🗺️ Cuisine, Atacama and Easter Island: a Chile guide for your first trip

Chile stretches along the Pacific Ocean for thousands of kilometers. You won't see the whole country in one trip, so you'll have to choose.

The list for a first visit is short: four dishes and five places that are nothing alike.

The key point right away. Starting October 1, 2025, entry to the national park on Easter Island has become more expensive (as of 09/2026, official Rapa Nui park website).

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What to know before the trip

💡 In short:

Split your route into two blocks: the north with the Atacama Desert and the south with Punta Arenas.
For Easter Island, book a separate flight from Santiago.
Buy national park tickets in advance: seasonal limits change.
Tickets and park schedules: 09/2026, verified on the Lauca park website.

Chile doesn't fit into a single visit, so pick two or three regions in advance based on how much time you have. The north gives you desert and highlands. The south shows you penguins and the winds of the Strait of Magellan. Planes fly between regions, but you'll spend days on transfers.

Your body needs air in the mountains, and there's no rush here. The highlands don't forgive haste.

What makes Chile surprising

A few facts explain the local geography better than any map.

It's the longest country in the world: it stretches from desert in the north to glaciers in the south.
This is where the Atacama lies, the driest desert on the planet. In some of its areas, it hasn't rained for decades.
The country hosts one of the world's largest astronomical complexes, which is why people come here for the night sky.
Easter Island is also part of Chile, even though the nearest continent is thousands of kilometers away.
Penguins don't live only in Antarctica: a Chilean colony nests on Magdalena Island.
The sap of the Chilean palm is boiled into a thick palm honey, served with desserts.

National cuisine: four dishes

Chilean cuisine grew out of indigenous, Spanish, and German traditions all at once. It's hearty, built on corn and beans, and almost always served hot. Below are four dishes you should start with.

Pastel de choclo

A corn pie that combines savory and sweet flavors. It's baked during corn season, which means summer.

Caldo de patas

A warming soup made from vegetables and pig's feet. The broth is thick, and one bowl is enough to warm you up after a cold evening.

Porotos granados

A Chilean country-style stew of beans, corn, and squash. The dish is vegetarian, but sausages are often served alongside it, so check the ingredients.

Ajiaco

A soup on a meat broth. The meat is grilled on a parrilla beforehand, so the broth absorbs the aroma of charcoal.

What to see in Chile

Five places are scattered across the country, and you can't fit them all into one trip. Choose based on the season, otherwise part of your route will fall through.

Place	Region	Entry
Easter Island	Pacific Ocean, separate flight from Santiago	paid, accredited guide required
Mano del Desierto	near Antofagasta, by the Pan-American Highway	free
Lauca National Park	border with Bolivia	paid, ticket at the entrance
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes	pass on the border with Argentina	free
Magdalena Island	Strait of Magellan, from Punta Arenas	boat tour only

Easter Island

The moai stone statues stand here in the hundreds: there are more than nine hundred in total (as of 09/2026, official park website). Most of them remain in the Rano Raraku quarry, where about four hundred unfinished figures lie. The park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

How to get there: only by plane from Santiago, there is no other way to reach the island.
Ticket: admission is paid.
The catch: at Rano Raraku and Orongo you get one entry per ticket, you cannot go back in again.

Mano del Desierto

A giant hand rises out of the sand right next to the Pan-American Highway, not far from Antofagasta. The artist placed it there as a reminder of how defenseless humans are against the desert.

How to get there: by car heading south from Antofagasta along the highway, a roadside stop.
Cost: free entry, it is a roadside sculpture.
The catch: it is not a standalone attraction, just a short stop along the way.

Giant hand sticking out of the sand in the Atacama Desert

Lauca National Park

The park lies on a high-altitude plateau on the border with Bolivia. Its Chungara Lake sits at 4,540 meters, one of the highest lakes in the world (as of 09/2026, CONAF). The park is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

How to get there: from Arica along the international highway toward Bolivia, on your own or with a tour.
Ticket: admission is paid, you buy the ticket at the entrance.
The catch: the altitude causes altitude sickness, so you should take it easy on your first day.

Parinacota Volcano reflected in Chungara Lake

Christ the Redeemer of the Andes

On the pass between Chile and Argentina stands a multi-meter statue of Christ. It was erected more than a century ago, when the two countries finally agreed on their border after a long dispute. The monument sealed the peace agreement.

How to get there: from Santiago along the highway to the pass, usually as part of a tour.
Cost: free entry.

Christ of the Andes with a cross in the mountains

Magdalena Island

A small island in the Strait of Magellan known for its colony of Magellanic penguins. An old lighthouse stands on the island, and there are almost no other buildings.

How to get there: by boat from Punta Arenas, trips run only in season.
Cost: book your boat ticket in advance, spots sell out quickly.
The catch: the landing is short and only along a set route, you cannot roam freely around the island.

Magellanic penguin on a rocky shore with dry grass

These islands and parks are easy to group into regional blocks. Atacama lies in the north, about 1,600 km from Santiago. The penguins and the Strait of Magellan are in the south. This way you fly less and see more.

Tours and tickets

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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days should I plan for Chile?

For a relaxed trip you need about two weeks: three to four days on Easter Island, three in the Atacama Desert, and two to three in the south for the penguins.

When is the best time to go to Easter Island?

The island sits in the ocean, and the weather is mild year-round, but the windy season falls in the Southern Hemisphere winter. Plan your trip for the Chilean summer, from November to March: the weather and flights are easier then.

What should I definitely try from Chilean cuisine?

Start with pastel de choclo and ajiaco. The first combines sweet and savory flavors, the second gives you a rich broth with a smoky aroma. Add porotos granados and caldo de patas to try both a vegetable stew and a hearty soup.

Do I need a guide on Easter Island?

Yes, you cannot enter the national park without an accredited Ma'u Henua guide (as of 09/2026, official website). The guide explains the rules: you cannot get close to the statues.

Is the Atacama Desert dangerous?

The desert itself is not dangerous, but it is very dry and the temperature drops sharply in the evening. Bring water, sunscreen, and a warm jacket, and plan your outings with extra time.

In short: what to book

If you have two weeks, book the three pillars of the route: the flight to Easter Island, a tour in Atacama, and the boat to the penguins on Magdalena Island.

If you only have a week, stick to one region and do not tear your trip apart with three flights. Book park tickets and boat spots in advance: limits are seasonal, and entry to Easter Island is getting more expensive.

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Chile: 4 dishes and 5 places worth seeing