Chile highlights

Patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco

Le Chili (hors Île de Pâques) compte 5 sites inscrits au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco:

Inca Trails of the Andes ★★★ (2014)
Also known as Qhapaq Ñan. These are the remains of the roads (23,000 km) built by the Incas over several centuries to consolidate their economic and political power across the Andean region. They span six countries.

Churches of Chiloé ★★ (2000)
This UNESCO-listed ensemble of sixteen wooden churches on Chiloé Island is representative of the region. They date from the Spanish era and were built in a distinctive style during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Humberstone and Santa Laura ★★ (2005)
The two former nitrate works in the Atacama Desert are now abandoned and have become tourist attractions. They are UNESCO-listed.

Sewell ★ (2006)
A UNESCO World Heritage site for its painted wooden buildings, Sewell is home to one of the world’s largest underground mines. The town, now uninhabited, sits at over 2,000 m in the Andes mountain range.

Historic Quarter of Valparaíso ★★★ (2003)
The colonial part of the city offers a remarkable example of urban and architectural development from the late 19th century in Latin America. This is why Valparaíso is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Au nord de Santiago

Arica ★★
It’s both a major port city and a beach resort in northern Chile, in the Atacama Desert, known for its beaches and surfing.

Antofagasta ★
This is a major port city on Chile's northern coast, not particularly touristy.

Caldera ★
It’s one of the coastal resorts in the Atacama region.

Chuquicamata ★
Located near Calama, this is the world's largest open-pit copper mine. It can be visited.

Humberstone and Santa Laura ★★
The two former nitrate works in the Atacama Desert are now abandoned and have become tourist attractions. They are UNESCO-listed.

Iquique ★
This port city with its vast 19th-century mansions has several beaches. It is also a free trade zone.

La Serena ★★
A major coastal city that draws many visitors thanks to its beaches. It also boasts beautiful 19th-century architecture with numerous churches.

Hand of the Desert ★
A hand sculpted in the middle of the desert near Antofagasta. A striking setting for this artwork, standing about ten metres tall and rising from the ground.

Portillo ★
This is the main and most renowned ski resort in Chile. It is located at an altitude of 2,870 metres on the shores of the Laguna del Inca, on the border with Argentina.

Pukara de Quitor ★
An ancient pre-Columbian fortress near San Pedro de Atacama.

San Pedro de Atacama ★★
This small tourist town in the Atacama Desert, with its adobe houses, has become very popular for its surroundings (archaeological sites, salt flats, geysers, volcanoes, sandboarding, treks).

Santiago, Chile ★★
Despite its traffic jams and pollution, the Chilean capital remains a lively city with various museums, parks, and interesting buildings against the backdrop of the Andes.

Valparaíso ★★★★
A bay, hills, and vibrant colour define this stunning, lively, and pleasant city near Santiago. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Viña del Mar ★
Located right next to Valparaíso, it is the country's main seaside resort, with plenty of beaches, hotels, and casinos.

Patrimoine naturel

Atacama Desert ★★★★
This location is known as the driest place on Earth. Yet it offers stunning barren landscapes and is home to some of Chile’s most fascinating sites.

El Tatio Geysers ★★★
About a hundred kilometres from San Pedro de Atacama, these are 80 active geysers set in a desert landscape, with volcanoes in the background, at over 4,000 m above sea level.

Lakes Miscanti and Miniques ★★
These are two beautiful high-altitude lakes in the Los Flamencos Reserve, set in a stunning landscape south of San Pedro de Atacama. Large colonies of Andean flamingos nest here.

Licancabur ★★
It’s a striking 5,916 m volcano on the Chile-Bolivia border, and you can climb it from the Bolivian side.

Fray Jorge National Park ★
This small coastal park boasts lush vegetation that makes it truly charming. Hiking is available here.

Lauca National Park ★★★★
This park in the far north of Chile offers magnificent desolate landscapes with high-altitude lakes set against a backdrop of volcanoes—the Andes as you imagine them. It’s one of the country’s "must-see" tourist sites.

Pan de Azúcar National Park ★★
A beautiful desert location on the northern coast where you can see guanacos and various marine mammals.

Puritama Hot Springs ★
These are hot springs located northeast of San Pedro de Atacama.

Los Flamencos National Reserve ★★★★
This 740 km² site, bordering Argentina and Bolivia, is home to several salt deserts, including the famous Atacama Salt Flat, as well as the renowned Moon Valley. The rugged landscapes are stunning and make it a must-visit for any trip.

