Trip Ideas

18 days in Chile: itinerary

A realistic 18-day route through Chile with sensible stop lengths, travel days and costs.

6 min read · Updated 2026-08-01

The two headline landscapes, linked by flights via Santiago.

The route

It keeps transfers short and ends near a major airport. Domestic flights are essential — Santiago to Punta Arenas is over 3,000km

At mid-range pace, an estimated $2,340 per person on the ground, excluding flights.

Best months: November, December, January, February, March.

Atacama desert to Patagonian ice — a 4,000km country you travel in sections

Santiago

Andes-backed capital with strong food, museums and wine valleys within an hour.

San Pedro de Atacama

Desert village at 2,400m — geysers, salt flats, altiplano lagoons and world-class night skies.

Torres del Paine

Patagonia's signature park — granite towers, glaciers and the W and O treks.

Valparaíso & Viña del Mar

UNESCO-listed port of painted hills and funiculars, next to a mainstream beach resort city.

Compare every destination against your own budget, dates and travel style.