Colorful hillside houses of Valparaíso Valle de la Luna rock formations in Atacama El Tatio geysers steam columns at sunrise in Atacama Atacama Desert salt flats at sunset

Best 7 Days in Chile — Workcation (Saturday Start)

Santiago → Valparaíso → San Pedro de Atacama

7 days · 3 cities · 6 activities · route optimized by distance

A mix of photography, art & culture, and walking tours. A moderate mix of walking and active experiences, with a mix of self-guided and guided activities. Includes 4 must-see landmarks across Santiago and Valparaíso and San Pedro de Atacama.

Highlights: Valle de la Luna Sunset Tour, Cerro Alegre & Cerro Concepción Walking Tour, El Tatio Geysers Sunrise Tour, Cerro San Cristóbal & Funicular Ride

Arriving Wed, Jul 1 Change

Your Route — ordered to minimize backtracking

6+ activities scored and ranked · route optimized across 3 cities

Where you'll stay
Hotel in Santiago · From $70/night +2 more
See lodging →
Trip cost
~$506 total · $72/day
See budget →
Top picks
Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
See itinerary →

Day-by-Day Schedule — heavy and light days alternate so you don’t burn out

Santiago

Santiago 4 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 1 Wed, Jul 1 Full Santiago
Morning

Remote work morning — find a café or coworking space

Afternoon Pre-Columbian art exhibition in a Santiago museum
Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art$~2h 30m

Discover 4,500 years of indigenous art from across the Americas

$8 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round indoor; Tue-Sun 10 AM-6 PM; closed Mon 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Santiago

Providencia / Lastarria / Bellavista

wifibreakfastair-conditioning24-hour front desk
Travelers book: Hotel Cumbres Lastarria $90-150/nightLuciano K Hotel $80-130/nightHostal Providencia $30-55/night
Book Hotel in Santiago from $70/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 2 Thu, Jul 2 Light Santiago
Morning

Remote work morning — find a café or coworking space

Afternoon Cerro Santa Lucia hilltop garden and fountain in Santiago
Barrio Lastarria & Cerro Santa Lucía$~3 hrs

Stroll the arty Lastarria quarter and climb the hilltop fortress garden

Best spring/summer 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Santiago

Providencia / Lastarria / Bellavista

wifibreakfastair-conditioning24-hour front desk
Travelers book: Hotel Cumbres Lastarria $90-150/nightLuciano K Hotel $80-130/nightHostal Providencia $30-55/night
Book Hotel in Santiago from $70/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 3 Fri, Jul 3 Light Santiago
Morning

Remote work morning — find a café or coworking space

Afternoon Santiago panoramic view from Cerro San Cristóbal with Andes backdrop
Cerro San Cristóbal & Funicular Ride$~3 hrs

Ride the historic funicular to the summit for panoramic views of Santiago and the Andes

$3 Verified Mar 2026 Clearest views Oct-Mar; funicular closed first Monday of each month 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Santiago

Providencia / Lastarria / Bellavista

wifibreakfastair-conditioning24-hour front desk
Travelers book: Hotel Cumbres Lastarria $90-150/nightLuciano K Hotel $80-130/nightHostal Providencia $30-55/night
Book Hotel in Santiago from $70/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Santiago → Valparaíso
2h ~$10 Comfortable bus from Santiago to Valparaíso (1.5h)

Valparaíso

Valparaíso 1 stop · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 4 Sat, Jul 4 Full Valparaíso
Morning

Remote work morning — find a café or coworking space

Afternoon Colorful hillside houses and stairways of Valparaíso
Cerro Alegre & Cerro Concepción Walking Tour$~4 hrs

Wander colorful hilltop streets filled with street art, cafés, and ocean views

Best spring/summer 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Valparaíso

