If you’re looking to travel somewhere a little bit different for your next vacation, perhaps you haven’t considered Chile. This diverse and beautiful country at the end of the world offers a wide range of activities. Whatever your preferences and age range and whether you’re traveling with friends or having a family reunion, there is something here for everyone. We are sharing a sample Chile itinerary to ensure your group has an unforgettable vacation.
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Table of Contents
Start in Santiago
If you fly into Chile, you’re sure to land in the country’s capital of Santiago. Surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and rolling wine valleys, here you can explore the vibrant personalities of the different neighborhoods.
You might want to take the day of your arrival to settle into your hotel and wait for the rest of your group to arrive, or feel free to explore the surrounding areas to find a delicious and quirky restaurant for your dinner that evening!
After a good night’s rest and a delicious breakfast, get to know the secrets of the city. For groups, a private tour through the bustling streets, famous markets, and historic landmarks is the perfect introduction to your vacation. You’ll have the opportunity to sample some of Chile’s most iconic flavors, like pisco sours (for adults only!) and empanadas as you learn about the country’s fascinating history and culture.
It’s often said that Chile is Santiago for the concentration of people as well as shops, restaurants, and museums that are available in the capital city. If you have free time, take the opportunity to venture into the different neighborhoods, like the boutique shops and gelato parlors of Barrio Italia, the art galleries of Bellas Artes, and the restaurants of Bellavista.
For some great views of the city, you can climb the Santa Lucía hill in the center or the larger San Cristobal hill on the edge.
Explore the Wineries
From Santiago, you will be surrounded by wine valleys on all sides. You can visit a nearby one for the day or take a short trip to one of the neighboring regions. It’s well worth spending at least one night at one of the vineyards to get the full viticulture experience.
There are plenty to choose from, from the ultra-modern and artsy VIK to the south, to La Casona Matetic on the coast, where the sea air adds a freshness to the grapes, and the palatial Santa Rita with tours in a rustic horse-drawn carriage.
Enjoy an insightful tour of the estate to learn about the wine-making processes that make that vineyard unique. Follow the tasting up with a delightful meal, carefully curated to perfectly match the wines. You’ll be able to explore the vines too, on foot or in some cases on horseback or ebike. Is there a better way to spend an afternoon than a picnic amongst the grapes? Perhaps enjoying the onsite spa facilities for a relaxing massage or even a wine bath!
If there are under-18s in your group, they’re more than welcome at most vineyards, too! Many not only accommodate kids, but they’ll make it a great time for them too, offering grape juice tastings, opportunities to explore the onsite kitchen gardens, horseback riding activities, and swimming pools. Check when you book about the vineyard’s policy for children, or leave it up to your tour provider.
Ecochile Travel designs custom itineraries to fit your family’s interests and requirements and will be with you every step of the way. With a 24/7 emergency contact line and an on-hand operations assistant to help with any unexpected issues, you can sit back and enjoy the ultimate family vacation.
An Action-Packed Road Trip – The Southern Highway – Carretera Austral
For those looking for a little more adventure on their vacation, look no further than Patagonia. The Carretera Austral, or the Southern Highway, is a 1,200 km route through the magnificent scenery of northern Patagonia.
Along the way, you can find spectacular hikes, incredible adventure experiences, quaint towns, and breathtaking nature. Of course, there’s no need to do the whole route, so choose the northern or southern route for a spectacular road trip.
Northern Part of the Highway
The northern part of the Highway starts in Puerto Montt, in Chile’s Lakes Region. Here, you can immerse your group in millennial larch forests, hike up an almost perfectly conical snow-capped volcano, and visit the penguins and churches of Chiloé.
Travel south to the Pumalin National Park and Puyuhuapi for some of Chile’s best kept secrets. Off the main tourist route you can find hidden gems like the Queulat hanging glacier and the active volcano, Chaitén.
Southern Part of the Highway
The southern part of the Highway runs from Coyhaique to Villa O’Higgins, in the Aysén Region. Along this route there are some truly unmissable destinations.
If your group enjoys adventurous activities, be sure to add in an ice trek on one of the region’s glaciers – Exploradores, Leones, Calluqueo, and many more.
For a real adrenaline rush, you can include a white water rafting experience in the world-famous rapids of Futaleufú, or take a calmer paddle by kayaking out to the impressive marble caves in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
The region offers some magnificent trails for groups that love to hike. Climb the rugged Cerro Castillo route, passing through forest, field, and stone paths to reach a beautiful lagoon at the top. Alternatively, embark on the many routes of the Jeinimeni and Patagonia National Parks, where you’ll walk in the Patagonian steppe amongst guanacos.
