Chile Landmarks

1. Laguna San Rafael National Park

This enormous park is approximately six times the size of Rhode Island, overshadowed by the Andes Mountains of Patagonia in the south of Chile. The main attraction here is the San Rafael Lagoon, which was carved out by the retreating San Rafael Glacier. You may access the park by cruise ship or along a 48-mile dirt road from Rio Tranquilo. Travelers reach the foot of the 197-foot glacier face by Zodiac. Watch for black-browed albatross, dolphins and fur seals.

2. Robinson Crusoe Island

If you truly want to get away from it all, visit Robinson Crusoe Island, also known as Desert Island. There are crystal-clear waters in which to swim, fur seals at which to chuckle and plenty of underwater life through which to snorkel. Kayak, sail, hike and fish through this virtually untouched land.

3. Torres del Paine National Park

The vast Torres del Paine National Park is truly one of Mother Nature’s crowning achievements. Visit during the summer to take advantage of 17 hours of daylight - you’ll want it all for trekking and kayaking. From Lake Grey and its iconic glacier to the Andean deer and guanacos who gaze at you as you make your way along the park’s famous backpacking circuits, you’ll quickly see why this is the eighth wonder of the world.

4. Chiloé Island

Delve into the folklore and legends of Chiloé Island with a truly singular identity. You’ll adore the colorful stilt houses - palafitos - and the warm and welcoming Chilote people who reside in them. Learn about the hundreds of colorful potato varieties found on the island, visit its 16 vibrant wooden churches and try curanto, a delightful blend of seafood and other ingredients cooked over hot stones in the ground. Kayak in sea channels and marvel at the intensely green Chiloé and Tantauco National Parks.

5. Hand of the Desert

The Atacama Desert is home to not one but several of Chile’s top landmarks. This one, the Hand of the Desert, is quite striking - a startling sculpture of a human hand in the middle of nowhere. This singular installation was built in the early 1980s by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrazabal and sits about 47 miles outside the city of Antofagasta. Drive the Panamerican Highway to get to it - it’s between the 1309 and 1320 kilometer markers.

6. Valle de la Luna

Eight miles west of San Pedro de Atacama, you’ll find another of the Atacama Desert’s prime attractions: Valle de la Luna, or Valley of the Moon. It’s quite easy to get there, whether by bike, tour bus or with a car. The surreal, eerie landscape looks like the surface of the moon, shaped by millennia of wind and water. Though seemingly inhospitable, the valley is home to both humans and several species of flora and fauna.

7. Atacama Giant

View the largest prehistoric anthropomorphic figure in the world, the Atacama Giant, on the Chilean hillside of Cerro Unitas. At 390 feet, this ancient geoglyph reflects local life from AD 1000 to 1400. It is surrounded by approximately 5,000 smaller images, created by digging in the soil or placing stones and sand on top of it. This tall desert god was once used to predict the weather.

8. Tierra del Fuego

If you have the ends of the Earth on your travel bucket list, head to Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia, sharing the border between Chile and Argentina. There's a huge array of wildlife to be seen here, including the charming penguins of Martillo Island. Visit any time of year - just be prepared for the ever-changing conditions of Patagonia. In the winter, you can go dog sledding, and in the summer, there are countless hikes to take. Plus, you can visit Ushuaia, the southernmost town in the world, with its Lighthouse at the End of the World, several museums and delicious chocolate.

9. Volcan Villarrica

Another bucket-list experience, Volcan Villarrica is an active volcano you can totally climb - preferably with a private mountain guide. The volcano can be climbed year-round, with the peak climbing season in the Austral Summer (January and February). The best skiing is in the winter and spring (May through November).

10. Colchagua Wine Valley

Move over Tuscany - the Colchagua Wine Valley is the beating heart of wine production in Chile. Tour numerous wineries and taste their vintages - the most iconic in the region is the Santa Cruz Vineyard, where you can take a cable car to the top of Chaman Hill to view the stars from the observatory there. For wining and dining, Colchagua will capture your attention.

11. Easter Island

Join the many who have been mesmerized by the mysterious Moai of Easter Island, one of the most remote islands in the world. Up to 33 feet tall and weighing as much as 82 tons, the 887 statues are the island’s most iconic attraction. There’s lots more to do, from lounging on the beach to hiking, all the while contemplated how these monoliths were constructed as the island’s natural resources diminished.

