For the seventh consecutive year, Chile has been honored with the award for Best Adventure Tourism Destination in South America by what are considered the “Oscars” of the tourism industry: the World Travel Awards. In addition, the country has also been recognized as the Best Nature Destination and Best Green Destination since 2019. These awards, in addition to helping position Chile globally as an ideal destination for adventure, also raise a rather interesting question: what makes adventure tourism in Chile?
Must-See Destinations
As a country that borders several other territories, Chile’s diversity is a major asset. Choosing this destination means giving yourself the opportunity to visit mountains, volcanoes, deserts, and glaciers without having to cross any borders. We’ll tell you about some of these destinations below.
– Patagonia
After the subsidence of the Andes mountain range, a very distinctive landscape formed in Chile as a result of the abrupt movement of tectonic plates. This natural phenomenon gave rise to archipelagos, steppes, mountains, fjords, channels, volcanoes, and impressive glaciers that constitute the largest freshwater reserve after Antarctica. This makes Patagonia the perfect destination for a wide range of adventure activities, which can be enjoyed from Arica all the way to Tierra del Fuego.
Discover the experiences in Patagonia that are waiting for you
– Atacama
Did you know that when you visit Chile, you can explore the driest inhabited desert on Earth? The Atacama Desert covers an area of 105,000 km² that spans Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. More than 11,000 years ago, it was the birthplace of the Atacameño culture, and today you can visit the stunning landscapes that they themselves turned into ceremonial sites, such as the Licancabur volcano. In addition to hiking in Atacama to see lagoons, salt flats, and volcanoes, this destination is also the best place in the world for stargazing. Thanks to its ideal weather conditions and location, its skies account for 40% of global astronomical observations.
– Altiplano
South of the Andes Mountains lies the majestic Altiplano. A visit to this destination allows you to immerse yourself in Quechua or Aymara culture and explore lakes, marshes, geysers, salt flats, and wetland areas. It is also a major tourist attraction thanks to its stunning landscapes, fascinating native flora, and wildlife, which includes condors, suris, Andean flamingos, and vicuñas.
Unique Experiences
Thanks to the diversity found throughout Chile, there is a wide range of adventure activities to enjoy. In Tolhuin, we strive to ensure that access to these activities is diverse, which is why we’d like to share some of the experiences we offer.
- Hiking and volcanoes: an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of volcanoes. Some of the destinations you can visit include Zoquete Volcano, Copacoya Volcano, Guatin-Puritama, and Lascar Volcano, among others.
- Hiking and Glaciers: an experience that allows you to explore the area’s most iconic glaciers, such as Dientes de Navarino, Cordillera del Avellano, Cumbre Castillo, Cerro San Valentín, Macizo San Lorenzo, and others.
- Backcountry Hiking: A Two-Week Adventure That Invites You on a hiking trip in Patagonia through hidden landscapes. The route begins at Cerro Castillo, crosses the Los Leones and Nef glaciers, descends into the Nef River valley, and meets the mighty Baker River. At the end of the journey, even more unique experiences await.
- Discovery: This expedition is a direct invitation to explore all the natural landscapes that make up the Atacama Desert. An added bonus of this experience is that no prior hiking experience is required, allowing almost anyone to explore snow-capped mountains, volcanoes, and turquoise lagoons where you can spot wonderful wildlife such as vicuñas and flamingos.
- Summit: This adventure is for anyone who loves the mountains. With the right technical preparation and good physical conditioning, you can embark on this climbing experience to summits such as Láscar, Zoquete, Aucanquilcha, or Pili.
- Unlimited Expeditions: If you want to push your body to the limit on an unforgettable adventure, this expedition is the perfect choice. It features long-duration itineraries designed to let you experience as many of Chile’s attractions as possible, whether in the Atacama or Patagonia regions.
At Tolhuin, we recognize the potential of Chile and invite adventurers to explore more and more of the expeditions through South America. The richness of this country opens the door to new feats and unforgettable experiences. Come explore new trails and discover all the benefits of adventure tourism in Chile!
