10 Days in Chile - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Central Chile, Lake District & Patagonia

Check off several spectacular regions of Chile on this active ten-day itinerary: the capital city of Santiago, the wine-growing region of the Maipo Valley, Torres del Paine National Park, and the Lake District, famous for its snow-capped volcanoes and plunging waterfalls. 

The trip begins in Santiago, where you'll do some urban sightseeing on the first day: visit La Chascona, the onetime home of the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and take a cable car to the top of Cerro San Cristobál for sweeping views over the city. The next day, you'll head to the Maipo Valley, trying locally produced wines at a picnic lunch and enjoying the beautiful mountains and rivers of the Cajón del Maipu region. Then fly south to Puerto Montt on day three, transferring by land to lakeside Puerto Varas. From here, you'll take a full-day tour to Osorno Volcano, electric blue Petrohue Falls, and picturesque Todos los Santos Lake.

Spend a day exploring the quiet scenery of Chiloé National Park before catching another flight to Punta Arenas, a jumping-off point to Torres del Paine National Park. Take an early-morning excursion to Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, Chile's largest penguin colony, before choosing from a range of tours in Torres del Paine. With an experienced guide, you'll hike to natural wonders like the Salto Grande waterfall and remote Laguna Azul, passing through native lenga forests along the way. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Hiking the Atacama Desert

This ten-day trip takes you into some of Chile’s most dramatic landscapes. Multi-hued valleys, rocky canyons, towering sand dunes, and azure-colored lagoons set the stage for big adventures in the otherworldly scenery of the Atacama Desert.

After a day and night in Santiago, catch a flight north to Calama and transfer by land to San Pedro de Atacama in the Atacama Desert, known as the driest desert in the world. For the next several days, you'll go on organized tours to the region's most spectacular natural attractions: hiking in the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), exploring the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) and the Salar de Atacama (Atacama Salt Flats), and spotting flamingos in their natural habitat at the Reserva Nacional los Flamencos (National Flamingo Reserve).

You'll hike to a relaxing soak in the Puritama Hot Springs and trek past the striking rock formations of Nacimiento Gorge, where the landscape was carved by ancient lava flows, en route to the salt flat of Talar. On day eight, you'll hike through colorful Rainbow Valley and take a dip in salty Cejar Lagoon: thanks to the high salt content, it's easy to float. Finish the trip with an early-morning excursion to the high-altitude Tatio Geysers on the last full day in the desert, then head back to Santiago. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Wine Regions of Chile & Argentina

On this gourmet ten-day tour you will visit the best wine-producing regions in both countries and tour the vineyards that produce their most famous varietals.

You'll start the trip in Santiago, spending a day in the city before exploring the Cachapoal Valley wine region of central Chile. where you'll try the country's flagship varietal, Carmenere. On day three, the trip takes you to the town of Pirque, about an hour south of Santiago, to the vineyard and family estate of Concha y Toro for a tour and tasting. The following day, you'll tour the Maipo Valley, stopping at wineries like Viña Cousiño Macul and Viña Undurraga to try a variety of wines.

Cross the border for the second part of the trip, which takes you to Mendoza, Argentina. Visit two wineries in the Luján de Cuyo region, sampling locally grown olives and a selection of wines. The following day, you'll stop at more wineries in the Maipú region. Venture high into the Andes the next day, making stops at Uspallata, a pre-Hispanic indigenous settlement, and the sparkling blue lake at Potrerillos. You'll pass through Aconcagua National Park the next day on your bus ride back to Chile, taking in majestic Andean scenery along the way. Finish the tour with one last evening in Santiago for more food and wine. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Honeymoon in Santiago & Torres del Paine

This ten-day itinerary combines urban sightseeing, nature hikes, and wine tasting: the perfect mix for a fantastic and unique honeymoon. 

The romantic getaway begins with a few days in Santiago, where you'll take a guided city tour and dine on fresh ceviche and pisco sours (the national cocktail of Chile) before driving to the Pacific coast to visit the charming port city of Valparaiso. One of the loveliest spots to visit is the onetime home of poet Pablo Neruda, La Sebastiana. The next day, catch a flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas and drive four hours to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (Torres del Paine National Park).

You'll spend several days exploring the park, visiting highlights like Grey Glacier and Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon) on guided hikes. Then it's back to Santiago and Viña Matetic (Matetic Vineyards), where you'll have time to relax and unwind at La Casona de Viña Matetic, a ten-room boutique hotel housed in a historic colonial homestead. Linger over four-course lunches with wine pairings and go cycling, hiking, or horseback riding in nearby Valle Rosario: a great way to finish off this itinerary custom-made for honeymooners. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Santiago & W Trek

Enjoy the capital city and the furthest reaches of Chilean Patagonia on this ten-day trip plan that includes Santiago and a few days on the famed W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park.

Start your adventure in the capital city of Santiago, exploring the city's seafood markets, bohemian neighborhoods, and pretty parks. After a quick detour to visit the coastal cities of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, you'll fly south to Patagonia and Torres del Paine National Park. The next day, bright and early, you'll begin a four-day hike on the park's famed W Circuit.

Take in the stunning beauty of Patagonia on foot as you trek past glaciers and icy lakes. Sleep in the wilderness at Refugio Los Cuernos, a cozy mountain refuge on the shore of Lake Nordenskjold. At Pudeto, you'll board a catamaran and take a 30-minute ride across Lago Pehoé, where you'll begin the challenging hike across to Valle Frances (French Valley) toward the iconic Paine Massif. The next day, you'll have a picnic lunch and board another boat toward the massive ice wall of Grey Glacier. On the last full day, you'll hike along Fauna Trail, where you'll spot Patagonian wildlife from guanacos (similar to llamas), ñandús (a cousin of the ostrich), and maybe even a puma, if you're lucky. Head back to Santiago, where the trip ends. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Chile Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Chile trip? Check out these other 10-day Chile itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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