Unforgettable Road Trips in Chile
Diverse landscapes are Chile’s biggest asset. Traveling around this long, narrow country, you’ll be greeted by an ever-shifting panorama of rolling vineyards, dazzling lakes, towering volcanoes, deep fjords, high grasslands, and sprawling salt flats. To do this terrain justice, you really need a set of wheels.
Road trips in Chile range from the comfortable to the epic. Along the coast and in the Central Valley, roads are generally paved and in excellent condition. However, if you plan to tackle the wild terrain of the Altiplano and the Atacama Desert in the north or the rugged countryside of Patagonia in the south, you’ll need to be ready for long drives on dirt roads with limited infrastructure along the way.
Whether you’re drawn to Chile by big or small adventures, here are the best road trips across this long and lovely sweep of South America.
The Carretera Austral
Best road trip for scenic Patagonian landscapes
Puerto Montt–Villa O’Higgins; 1200km (745 miles); allow 2 weeks
Chile’s Ruta 7 (better known as the Carretera Austral) charts a 1200km (745-mile) course through some of the most remote and untouched landscapes in South America. The first stretch of the highway opened in 1988, but the final section was only completed in 2003, and much of its southern half remains unpaved. Therefore, several segments of the route are so impenetrable that you’ll need to hop aboard a car ferry just to keep moving forward.
The Carretera Austral route begins in the bustling port city of Puerto Montt, winding its way south through temperate rainforests and national parks such as Pumalín and Queulat. Coyhaique is the biggest city in the region and the best place to stock up on supplies before continuing south to the marble caves of Puerto Río Tranquilo and the wildlife-filled steppes of Parque Nacional Patagonia.
The fascinating village of Caleta Tortel, a few hours south, is a fairytale of wobbly wooden boardwalks and tiny stilt homes perched over a milky-green fjord. The Carretera Austral ends in the frontier village of Villa O’Higgins to the east, which is the starting point for boat expeditions and hiking and horseback tours to the Northern Patagonian Ice Field.
The Budileufü Heritage Route
Best road trip for Indigenous culture
Puerto Saavedra–Puerto Saavedra; 100km (62 miles); allow 2–3 days
Lago Budi is a saltwater lagoon in south-central Chile formed after the devastating Valdivia earthquake and tsunami of 1960. However, the main lure for travelers is visiting the nearby villages, which are vibrant hubs for Indigenous culture.
This scenic road trip circumnavigates the coastal lagoon from Puerto Saavedra to Puerto Dominguez and back, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of the Mapuche people, Chile’s largest Indigenous group. You can sleep in traditional thatch-roofed ruka homes, purchase artisan handcrafts, and dine on Mapuche cuisine, much of which is spiced with the smoky merkén chili pepper.
The Route of the Stars
Best road trip for stargazers
La Serena–Pisco Elqui; 110km (68 miles); allow 3–5 days
It’s the star-spangled skies overhead that are the standout feature of this drive through the lovely Elqui Valley. Begin your trip by admiring the magnificent starscape from the historic coastal city of La Serena, then head east along la Ruta de las Estrellas (the route of the stars) into the arid Andean foothills at the southern edge of the Atacama Desert.
Spend the second night in Vicuña, a stargazing hub known for its observatories and solar-powered restaurants. Consequently, you can learn more about Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, in her hometown of Montegrande. Follow the grape-filled horizon to the quaint Andean village of Pisco Elqui for more stargazing and pisco tasting.
The Central Coast
Best road trip for sea, sand, and surf
Matanzas–Zapallar; 235km (145 miles); allow 3–5 days
This coastal journey begins in the hipster hub of Matanzas, about three hours west of Santiago. Heading north, be sure to check out the quirky artists’ colony of Isla Negra, the former whaling hub of Quintay, and the pretty beach at El Canelillo on your way to Valparaiso, great for art and culture, and Viña del Mar, known for its beaches and gardens.
As you continue north, the small hamlet of Ritoque stands out as the most low-key beach town on this frenetic coastal stretch. End your journey in Zapallar, a verdant cove where you can mingle with Chile’s affluent.
The Route of the Missions
Best road trip for history buffs
Arica–Putre; 230km (143 miles); allow 3–5 days
For a history-filled journey through Chile’s far north, start by familiarizing yourself with the oldest mummies in the world at the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa near Arica. Instead of taking the straight highway to Putre, follow the rambled Route of the Missions for a dive into the story of Spanish settlement in Chile.
This heritage route links dozens of Indigenous Aymara hamlets in the Andean foothills, many of which have restored colonial-era churches. End at Putre, the biggest Aymara town, and use it as a base for explorations into the volcano-studded altiplano of Parque Nacional Lauca.
The Pan-American Wine Trail
Best road trip for wine lovers
Santiago–Santa Cruz; 180km (112 miles); allow 1–3 days
This popular ruta del vino (wine route) uses the Pan-American Highway to tackle three of Chile’s most important wine regions – the Maipo, Cachapoal, and Colchagua Valleys. It’s advisable to have a designated driver as Chile has a zero-tolerance policy for drink driving.
The Maipo Valley, just south of the capital, features renowned vineyards that showcase wallet-friendly cabernet sauvignons. Proceed to Cachapoal for boutique wineries like Tipaume and Viña Vik, then turn off the Pan-American highway at San Fernando to explore the stunning Viña Casa Silva estate.
The Lakes & Volcanoes Traverse
Best road trip for adventure
Pucón–Puerto Varas; 525km (325 miles); allow 5-7 days
This route links lakes and volcanoes between the resort towns of Pucón and Puerto Varas and offers various adventures. Choose your path as you leave the araucaria-filled parklands of Lago Villarrica and head south to Coñaripe, home to the stunning Termas Geometricas hot springs complex.
Continue to Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo, near the ceramics hub of Panguipulli, which features waterfalls and woodsy hotels, then discover Lago Ranco’s resort villages and finally arrive at Puerto Varas, a gateway to world-class adventures in Patagonia.
