Chile The North (4 weeks)

Before exposing yourself to the most extreme environs of Chile, you might as well soak up some sun in the relaxed beach town of Arica. As the major international gateway from Peru and Bolivia and an important regional transport hub, it’s an easy place to start. From there, head east to PN Lauca to enjoy vast alpine fields, snow-capped mountains, and diverse wildlife. Be sure to plan a trek through neighboring RN Las Vicuñas to see the brilliant white salt plains of the Salar de Surire. After walking in the clouds with the reserve’s vicuñas and guanacos, find another slice of heaven in Iquique. Often called the Miami Beach of South America, this coastal city is an interesting contrast of 19th-century colonial port and 21st-century luxury beach resort, complete with a nightly wildlife of its own. Heading south, you’ll enter the vast Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth, via an otherworldly forest of strange trees—RN Pampa del Tamarugal, protector of the last of the tenacious tamarugo trees, which manage to thrive even in the dry, saline soils at the edge of the desert. Head on to the heart of the desert, San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis village that is the jumping-off point for some of the best sights of the region. From here, you can head on over to watch the steaming explosions of El Tatio Geysers, catch a sunrise over the eerie landscape of Valle de la Luna, and frolic with flamingos in RN Los Flamencos. When you are ready to get back to civilization, catch a bus to Antofagasta, the largest city in the northern region, where you’ll find plenty of urban excitement. After a short break to relax on the beaches in Bahía Inglesa, head on to Copiapó. From Copiapó, conquer PN Nevado Tres Cruces, home to some of the best hiking and climbing the Andes have to offer, including Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world. Just don’t fall in, because you will want to be on the road again to reach La Serena, from where you can jump around with the penguins in nearby RN Pingüino de Humboldt before toasting yourself for finishing your journey at the pisco plant in Pisco Elqui.

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.