If the Carretera Austral piques your interests, we recommend going with a guide for a few reasons. First, the road from Coyhaique to the south is unpaved and winding, making it a challenging drive. It’s much better to sit back and enjoy the jaw-dropping views of towering mountains, waterfalls, and bright blue lakes as you pass by with the freedom of being able to stop.
Second, your driver will be your guide too! With an expert knowledge of the area as well as its flora and fauna, your group will be able to discover so much more. Finally, the additional cost is reduced when you travel in a group – a flat fee divided by more people equals a better deal!
A Cultural Chile Itinerary – Easter Island and the Atacama Desert
If a laid-back, cultural trip is more your thing, the Atacama Desert and Easter Island showcase some of Chile’s most diverse landscapes and cultural history. This option requires some advanced planning due to flight restrictions to Easter Island but it’s a great itinerary for trips with friends or multi-generational groups. Note that the Atacama desert reaches some 3000m (almost 10,000 ft) above sea level, making it unsuitable for those with heart conditions.
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert offers thousands of square miles of wonder. Most of the activities are centered around the quaint village of San Pedro de Atacama, where you can find hotels, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops.
Heading out from the town is where you’ll find the most spectacular sites. Explore ancient cultures like the Pukara de Quitor, a former fortress on the edge of the modern town, or visit living villages like Machuca and the weavers near the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons.
Discover the diverse landscapes of the region too, from the Moon Valley – so out-of-this-world that the Mars Rover was tested here – to the local wildlife’s watering holes, and even exploding glaciers. Be sure to include a stargazing experience to see some of the clearest night skies on the planet – just bring warm clothes if you do!
Finally, you can relax and cool off in your hotel’s pool or revitalize in the Puritama natural hot springs.
Return to Santiago for the evening as you make the most of the restaurants and bars available before flying out to Easter Island the following morning.
Easter Island
Easter Island, known as Rapa Nui in the island’s language, is a uniquely mystical place. Myths and legends have built the fascinating history of the island. Anyone who visits comes home talking about the magic in the air.
Despite its small size, the island offers a range of activities for everyone. For active travelers, you can enjoy the island’s various trails along its coast or up the volcanoes, go horseback riding over the rolling hills, or even scuba dive with the turtles!
If there is a cultural traveler in the group, don’t miss the Moai statues and historic sites to discover stories about the lost lovers and the birdman cult. Those who want to relax can chill out on the white-sand beaches of Anakena beach and soak up the luxury of some of the hotels the island has to offer. Be sure to try the island’s honey, which is some of the purest in the world.
Chile Tips for a Group Trip
There are some great advantages for traveling with a group in Chile. One of the best is that you can get a better deal for having more people in your group. When you book through a local company like Ecochile Travel, your travel specialist can negotiate better prices with the hotels, tour providers, and transport.
Flights in Chile
Traveling with a specialist is also a big help when it comes to logistics. Chile is a very long country – the longest in the world! Traveling between destinations often requires internal flights.
If you’re traveling in a group, be sure to book flights for the whole group in one booking if you can. It may seem easier for sub-groups to book these themselves, but this can risk the flight selling out before the whole group has booked, or being split up in the case of needing to reschedule the flight.
Private Tours
For larger groups, we recommend taking private tours for any activities and outings. There normally isn’t much difference in price for groups and you can often tailor the tour to your group’s preferences without disturbing other travelers doing the same activity.
It is also not recommended to visit indigenous communities in very large groups as it can be invasive. We recommend a maximum of 8-12 people for these visits.
Book in Advance
One of our top tips is to book further in advance for a group trip to Chile than you would for a trip for two or four people. If you’re hoping to visit Easter Island, be aware that flights to the island are limited and increase substantially in price if left to the last minute.
Similarly, Torres del Paine is such a popular destination that hotels and tours can be up to 75% booked up to 8 months in advance.
If you find yourself looking for something last minute, don’t worry! There are some great alternatives that often have availability. For a cultural trip to an out-of-this-world landscape, head to the Atacama Desert. If you are looking for an action-packed Patagonian adventure, the Carretera Austral or Futaleufú are great options too.
Get a Personalized Chile Itinerary
Of course, with a country as long and diverse as Chile, there’s more to see and do. If you’re looking for a personalized Chile itinerary for your group vacation, with 24/7 support from first contact until you land back home, speak to Ecochile Travel for a commitment-free quote for your dream trip.
About the author: Emily Gregg’s global travels inspired a love of the Spanish language that eventually took her to live in Chile, far from her native UK. She has been working with Ecochile Travel and Ecoargentina Travel for almost two years as their Communications Coordinator, helping to show off the wonders of this corner of the world and visiting them as often as she can!