Attractions of Chile

To help inspire or plan your trip to Chile, some of its major attractions for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country. These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Chile which represent the best of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
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Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Go to Region of Chile-> Chilean Patagonia - Central Chile - Northern Chile - Easter Island

Chilean Patagonia - Historical attractions

Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas Punta Arenas is Chile's southernmost city, located just across the Straits of Magellan from Tierra del Fuego. As well as being a stopping off point for exploring Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego, Punta Arenas is an interesting city in its own right. Founded in the 19th century as a penal colony, the town grew rich as an important port on the shipping routes through the southern oceans and as a centre of sheep ranching. There are numerous mansions in the town which are testament to those days and the interior of the Palacio Sara Braun has been kept in its original state. The city's cemetery also has many grandiose crypts and tombstones of its wealthy families as well as showcasing the cultural diversity of the people who moved and lived here. Close to Punta Arenas at Seno Otway and Island of Magdalena are breeding colonies of Magellanic penguins.

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is Chile's southernmost city, located just across the Straits of Magellan from Tierra del Fuego. As well as being a stopping off point for exploring Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego, Punta Arenas is an interesting city in its own right. Founded in the 19th century as a penal colony, the town grew rich as an important port on the shipping routes through the southern oceans and as a centre of sheep ranching. There are numerous mansions in the town which are testament to those days and the interior of the Palacio Sara Braun has been kept in its original state. The city's cemetery also has many grandiose crypts and tombstones of its wealthy families as well as showcasing the cultural diversity of the people who moved and lived here. Close to Punta Arenas at Seno Otway and Island of Magdalena are breeding colonies of Magellanic penguins.

Central Chile - Historical attractions

Valparaíso
Valparaíso The historic port city of Valparaiso is Chile's cultural capital, as well as being the seat of the National Assembly and a major military base. Valparaiso reached the height of its prosperity in the 19th century but declined with the opening of the Panama Canal. Today it has a rough and faded charm but retains its romantic and atmospheric character and its cultural importance. The city is located in a natural amphitheatre setting with the bay encircled by a narrow coastal plain and a series of steep hills. Valparaiso is famous for its series of 19th century funicular elevators known as ascensors which link the steep hills with the downtown streets. The hillsides are dotted with numerous churches and colourfully painted houses and mansions, including 'La Sebastiana', the former house of the Chilean writer and Nobel Prize Winner, Pablo Neruda. The neighbourhoods of Cerro Concepcion and Cerro Alegre are some of Valparaiso's most charming areas, with wonderful architecture and great views of the hillsides and bay. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso

Valparaíso

The historic port city of Valparaiso is Chile's cultural capital, as well as being the seat of the National Assembly and a major military base. Valparaiso reached the height of its prosperity in the 19th century but declined with the opening of the Panama Canal. Today it has a rough and faded charm but retains its romantic and atmospheric character and its cultural importance. The city is located in a natural amphitheatre setting with the bay encircled by a narrow coastal plain and a series of steep hills. Valparaiso is famous for its series of 19th century funicular elevators known as ascensors which link the steep hills with the downtown streets. The hillsides are dotted with numerous churches and colourfully painted houses and mansions, including 'La Sebastiana', the former house of the Chilean writer and Nobel Prize Winner, Pablo Neruda. The neighbourhoods of Cerro Concepcion and Cerro Alegre are some of Valparaiso's most charming areas, with wonderful architecture and great views of the hillsides and bay.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso

Sewell Mining Town
Sewell Mining Town is located 60km east of Rancagua in central Chile and was built by the Braden Copper company in 1905 to house workers at what was to become the world’s largest underground copper mine, El Teniente. The town was built on a hillside too steep for vehicles, do developed from a central staircase leading upwards from the railway station. Without vehicles there was no need for roads, so paths ran along contours of the central staircase, leading to public squares and streets lined with colourfully painted houses. The 'City of Stairs' is an excellent example of company towns built in remote and harsh locations. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sewell Mining Town

