Chile is a dream destination for adventure lovers, with landscapes that stretch from the driest desert on Earth to the glacial peaks of Patagonia. After exploring its vast and varied regions, we’ve put together the ultimate 2 week Chile itinerary to help you experience the best of it.
You’ll start in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park, hiking through wild landscapes to see its iconic granite peaks up close. Then, you’ll explore the colourful streets of Valparaiso, a bohemian port city filled with street art and culture.
Next, you’ll soak in the mystical energy of the Elqui Valley, home to cacti-covered mountains and Chile’s famed pisco distilleries. Finally, you’ll head to the Atacama Desert, one of the best places on Earth for stargazing.
Your two weeks in Chile will be packed with adventure, incredible landscapes and plenty of unique experiences.
Overview: 2 Weeks in Chile
Day 1: Santiago - Get settled in after your long flight to Chile's capital Day 2, 3 & 4: Puerto Natales & Torres del Paine - Explore the charming port city before heading into Patagonia to hike to the iconic Three Towers of Paine. Day 5, 6 & 7: Valparaiso - Explore the bohemian and creative city known as the Berlin of Chile. Day 8, 9 & 10: Elqui Valley - Drive through the mystical Elqui Valley, where cacti-covered mountains stretch for miles, and visit the free-spirited Pisco Elqui village. Day 11, 12, 13 & 14: Atacama Desert - Visit the driest non-polar place on Earth known for its fascinating landscapes and the best stargazing in the world |
Ultimate 2 Week Chile Itinerary
Day 1: Santiago
We spent two nights in Santiago but found it underwhelming, so we recommend focusing your time on Chile’s more exciting regions.
After your long flight to Santiago, get a good night’s rest at a hotel near the airport to recharge before your flight to Patagonia the next day.
🛌 Browse Santiago Airport hotelsDay 2: Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales is the main hub and closest city to Torres Del Paine National Park. It's just a 2 hour drive away from the park entrance.
We loved the port city and were surprised by the variety of quirky restaurants, bars and cafes in the area. The first day in the city will be your preparation day before going into the park.
To reach Puerto Natales from Santiago, you’ll need to take a 3-hour flight. Our flight left at 11 AM and we had no problem preparing everything for our trek the next day. Be sure to book your flight well in advance since it fills up quickly.
✈️ Compare flights from Santiago to Puerto NatalesWhere to stay in Puerto Natales
Where to eat in Puerto Natales
Cafe Artimana: one of the top-rated spots in town, serving up hearty Chilean cuisine in a warm, artistic setting with great music. I had the homemade vegetable gnocchi, while Ari went for the salmon salad - both were delicious.
La Guanaca: if you want something easy to have back at your hotel, pick up a delicious wood-fired oven pizza here.
Day 3 & 4: Torres Del Paine National Park
Today, you’ll arrive in the beautiful and rugged Torres del Paine National Park, where you can take on the iconic hike to the Three Towers of Paine. The trail climbs 750 meters to the Towers Lookout, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the granite peaks rising over a brilliant blue glacial pool.
You don’t need to commit to a multi-day trek to see this incredible sight - a day hike will take you there. You can either camp overnight or stay at a hotel near the park entrance for easy access.
The best time to hike in Torres del Paine is November to March, during the summer season. Be prepared for unpredictable weather - strong winds and sudden blizzards are always a possibility.
To hike to the iconic granite towers, there are three ways to go about your itinerary:
Option 1: Camp in Torres Del Paine National Park
- Take the 7 AM bus to the Amarga entrance at Torres Del Paine National Park. Buy your pass to the park.
- There is a shuttle that leaves from Amarga to Las Torres Hotel where you start your hike.
- Hike up to the Towers Lookout and drop off your camping gear at the Chileno Refugio along the way. We rented our gear from Rental Natales.
- Hike back down to Chileno and camp there overnight. Chileno has a lodge you can eat at. The total hike for the day is about 13 km with a 750m ascent and 400m descent. It will take you around 7 hours.
- The next day, hike the 5 km back down to Los Torres Hotel. From there, take the shuttle to Amarga and the bus back to Puerto Natales for the night.
Option 2: Stay in a hotel in Torres Del Paine National Park
- Arrange a transfer with your hotel to get from Puerto Natales to your accommodation.
- Spend the rest of the day relaxing and taking in the views at the hotel.
- Do the day hike to the Towers Lookout early the next morning. Your hotel will shuttle you to the start of the hike. The total hike is about 18km (750 m ascent, 750 m descent) and will take you 8-9 hours.
