Timing

The number of wonderful natural and cultural attractions in Chile and the great distances between them mean that fitting all the highlights into one trip can be a challenge, especially with Santiago, the main point of entry by air into Chile, smack in the center of the country. It doesn't help that two of the country's most extraordinary natural attractions—the Atacama Desert in the north and Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in the south—are at extreme opposite ends of the country. Traveling by air is one way of moving around, and domestic airfares are a bit cheaper than U.S. prices for equivalent distances. But if you don't have a lot of time, consider breaking your trip into Santiago and northern Chile or Santiago and southern Chile.