley Trail is becoming a hub for mountain climbers, who’ve likened this valley to the “Yosemite of Chile” thanks to its imposing granite domes.
Most visitors hike in along the muddy trail to the outpost of La Junta and use either nearby camping options or comfortable mountain lodges as a base for several days of walks and climbs in the surrounding mountains.
Dientes Circuit
Best hike for hardcore adventurers
54km (33.5 miles) round trip, 4 days, challenging
If you tackle the remote and little-visited Dientes Circuit, you’ll have the bragging rights of completing the southernmost hiking route in the world. However, to do so, you’ll need to brave thundering winds, frigid nights, and unpredictable weather conditions.
This challenging circuit trail begins in the tiny hamlet of Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. Due to minimal markings, most visitors choose to hire a trained guide leading the way.
Mirador de Los Cóndores
Best hike near Santiago
11km (7 miles) round trip, 4–5 hours, moderate
Climbing to the Andean lookout in the Cajón del Maipo valley near Santiago makes the Chilean capital feel worlds away. Yet, the trailhead is only about an hour beyond the city limits.
A moderate ascent offers spectacular valley views, as well as a chance to try some nutty goat’s cheese sold at a local residing near the summit. The condors, which encircle the cliff at the trail’s end, are the highlight, wowing hikers with their impressive wingspan.
Cerro Castillo
Best hike to explore lesser-visited Patagonia
50km (31 miles) one way, 4–5 days, challenging
Serious hikers should consider the Cerro Castillo Trail as an alternative to the W Trek. The national park became well-known for its dramatically shaped peaks, which appear like a fortress of rock and ice.
Several day trails crisscross the park, but the epic transverse trail offers the most immersive experience. Travelers will cross montane streams, picnic next to turquoise lagoons, and photograph hanging glaciers, all while keeping an eye out for endangered wildlife.
Villarrica Volcano
Best hike for volcano lovers
10km (6.2 miles) one way, 7–9 hours, moderate
Volcán Villarrica, one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas, invites hikers to climb to its peak for breathtaking views of the smoke-spewing crater and permanent magma lake. Tour companies in Pucón offer guided trips with all necessary equipment for a safe ascent.
Valle de la Luna
Best hike for desert views
1.6km (1 mile) one way, 1–2 hours, easy
Sunsets in Valle de la Luna near the desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama are legendary. This ethereal lunar-like landscape is captivating in the heat of the day as well, offering opportunities to explore earthen caverns and towering dunes.
Isla Robinson Crusoe Trail
Best hike for adventure seekers
19km (12 miles) one way, 7–10 hours, moderate
Upon landing on Isla Robinson Crusoe, visitors have the option to either take a boat taxi or hike through the island’s unique interior, which features a flora exclusive to this location. This journey allows hikers to connect with the history of Scottish privateer Alexander Selkirk, who inspired the tale of Robinson Crusoe.
