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Chile's Best Attractions

The two things people actually fly to Chile for: alien-looking desert landscapes and the best trekking in South America.

The two headline experiences: the Atacama Desert's otherworldly landscape (El Tatio's geysers at sunrise, Valle de la Luna at sunset, flamingo-dotted salt flats, and some of the clearest night skies on the planet), and Torres del Paine's trekking circuits (the 4–5 day W Trek or the full 7–9 day O Circuit). Both require real advance planning — Patagonia's refugios and campsites book out months ahead in peak season (November–March), and Atacama's tours fill up daily in high season.

Chile doesn't have a long list of 'must-see' box-ticking attractions in the way a lot of countries do — it has two absolutely massive ones, and they couldn't be more different. One is one of the driest, starkest landscapes on the planet; the other is some of the best hiking on Earth, full stop. Here's what's actually worth building a trip around, and the planning details most guides skip.

Torres del Paine Trekking: W Trek vs. O Circuit
Attractions

Torres del Paine Trekking: W Trek vs. O Circuit

South America's best-known trek — and one that genuinely requires booking ahead.

Atacama Salt Flats, Geysers and Stargazing
Attractions

Atacama Salt Flats, Geysers and Stargazing

The desert day trips that make San Pedro one of the strangest, best-looking places on Earth.

Questions people actually ask

Do I need to book Torres del Paine in advance?
Yes — this is not optional if you're trekking independently. Refugio beds and campsites inside the park sell out months ahead for the November–March season; booking the week before is realistically only possible with a guided operator who holds allocated spots.
Is the Atacama Desert worth visiting if I'm not into hiking?
Absolutely — most of Atacama's highlights (El Tatio geysers, Valle de la Luna, the salt flats, stargazing tours) are short walks or vehicle-based, not treks. It's one of the more accessible 'wow' landscapes in South America for travelers of any fitness level.
Which is more physically demanding, Atacama or Torres del Paine?
Torres del Paine, by a wide margin — even the shorter W Trek involves multiple days of hiking 6–8+ hours with a pack in genuinely strong Patagonian wind. Atacama's main altitude challenge is adjusting to roughly 8,000 feet (2,400m) in San Pedro itself, with some day trips going considerably higher.