Paloma & Melissa
Things To Do / Panoramas
San Pedro de Atacama (Far North Chile)
San Pedro de Atacama is an amazing desert retreat. This small town is bustling with visitors headed out on hiking, mountain biking, visit geysers, and other adventures! Once you get to the town of San Pedro it is easy to rent bikes or book tours at any hostel or hotel. To arrive, consider taking a bus (its a long ride!) or flying to Calama and catching a smaller bus to San Pedro from there.
Valle del Elqui (North Chile)
The Valley del Elqui is located outside of La Serena, Chile. This lovely valley is famous for its Pisco production and you can visit distilleries and relax. There are hiking trails and pisco vineyards. The area is known for its amazingly clear skies and we highly suggest a visit to an observatory to gaze on the stars! To arrive, consider taking a bus (we recommend overnight) or flying to La Serena/Coquimbo and catching a bus from there.
Puerto Montt, Llanquihue, Puerto Varas, Frutillar, Puerto Octay (South Chile)
These small towns sit on a lake. The area is known for a large population of German immigration and looks like a small Bavaria. Enjoy lakeside volcano views! Check out the Lake Theater to see if there is music happening. Make sure to eat lots of Kuchen (cakes!). To arrive take a bus or flight to Puerto Montt and these small towns are just a short bus ride from there!
Chiloé Island (South Chile)
Chiloé is an island archipelago in southern Chile. This entrancing island is home to lots of folklore, unique UNESCO churches that are made with no nails, and the palafito homes which are elevated to avoid the tides. Be sure to try Curanto en hoyo, a traditional dish of seafood cooked in a hole in the ground. Enjoy learning the vibrant local folklore and visiting small islands where wool is a main product. We highly suggest making a stop at the National park on the island! To arrive, take a bus or fly to Puerto Montt and get on the ferry boat the makes the trip to Castro (capital city of the island). Once you are on the island local buses and boat services can take you from small town to small town.
Torres del Paine National Park (Far South Chile)
Torres del Paine is one of the top national parks in the world! It will be the prime season to visit in December/January! You can book a flight to Punta Arenas. From there you can get a bus to Puerto Natales. In Puerto Natales any hotel or hostel will have information about how to get to the park and can help you book a bus seat! From there you can do the O trail (10 days), the W (4-5 days), or just a day hike in to see the torres. If you don't feel like hiking you can book trips on boats that take you to the Glacier. Make sure to reserve ahead of time for your admission to the park (they have a daily limit), camp sites, rental equipment, and hotels because it will be busy!