Chile

Numerous guidebooks recommend taking the time to immerse oneself in the experience of Chile. The country is designed for leisurely exploration and caters to those who travel with an open heart and mind. Chile’s unique geography, being long and narrow, does present some travel challenges. Spanning over 4,000 kilometers from north to south, travelers can anticipate lengthy yet invariably engaging bus journeys while exploring deserts, fertile valleys, volcanoes, lakes, fjords, glaciers, the Andes mountain range, sand dunes, and breathtaking coastlines.

I remember the day back in 2014 when I had just settled into my new apartment in Santiago, and a powerful earthquake rattled the walls. I leaped up from my couch and ran for the door, while all the Chileans in the room just sat still and laughed at me, confident in Chile’s strong building codes and unfazed by the regular tremors.

Chile basks in an embarrassment of natural riches, from golden beaches to massive glaciers. Therefore, whether you’re here to visit volcanoes, wander through ancient forests, or simply take in the country’s magical vineyards and fjords, it pays to get your timings right.

With its dazzling national parks, globally-renowned wineries, Andean ski resorts, and top-class surf beaches, Chile is an attractive destination for travelers globally. However, navigating the logistics of making that trip happen can be somewhat tricky. This useful guide to Chile’s entry requirements provides vital information on visa types, costs, and essential details needed to ensure a seamless journey in and out of the country.

Travelers arriving in Chile from neighboring countries often experience an initial shock—not from the magnificent Andes or expansive glaciers, but rather from the notable cost of living.

We asked two writers to sing the praises of their preferred southern South American country. Deciding between Chile and Argentina? Read on.

What could be more exciting for a kid to see than puffing volcanoes, crackling glaciers, dense rainforests, and blinding white salt flats?

No matter where you go in Chile, an epic hike through blockbuster nature is waiting to be discovered.

Chile is such a long and thin country that it claims an astonishing 6435km (4000 miles) of coastline. Consequently, as you travel between Patagonia and the Atacama, you’ll find hundreds of beaches in various shapes and colors. Black-sand beaches lie on the edge of volcanoes, tree-lined beaches near temperate rainforests, and bone-white beaches at the desert’s edge.

Nearly a third of Chile is protected parkland, making this small South American nation one of the best places on earth for active adventures. On a thrill-seeking trip to Chile, you can hike up volcanoes, skirt fjords and glaciers, or navigate the wilds of the world’s driest desert.

It’s Chile’s best-kept secret.