Stretching across South America’s Pacific coast, under a clear star-strewn sky, Chile compels travellers to explore a land of shifting scenery. Dry deserts lure astronomers from around the world, cosmopolitan cities rise between mountains, a remote island continues to mystify with ancient secrets, and millennial glaciers and fjords await adventurers over at the very tip of the continent. Choose Chile for its wealth of varied wonders and truly unwind in the most spectacular of settings.
Visit Chile: get started
There are so many places to see in Chile! Every trip to Chile begins in the capital of Santiago, where you can visit Plaza de Armas, La Moneda Palace and San Cristóbal Hill. Other attractions in Chile? Valle Nevado, the enigmatic Rapa Nui (Easter Island), the Strait of Magellan, the wine valleys near Santiago and Queulat National Park or Puyehue National Park for hiking. Browse our Chile packages and bundles to start planning!
Chile travel guide
Destination facts
Language
Spanish
What to bring back
Alpaca wool clothing, a bottle of Chilean wine (Chile is a major exporter of wine!), hand-woven blankets or apparel from the indigenous Mapuche people, Easter Island-themed statues or souvenirs, artisanal copper or wood objects or jewellery featuring the bright-blue lapis lazuli stone.
What to eat
South American staples like empanadas and ceviche, cazuelas (chicken, beef or seafood stews), completes (Chilean hot dogs), sopaipillas (pumpkin flatbread), pastel de choclo (a savoury corn pudding), barbequed lamb, and a variety of fish and seafood dishes.
Fun fact
Aside from its fantastic landscapes, cuisine and culture, Chile is also an important destination for… astrotourism! What’s that? Basically a fancy word for star-gazing! Supposedly, Chilean skies are the clearest in the southern hemisphere, making the country an ideal place to spot constellations, planets, shooting stars and whatever else may brighten our skies. The country’s top star-gazing destinations are La Serena, Elqui Valley, San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta and Iquique, where you can find scientific observatories.
Important info
For more information on all necessary travel documents, visa, taxes and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.