Cerro Alegre / Cerro Concepción

wifibreakfastterrace
Travelers book: Casa Higueras $100-180/nightHotel Boutique Acontraluz $50-90/nightPataPata Hostel $20-40/night
Book Hotel in Valparaíso from $55/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama 3 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 5 Sun, Jul 5 Full San Pedro de Atacama
Morning

Remote work morning — find a café or coworking space

Afternoon Valle de la Luna dramatic rock formations at sunset
Valle de la Luna Sunset Tour$~4 hrs

Watch the sunset paint otherworldly rock formations in the driest desert on Earth

$30 Verified Mar 2026 Clearest skies Mar-Oct 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama

Village Center / Calle Caracoles

wifibreakfastterracebicycle rental
Travelers book: Alto Atacama Desert Lodge $250-500/nightHotel Kimal $60-100/nightHostal Mamatierra $25-45/night
Book Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama from $65/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 6 Mon, Jul 6 Light San Pedro de Atacama
Morning

Remote work morning — find a café or coworking space

Afternoon El Tatio geysers steam columns at sunrise in Atacama
El Tatio Geysers Sunrise Tour$$~8 hrs

Watch 80 geysers erupt at dawn in the world's highest geyser field

$60 Verified Mar 2026 Best dry season, coldest at dawn Jun-Aug 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama

Village Center / Calle Caracoles

wifibreakfastterracebicycle rental
Travelers book: Alto Atacama Desert Lodge $250-500/nightHotel Kimal $60-100/nightHostal Mamatierra $25-45/night
Book Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama from $65/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 7 Tue, Jul 7 San Pedro de Atacama
Checkout & Depart

Check out of your hotel, grab a final breakfast, and head to the airport. Safe travels from San Pedro de Atacama!

Where You’ll Stay

Estimated total: $316–$474

Trip Budget Estimate

$506 estimated total per person
$72 per day
Lodging $395
Activities $101
Transport $10

Estimates based on listed activity prices and hotel rates. Actual costs vary by season, availability, and personal spending.

Typical range for Chile

$350 – $2,450 per person for 7 days

Budget: $50/day — Hostels, local meals, buses Mid-range: $120/day — Hotels, restaurants, domestic flights Luxury: $350/day — Luxury lodges, wine tours, private transfers

Similar Destinations

Similar vibes, fewer crowds — destinations our algorithm rates as close matches to Chile.

🧳 Practical Info for Chile

📄 Visa
Visa-free for US, EU, UK, CA, AU citizens for up to 90 days. Tourist card issued on arrival.
💵 Tipping
10% tip customary at restaurants. Not expected in casual settings.
💱 Currency
Chilean Peso (CLP). Cards accepted in cities; carry cash for markets and rural Patagonia.
🔌 Power
220V, Type C/L plugs. US/CA travelers need an adapter and possibly a voltage converter.
📶 Connectivity
SIM cards at airports (Entel, Claro, WOM). Good coverage in cities; limited in Patagonia and Atacama interior.
🚨 Emergency
131 (ambulance), 132 (fire), 133 (police)

✈️ Getting Around Chile

✈️ Flight

LATAM and Sky Airline connect Santiago to Atacama, Patagonia, and Easter Island. Book early for $40-120 fares.

🚌 Bus

Long-distance buses (Turbus, Pullman) are comfortable and affordable for routes like Santiago to Valparaiso.

🚗 Car

Car rental recommended for Patagonia's Torres del Paine and the Carretera Austral.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 days enough for Chile?

10 days covers Santiago, Valparaíso, and either Patagonia or the Atacama Desert. For both, plan 14+ days.

What is the best time to visit Chile?

October-March (summer) for Patagonia and general travel. Atacama is year-round. June-August for skiing in the Andes.

How much does a week in Chile cost?

Budget: $50-80/day. Mid-range: $100-180/day. Luxury: $350+/day. Santiago is affordable; Patagonia is significantly more expensive.

Do I need a visa for Chile?

US, EU, UK, CA, AU citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. A tourist card (PDI) is issued on arrival.

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