Sewell Mining Town

Sewell Mining Town is located 60km east of Rancagua in central Chile and was built by the Braden Copper company in 1905 to house workers at what was to become the world’s largest underground copper mine, El Teniente. The town was built on a hillside too steep for vehicles, do developed from a central staircase leading upwards from the railway station. Without vehicles there was no need for roads, so paths ran along contours of the central staircase, leading to public squares and streets lined with colourfully painted houses. The 'City of Stairs' is an excellent example of company towns built in remote and harsh locations.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sewell Mining Town

Northern Chile - Historical attractions

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
The Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpetre works were located near the Atacama desert in the remote Chilean Altiplano and were used to process the largest deposit of saltpetre in the world for over 60 years from 1880. This produced the fertilizer sodium nitrate that was to transform agricultural lands in North and South America and Europe. The workers at these plants, from Chile, Peru and Bolivia, lived in company towns and formed a distinctive communal pampinos culture which promoted solidarity and enabled them to fight for social justice, having a profound impact on the social history of the region. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

The Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpetre works were located near the Atacama desert in the remote Chilean Altiplano and were used to process the largest deposit of saltpetre in the world for over 60 years from 1880. This produced the fertilizer sodium nitrate that was to transform agricultural lands in North and South America and Europe. The workers at these plants, from Chile, Peru and Bolivia, lived in company towns and formed a distinctive communal pampinos culture which promoted solidarity and enabled them to fight for social justice, having a profound impact on the social history of the region.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Easter Island - Historical attractions

Rapa Nui / Easter Island
Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world and one of the most mysterious and isolated destinations in world travel. The island was settled between the 4th and 16th centuries by a Polynesian society, who developed a unique culture free from outside influences and left the distinctive monolithic stone statues, or moai, as a reminder of their culture. Of the 800 or so maoi originally built, some 400 remain today in various stages of completion and repair, ranging in size from 2 to 21 metres. The maoi were constructed from solidified lava at Rano Raraku and transported to their sites of erection on wooden rollers - this resulted in the deforestation of the island and the barren landscapes seen today. In addition to the maoi, there are ceremonial shrines or ahu, raised rectangular platforms some of which have associated maoi or tombs, and pictographic writings (rongo rongo) which are still undeciphered. After flying the 3,790km from Chile to Easter Island, you will arrive in Hanga Roa, a small town of less than 4,000 inhabitants but a good base from which to explore the island. Some of the main maoi sites include Ahu Tongariro with 15 restored moai right on the coastline, Ahu Vaihu with 8 toppled moai lying facedown on the ground and Anakena on the northern coast with a perfectly restored maoi overlooking the beach. The ceremonial village of Orongo in the south of the island is one of the most culturally important sites where the warriors of the Birdman Cult would swim to the nearby island of Motu Nui in search of the first of the eggs laid by the manutara, or sooty tern, each year. There are several important ruined buildings and petroglyphs at this site. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rapa Nui National Park

Rapa Nui / Easter Island

Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world and one of the most mysterious and isolated destinations in world travel. The island was settled between the 4th and 16th centuries by a Polynesian society, who developed a unique culture free from outside influences and left the distinctive monolithic stone statues, or moai, as a reminder of their culture. Of the 800 or so maoi originally built, some 400 remain today in various stages of completion and repair, ranging in size from 2 to 21 metres. The maoi were constructed from solidified lava at Rano Raraku and transported to their sites of erection on wooden rollers - this resulted in the deforestation of the island and the barren landscapes seen today. In addition to the maoi, there are ceremonial shrines or ahu, raised rectangular platforms some of which have associated maoi or tombs, and pictographic writings (rongo rongo) which are still undeciphered. After flying the 3,790km from Chile to Easter Island, you will arrive in Hanga Roa, a small town of less than 4,000 inhabitants but a good base from which to explore the island. Some of the main maoi sites include Ahu Tongariro with 15 restored moai right on the coastline, Ahu Vaihu with 8 toppled moai lying facedown on the ground and Anakena on the northern coast with a perfectly restored maoi overlooking the beach. The ceremonial village of Orongo in the south of the island is one of the most culturally important sites where the warriors of the Birdman Cult would swim to the nearby island of Motu Nui in search of the first of the eggs laid by the manutara, or sooty tern, each year. There are several important ruined buildings and petroglyphs at this site.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rapa Nui National Park