Moon Valley ★★★★
This magnificent high-altitude desert area, just a few kilometres from San Pedro de Atacama, is part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It offers breathtaking lunar landscapes.

Au sud de Santiago

Juan Fernández Archipelago ★★
A small archipelago of three islands over 600 km off the Chilean coast, featuring beautiful landscapes.

Carretera Austral ★★★
This is the name of Route 7, connecting Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins through Patagonia. Over time, it has become a scenic tourist route, highly appreciated for its setting and environment.

Chiloé ★★★
It is the largest island in Chile. Known for its beautiful landscapes and especially its colorful traditional villages, whose wooden churches are UNESCO-listed. You can hike here, though the island tends to be quite rainy.

Concepcion ★
It's the second-largest urban area in Chile, not particularly touristy, about 500 km south of Santiago.

Pucón ★★
Located on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica, Pucón is a highly popular lakeside resort. You can ski or trek on the slopes of the nearby Villarrica Volcano.

Puerto Montt ★
The major city in the south and a key transport hub, including boats and cruises. Puerto Montt also marks the start of Chilean Patagonia.

Puerto Natales ★
The small town in Chile’s far south typically serves as a base for exploring Torres del Paine National Park. It is also the ferry terminus for the stunning journey from Puerto Montt.

Puerto Varas ★
By the lake, next to Puerto Montt, the town's architecture was influenced by the strong German immigration in the region.

Puerto Williams ★
On Navarino Island, at the southernmost tip of the country, it is the southernmost village in the world (Ushuaia in Argentina being the southernmost city).

Punta Arenas ★
The largest city in Chile's far south and a great base for exploring the surrounding area (landscapes, marine wildlife, treks, boat trips). You can also reach Ushuaia (Argentina) from the city.

Sewell ★
A UNESCO World Heritage site for its painted wooden buildings, Sewell is home to one of the world’s largest underground mines. The town, now uninhabited, sits at over 2,000 m in the Andes mountain range.

Temuco ★
The city is primarily interesting for its museums and monuments dedicated to Mapuche culture.

Valdivia ★
Near this port city, you’ll find an entire network of 17th-century Spanish forts, with ruins still visible today.

Villa O'Higgins ★
This Patagonian village is known only as the endpoint of the "famous" tourist route Carretera Austral.

Patrimoine naturel

Beagle Channel ★★★
It’s a narrow strait between the southern part of the main island of Argentine or Chilean Tierra del Fuego and smaller surrounding islands. You can take stunning boat or kayak trips here to explore the landscapes and wildlife.

Strait of Magellan ★★★
This is the strait between continental Chile and the northern part of the main island of Tierra del Fuego. You can take boat trips here through stunning landscapes.

Lake Fagnano ★
Large lake north of Ushuaia straddling Argentina and Chile. It can be explored on foot or by boat.

Bernardo O'Higgins National Park ★★★
This is Chile's largest national park. It is home to numerous glaciers and is only accessible by boat or helicopter.

Huerquehue National Park ★★
This pretty mountainous park of lakes, waterfalls, and forests, not far from Pucón, is a great place for hiking in both winter and summer.

Laguna del Laja National Park ★
Against a volcanic backdrop, this is a rather pretty high-altitude park where you can trek.

Laguna San Rafael National Park ★★★
North of O'Higgins Park, this magnificent site is home to several fjords and, most notably, the San Rafael Glacier, one of the region's most significant. You can hike and take small cruises here.

Puyehue National Park ★★
This Andean park is one of the most visited in the country. You can hike and enjoy various outdoor activities (including skiing) amid lakes, forests, and volcanoes.

Queulat National Park ★★
A stunning site with fjords, waterfalls, and multiple hiking opportunities.

Radal Siete Tazas National Park ★
Located south of Santiago, it’s a rather pretty spot with many small lakes and waterfalls for hiking.

Torres del Paine National Park ★★★★
This is a stunning park world-famous for its diverse landscapes, forests, lakes and waterfalls, glaciers, and numerous trekking opportunities.

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park ★★
This natural area bordering Puyehue Park is also ideal for hiking and outdoor activities.

Villarrica National Park ★★
Near the city of the same name, this high-altitude park features forests, mountains, and volcanoes. Hiking is available.

Cochamó Valley ★★
The valley is prized by climbers from around the world for its high rock walls, many of which exceed 1,000 metres. It’s also a great place for hiking.