- Spend another night at your hotel and arrange a transfer to the airport the next day.
Option 3: Organize a day trip with a guided tour
If you don't want to stress about logistics like transportation or hiking directions, organize a day trip with a guided tour.
GetYourGuide offers a Base of the Towers Day Hike from Puerto Natales starting from $65 USD per person. Hiking poles are included. We like how there is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. You just need to book your stay in Puerto Natales.Extension options: If you're able to extend your 2 weeks in Chile we recommend doing the 5 Day W Trek in Torres Del Paine National Park.
Day 5, 6 & 7: Valparaiso
Exploring the creative city of Valparaiso
You don’t want to miss visiting the bohemian city of Valparaiso. Once a thriving port known as the "Jewel of the Pacific," the city flourished in the late 19th century until disaster struck.
A massive earthquake in 1906 and the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 led to its decline, as wealthy families moved out and trade routes shifted.
But with that decline came cheap rents and abandoned buildings, which over time attracted artists, writers, and poets. Valparaiso slowly reinvented itself as Chile’s creative hub.
Often called the "Berlin of Chile," it’s now known for its art, music, and literary scene. Today, you’ll find a city covered in street art, dotted with contemporary galleries, and full of quirky hillside cafes and bars.
Getting to Valparaiso
Take a domestic flight back from Puerto Natales to Santiago. From the Santiago Airport, it's just an hour drive west to Valparaiso. Renting a car in Chile is easy and the roads are nice to drive on.
🚗 Compare rental car rates from Santiago Airport If you don't want to drive, you can easily book a private transfer through Welcome Pickups. Their drivers are handpicked and English speaking.Where to stay in Valparaiso
Breakfast was included and featured a solid spread with banana smoothies and avocado toast. We loved sitting in the chairs made from old free-standing bathtubs.
In the evening, drinking wine with the owner up on the rooftop patio was a highlight.
The hotel doesn't accept check in past 9 PM, so plan your flight accordingly!
🛏️ Browse more stays in ValparaisoFun things to do in Valparaiso
These were our favourite things we did in Valparaiso:
🚡 Take a funicular up the hills and wander back down to explore unique neighbourhoods filled with murals, staircases and local charm.
🎨 Explore the Concepción neighbourhood, home to quirky cafes, art galleries, and restaurants - it was our favourite area to hang out.
🎶 Walk up Cumming Street from the bottom and let your ears guide you - live music spills out from every corner, so you can follow the sound you like and pop into whatever bar or restaurant catches your attention. Most spots don’t get going until after 8:00 PM.
🚶♀️ Join a walking tour to uncover Valparaíso’s street art, history, and hidden corners with stories only a local ✨ Cook your own private dinner to enjoy on the balcony of your room at Hotel Winebox and enjoy the city lights with a glass of wine.🍹 Sip cocktails on the Hotel Winebox rooftop, for some of the best views of the city.
Day 8, 9 & 10: Elqui Valley
The mystical Elqui Valley
The Elqui Valley is known for its strong magnetic energy, which has given the region a spiritual reputation. Many visitors come for alternative therapies like reiki and meditation, drawn by both the energy of the valley and its famously clear, star-filled skies.
The region is also known for producing Pisco, the local brandy used to make one of our favourite cocktails: the Pisco Sour.
Getting to the Elqui Valley
If you have a rental car, you have two options for getting to Pisco Elqui from Valparaiso:
- Drive the full 6.5 hours.
- Head back to Santiago, take a quick 1-hour flight to La Serena, and pick up a new rental car for the final 1.5-hour drive into the Elqui Valley.
We chose the second option to cut down on driving time.
The relaxed, sunny drive from La Serena Airport to Pisco Elqui was one of the most beautiful we’ve ever done. We’d never seen so many cacti - entire mountainsides were blanketed in them.
Cruising along the “Route of the Stars” toward the quaint town of Pisco Elqui felt like entering another world.
🚗 Compare rental car rates from La Serena AirportWhere to stay in Pisco Elqui
It’s worth splurging on the Aire Cabana. Perched at the top of the hill, it has a large terrace with sun beds for stargazing and sweeping views of the mountains. It felt incredibly private. The cabana itself is spacious, with high ceilings and four large skylights.
Service was impeccable - we were welcomed with a refreshing Pisco Sour on arrival. Each morning, hotel staff brought breakfast to our patio, which included eggs, fresh fruit juice, cold cuts, cheese, bread, avocado, and five different types of sliced fruit.
