There are so many things you can do and places you can visit when visiting Chile that a first time tourist might be overwhelmed with all the choices. To help you out with your first vacation’s itinerary I have listed several of the most popular things to do in Chile. My advice is not to try them all out on your first vacation but to choose one or two or even three of the suggested things to do and places to visit. If you are delighted with your first vacation then go ahead and save up for your return trip where you can then proceed with the other activities and adventures on the list. Happy trip!
1. Visit wildlife sanctuaries. For the nature lover Chile is a place where you can glimpse some of the most beautiful flora and fauna in the world. Choose among the wildlife sanctuaries listed below and have a peaceful awe-inspiring time at any of the wildlife preserves.
Partial List of Wildlife Protected Areas in Chile: Alerce Andino, Bosque Fray Jorge, Cerro Castillo, Chiloe, Huerquehue, Archipielago Juan Fernandez, Lago Peñuelas, Laguna del Laja, Laguna Torca, Lauca, Nahuelbuta, Pingüino de Humboldt, Pumalin, Radal Siete Tazas, Easter Island, Rio Clarillo, Rio Simpson, Torres del Paine, Villarrica, and Yerba Loca
2. Go see Chile’s remarkable monuments. Chila like any country has its own share of monuments. If you are a history and/or art lover monument hunting is a fun thing to do. Not only will you get to appreciate the monuments but can do this while sightseeing in between. Some of the more popular monuments in Chile are: Salar de Surire, La Portada, Pichasca, Isla Cachagua, El Morado, Contulmo, Cerro Ñielol, Alerce Costero, Dos Lagunas, Cinco Hermanas, Cueva del Milodón, Los Pingüinos, Laguna Los Cisnes
3. Hike to the Glacier Grey – For the more active tourist a hike to the Glacier Grey is truly a remarkable experience. At the end of the hike if you’re too tired to walk go back on foot for the return hike you can go on a boat trip across Lago Grey to exit the park.
4. Star gaze – You can do this in your own background but you haven’t really stargazed unless you’ve seen the sky in the “Small North” in Chile which is known worldwide for having the clearest and most transparent sky in all of the southern hemisphere. Visit the observation sites in Coquimbo Chile and experience the sky as you’ve never experienced it before.
5. Choose one of these sites to visit – Choose among the Atacama Desert, Easter Island, Chiloe Island, Valparaiso, or San Rafael Laguna. All of these sites are equally wonderful in their own very unique way. Each is rich in either culture or nature or both and very much the classical tourist place to go to.
6. Enjoy Chile’s Nightlife – Set at least one night to enjoy Chile’s nightlife. You can enjoy the nightlife in almost any Chilean city although Santiago is hands down the nightlife capital of Chile.