Where to go in Chile

Four corners of Chile we know by heart, from the high Andes above Santiago to the lakes and volcanoes of the south and the granite towers of Patagonia. We live and guide here, season after season.

Map of Chile showing where Vertic works: the Central Andes around Santiago, the Lake District around Pucón and Puerto Varas, Northern Patagonia (Aysén, tailor-made trips) and Southern Patagonia with Torres del Paine.
Central AndesSantiago · Valle Nevado
Lake DistrictPucón · Puerto Varas
Northern PatagoniaAysén · Tailor-made
Southern PatagoniaTorres del Paine
Boundaries: geoBoundaries, CC BY 4.0

4,300 km of country. We focus on three regions and know each one on foot, on skis and by season.

Further north in Patagonia, Aysén and the Carretera Austral are open for tailor-made trips. Northern Patagonia (Aysén): tailor-made trips

Regions

  • The Cuernos del Paine seen across the Patagonian scrub

    Chilean Patagonia · Magallanes & Aysén

    Patagonia

    Granite towers, glaciers and wind. Torres del Paine is where we have guided for years and where most of our trips happen: the W, the O and our multi-activity programs, with group departures from September to November. Further north, Aysén and the Carretera Austral are open for tailor-made trips: the Marble Caves and the Cerro Castillo trail from Las Horquetas.

    Best known for
    Trekking, glaciers, pumas
    When to go
    Year-round. Best Oct–Apr
    Patagonia travel guide
  • Ski tourer skinning toward a volcano summit, southern Chile

    Lakes & volcanoes · Pucón and Puerto Varas

    Lake District

    Snow-capped volcanoes above lakes and rainforest, around Pucón and Puerto Varas. Climb Villarrica or Osorno in summer, ski them in winter on our Three Volcanoes traverse, and fish the rivers in between.

    Best known for
    Volcano ascents, ski touring, fly fishing
    When to go
    Dec–Mar for summits, Jul–Oct for snow
    Lake District travel guide
  • Yellow resort building and ski lifts on a clear winter day, Portillo

    Santiago · Valle Nevado · Portillo

    Central Andes

    Our winter home. When it is summer up north, the highest Andes fill with snow less than two hours from Santiago: resort skiing, backcountry days and, once the snow melts, the climb to Cerro El Plomo.

    Best known for
    Skiing, backcountry, Cerro El Plomo
    When to go
    Jun–Sep for ski, Sep–Mar for El Plomo
    Central Andes travel guide
  • The spires of Cerro Castillo lit red at sunrise, Aysén

    Tailor-made only · Aysén

    Northern Patagonia

    North of Torres del Paine lies Aysén, one of the wildest corners of Chile. Drive the Carretera Austral, paddle into the Marble Caves of General Carrera Lake and hike the Cerro Castillo trail from Las Horquetas. We plan it as a tailor-made trip, best from November to March.

    Best known for
    Carretera Austral, Marble Caves, Cerro Castillo
    When to go
    Nov–Mar
    Northern Patagonia

There is no bad time to go. Just a different Chile.

Our year has two halves. Patagonia from spring to autumn, the Andes and the volcanoes when the snow falls. Here is what each region does best, month by month.

Patagonia
January to February: SummerLongest days, every route open, Carretera Austral
March to April: AutumnRed lenga forests, calmer wind
May to August: WinterPuma season, snowy peaks, empty trails
September to November: Late winter to springGroup departures: Active, W and O
December: Summer
Group departures: September, October, November
Lake District
January to March: Volcano summersVillarrica, Osorno, fly fishing
April to June: AutumnForest colors, rain
July to October: Snow on the volcanoesThree Volcanoes Ski Traverse, Jul–Aug
November: SpringFishing opens
December: Summer
Group departures: July, August
Central Andes
January to March: Cerro El PlomoHigh summit season
April to May: AutumnQuiet valleys
June to August: Ski seasonValle Nevado, Portillo, backcountry, heli-skiing
September: Ski · El Plomo
October to December: Cerro El PlomoSpring and summer ascents
  • Our best months
  • Good season
  • Quieter, with its own rewards
  • Group departures
Best time to visit Patagonia

Not sure which region fits you?

Tell us when you can travel and what you love doing outdoors. We will suggest where to go and design the trip around you.

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