It's the perfect place for relaxation and introspection. We spent our time admiring the view and stargazing on our terrace, swimming in the pool and cooking on our private BBQ. It was a wonderful place to connect with nature.
🛏️ Browse more stays in Pisco ElquiTop things to do in Pisco Elqui
Pisco tour at Mistral Pisco Distillery
🌞 Explore the free-spirited town of Pisco Elqui - it has a cute market where you can shop for local goodies. I bought a pair of earrings. This is where we also picked up some groceries.
🍇 When one is in Pisco, one must go on a Pisco tasting tour! We went on a Pisco tour at the Mistral Pisco Distillery, which cost 6,500 CLP per person ($7 USD). It included a tour of their vineyard and how they produce Pisco, three tastings, and a monogrammed Pisco glass.
🍹 We enjoyed drinking Pisco Sours and eating fresh ceviche after our tour on the large outdoor terrace of the Mistral Distillery.
🌄 Pisco Elqui also offers a variety of guided tours from astro experiences to horseback riding.Day 11, 12, 13 & 14: Atacama Desert
Exploring the Atacama Desert
The mountainous landscape of the Atacama Desert was like nothing we had ever seen before. It's the driest desert on Earth after all. It felt like we were on Mars.
It was completely barren with not even one tree or cactus. We can see why NASA tests rovers here!
The night sky was what we were the most excited for. Its arid desert conditions and altitude make it arguably the best place in the world to see the stars and galaxies.
The stars seemed closer, almost like you could touch them, and they were vibrant in colour and brightness.
Getting to the Atacama Desert
From La Serena, it's a short 1.5 hour flight to Calama. From there you can pick up your rental car to explore the Atacama Desert.
🚗 Compare car rental rates in the Atacama Desert.From Calama, drive 1.25 hours to San Pedro de Atacama, the main hub for exploring the region.
🛏️ Browse stays in San Pedro de Atacama.Amazing things to do in the Atacama Desert
Visit the Paranal Observatory to see The Very Large Telescope
We were fortunately still able to visit one of our 'most excited to see' attractions located in the southwest: The Very Large Telescope. We had a childhood dream come true by visiting the Paranal Observatory, home of the largest telescope on Earth.
Not only did we get to see the telescope and where the astronomers work, we also got to see their famous residence featured in the movie, James Bond Quantum Solace.
Even better, the tour is free. Space is limited since they only run tours on Saturdays. Make sure to book well in advance.
Visit The Hand of the Desert at sunset
The Hand of the Desert is an 11-meter-high sculpture on the way to the Paranal Observatory and is worth a visit. It was created by the awarded Chilean artist, Mario Irarrázabal in 1992 and is free to visit.
Take day trips from San Pedro De Atacama to see incredible landscapes
When we flew in, we were surprised to see rain since this region usually gets just 15 mm of rain per year. It turned out a rare flash flood had washed out the only road to San Pedro de Atacama and flooded the town! Since San Pedro is the main hub for exploring the area, everything was shut down for the week.
We had planned to visit Valle de la Luna and Laguna Chaxa to see the flamingos, so we hope to return someday to experience it properly. Even though we didn’t make it this time, we’ve heard amazing things - even the photos alone blew us away. 🌌 Browse fun guided tours in San Pedro De Atacama through Viator or GetYourGuide. We like how most excursions have free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.Go on a stargazing tour
Don’t forget to add a stargazing tour to your itinerary - it’s one of the highlights of visiting the Atacama Desert. We had booked the award-winning Atacama Desert Stargazing tour by Jorge, but unfortunately had to cancel due to the flooding.
Make sure you plan your visit around the new moon, so you have the best view of the stars possible. Most stargazing tours don’t operate around the full moon, since the bright light can wash out the stars.
Enjoy an incredible 2 weeks in Chile!
🎥 See what it's like in our Chile vlog.
Get started on booking your trip to Chile
- 🛏️ Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚗 Reserve your car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.
- 🤠 Guided tours: browse fun outings through Viator or GetYourGuide.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Planning a trip to South America? Check out our travel guides to Argentina, Peru and Rio De Janeiro!
- Argentina: one week itinerary for the foodie and wine lover
- Brazil: 10 non-touristy things to do in Rio De Janeiro
- Peru: hiking the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu
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Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our list of Fun Adventure Ideas and list of Cultural Travel Experiences to inspire your next trip.