12. El Tatio

Get up early to watch the El Tatio geyser field erupt in fumaroles - the best views are between 6 and 7 AM, as the white steam columns soar skyward. El Tatio sits 14,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains and is a top northern Chile attraction. You might catch a glimpse of the endemic wildlife, such as viscachas and vicunas. Take a soak in the healing hot springs before departing.

13. Osorno Volcano

A near perfectly symmetrical dome, the Osorno Volcano is nearly 9,000 feet high. It is quite active, with 11 recorded eruptions between 1575 and 1869. The mountain sits in the Los Lagos region, on Lake Llanquihue, at the start of Chilean Patagonia.

14. Isla Magdalena

Who doesn’t want to spend the day with penguins? Take the boat from PUnta Arenas to Isla Magdalena in southern Chile and you’ll get to hang out with more than 120,000 of them (best time is December through February). There are well-marked hiking trails throughout the island to the best penguin colony viewing spots.

15. Chilean Lake District

Verdant hillsides, snow-capped peaks and lakes upon lakes - that’s what makes the Chilean Lake District so beguiling. Stretching from Temuco to Puerto Montt, the area resembles European lake regions in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The outdoor adventure opportunities are endless: hiking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, volcano trekking and more. Check out the towns of Osorno and Valdivia to view the local architecture, reminiscent of the Swiss, Austrian and German farmers who settled in the area.

16. Lacau National Park

In the far northern region of Chile, Lacau National Park is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with mountains, volcanoes, high plains and pristine lakes. The park also provides a look into the region’s history through its important archaeological sites and evidence of early European settlers. The park is a favorite of birdwatchers, too, as it’s home to more than 140 species - look for Chilean flamingos, Andean geese, the massive Andean condor and others.

17. The Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Go back in time in the northern port city of Iquique in the Pampa Desert. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ghost town was once home to the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works and approximately 200 saltpeter mines in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Get a glimpse of what life was like back then and the hard conditions the “pampinos” faced.

18. Mylodon Cave Natural Monument

The Mylodon Cave Natural Monument is located in the heart of Patagonia a short distance from Puerto Natales. Take the End of the World scenic drive to visit easily accessible caves around the impressive rock formation known as the Devil’s Chair. The main cave, the Milodon Cave, is the discovery site of a p rehistoric Mylodon, as well as remains of other ancient animals. Walk to the top of the cave for spectacular views of Eberhard Fjord.

19. Grand Santiago Tower

Get a bird’s-eye view of Santiago from the tallest building in Latin America - the Great Santiago Tower, measuring 984 feet high. 

20.Ventisquero Colgante Falls

Arguably one of the prettiest waterfalls in the world, Ventisquero Colgante Falls plunges 1,148 feet in a 98-foot-wide stream. The waterfall is backed by a towering blue glacial wall, making the site even more beautiful. While the falls flow year-round, due to the avalanche, much of the falls can be covered by snow and ice in the late spring and early summer.

21. Pacific Cave and Whale Cave, Madre de Dios Island

Explore the caves and their interesting relief on Madre de Dios island. Within Pacific Cave, you’ll find approximately 50 red and black petroglyphs, as well as artifacts from the indigenous Alacaluf people. Whale Cave is massive - 229 by 590 feet - and holds the bones of extinct whales.

22. Termas Geometricas

Definitely off the beaten path, the hot springs in Panguipulli known as Termas Geometricas look like they’ve leapt off a Japanese island and landed on the other side of the world. Follow the red planks through the trees to 17 different pools, each fed directly from a natural hot spring. It’s a near perfect blend of nature and design.

23. Punta Pite

North of Santiago, you can take a very different kind of hike along the Punta Pite, a 27-acre stretch of coastline between Zapallar and Papudo. An elaborate grouping of stairways, bridges and pathways carved out of stone were created to take advantage of the landscape, rather than work against it. More than 40 stonemasons were employed to cut and carve out the mountainside, creating a unique oceanside trail system you’ll never forget.

24. World’s Largest Swimming Pool

Fronting a luxury resort and facing the sea, the World’s Largest Swimming Pool utilizes computer software to transform salty seawater into a pristine lake for guests. It’s more than 1,000 yards long at 115 deep at its deepest. Seawater is constantly pumped and filtered into the private lagoon, cleaned and then returned to the ocean.

Hidden Lagoons of Baltinache

You wouldn't necessarily think you would go swimming in the Atacama Desert, but you’d be wrong. In these highly salty, glittering blue-green lakes, you can do just that. The salty water in the lagoons has been trapped there for millions of years, so they’re sometimes saltier than the Dead Sea. The refreshing water - typically 68 degrees Fahrenheit - feels wonderful under the desert sun.