Santiago, the Atacama Desert & Torres del Paine: Best Itinerary Ideas

How many days do you need in Santiago, the Atacama Desert & Torres del Paine?

• Most travelers spend 9-11 days in Santiago, the Atacama Desert, and Torres del Paine combined
• Visiting Santiago, the Atacama Desert, and Torres del Paine in 7 or 8 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
• With 12 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
• The most common extensions are Punta Arenas and Puerto Varas

How Many Days to Spend in Chile

Recommended Itineraries for Santiago, the Atacama Desert & Torres del Paine

Recommended Itinerary for 9 Days

Explore two spectacular regions of Chile where few travelers venture on this nine-day itinerary. After checking out Santiago, you'll fly to the Atacama desert—an oasis in the driest part of the world known for geysers, salt flats, and starry skies. From here, head to Patagonia, where you'll experience Torres del Paine National Park via a range of activities while staying in a fully sustainable EcoCamp. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 10 Days

Experience Chile's beautiful extremes on this 10-day journey. Begin your adventure in the Atacama Desert—a region characterized by its lunar landscapes, geysers, salt flats, and starry skies. Next, head south to Patagonia to experience Torres del Paine National Park. Here, you'll enjoy an in-depth exploration of the park's natural beauty, including a hike to the base of the iconic towers and an up-close look at the majestic Grey Glacier during a boat tour. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 11 Days

Explore some of South America's most astonishing landscapes on this 11-day nature tour of Chile. First, head north to Atacama to ride e-bikes and buggies through the desert, watch the sunrise over steaming geysers, and gaze at stars through powerful telescopes. Then, go south to the glacial terrain of Patagonia to spend several days climbing and hiking through lakes, forests, and peaks in Torres del Paine National Park. Read more

Extended Itineraries

10-Day Itinerary Including Punta Arenas

Explore regions on both ends of Chile's latitudinal spectrum with this 10-day itinerary. After getting a taste of Santiago, fly north to the Atacama desert—an oasis in the driest part of the world known for geysers, moonscapes, and starry skies. Then fly all the way south to Patagonia's Punta Arenas, where you'll meet a penguin colony before finishing in Torres del Paine National Park for a range of activities and wildlife viewing. Read more

11-Day Itinerary Including Puerto Varas

Travelers flock to Chile from all over the world to visit three principal regions, and this 11-day itinerary has all of them covered. First, it's a trip to the north of the country and the Atacama Desert, where you'll do some stargazing and tour the otherworldly landscapes. Then it's a flight to the southern Lake District and its enormous lakes, wild rivers, and snowcapped volcanoes. Finally, you'll end up in the far south, in Patagonia, where you'll spend a day exploring the most famous national park in the country: Torres del Paine. Read more

How to travel between Santiago, the Atacama Desert & Torres del Paine

How to get to Santiago de Chile
Santiago is one of the most visited cities in Chile and in South America. Depending on where you're coming from, the city may be best reached by car, plane, and sometimes by bus. Read more

How to get to Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most visited places in Chile—and South America. It's close to both Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, and you'll often travel via one or both of these cities. This five-day trip will bring you face-to-face with all the best places and is especially great to consider if you're traveling from Santiago. Read more

How to get to Atacama
The Atacama Desert, or San Pedro de Atacama, is known for its majestic desert located in the north of Chile, close to Antofagasta. Read more