11 Off-the-Beaten Path Places in the North of Chile

Thinking about visiting the north of Chile? Here are some absolute hidden gems you need to know about today when planning a trip to northern Chile.

There aren’t many places in the world that compare to Northern Chile. There’s a feeling of otherworldliness that’s difficult to describe and a vast open space that feels like it will never come to an end, only to occasionally be punctured by a towering, snow-capped volcano or high Andean lake.

It’s a sun-baked land that’s littered with freely roaming wildlife both on land and in the seas and small villages of indigenous people that have called these lands, in the north of Chile, home for thousands of years.

San Pedro de Atacama is normally the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about north Chile, but there’s way more to see than that.

Admittedly San Pedro and the Atacama Desert are beautiful but it’s also crowded and there are many other valleys, national parks, islands and settlements to visit to discover the magic of northern Chile.

Keep reading to find my ultimate list of places to visit in Northern Chile, all of which can be combined to form a classic northern chile itinerary.

Best Time to Visit Northern Chile

While the climate in Chile is extremely varied given its length, things are quite settled in the north of Chile. Given its primarily desert landscapes the weather is pretty similar all year round. You can expect warm to hot days with plenty of sunshine but frigid nights.

The rainy season passes through the Altiplanico area from December to February. During this time most of the annual rain will fall and flash flooding is common. I would avoid visiting during this time.

In general, temperatures become cooler from June-August during the southern hemisphere winter but this is still a good time to visit.

When visiting the North of Chile you’ll need to bring plenty of warm layers for the evening yet cool clothing, a hat and sunscreen for the high, day temperatures.

11 Best Places to Visit in the North of Chile

Here are my top 11 off-the-beaten-track places that are worth your time on a north Chile itinerary.

1. Elqui Valley

Located almost 600km north of Santiago, the Elqui Valley is a gem in the centre of Chile’s fourth region. The quiet, beautiful valley stretches inland from La Serena into the Andres providing a feast of contrast for the eyes- high, dust-brown peaks against sheer green cultivation on the valley floor.

Here you’ll notice endless rows of local produce like custard apples, Chilean papaya and of course grapes from which the famous national spirit of Chile, pisco is made. 

While driving through the valley is inevitable and you’ll want to stop and take some pictures, the highlights of this valley are the small villages that add character and colour to the sandy, dusty backdrop of these hills.

Vicuña and Pisco Elqui are neat little farming towns that make excellent bases for exploring the area.

In Vicuña don’t miss the Gabriela Mistral museum to learn more about the Chilean Nobel Prize-winning writer and Pisco Capel, while in Pisco Elqui you’ll want to check out Pisco Mistral, the oldest and prettiest Pisco distillery and the quaint main square, where you can buy local jams and handmade jewellery.

The Elqui Valley, except the Atacama desert, is the best place in Chile, if not the Southern Hemisphere to watch and learn about the night’s sky.

Here, there are a handful of observatories you can visit for an evening tour which ends with looking through some telescopes to see the dazzling displays of planets, stars and galaxies.

Notable observatories to visit are Cerro Mamalluca Observatory, Del Pangue and Cancana Observatory and tours can be booked in Vicuña and Pisco Elqui.

Where to Stay in the Elqui Valley:

Hotel Faro del Valle – Cute little wooden cabins with pool in the desert oasis

Ladera Loft Pisco Elqui – Little adobe cabins with plenty of character and stunning views of the Elqui Valley.

2. Bahia Inglesa

With some of the most turquoise waters on the Chile coast, Bahia Inglesa is one of the top things to see in Chile if you’re missing the beach.

Located northwest of the city of Copiapo, Bahia Inglesa is just a tiny little beach which just happens to be one of Chile’s best beach destinations. The nondescript town makes the perfect place to stay for a couple of days to get away from it all.

There’s nothing much here but that’s the beauty of the area unless you’re here in February when things get busy as Chileans head all around the country to enjoy their holidays. 

Head to the beach and enjoy the (almost) warm, turquoise waters and delightful sea breeze, rent bicycles and explore the nearby bay and town of Caldera and at sunset enjoy walks on the beach to the peaceful sound of the crashing waves. 

Where to Stay in Bahia Ingelsa:

Hotel Rocas de Bahía – The cutest hotel you’ll find in town with pristine beach views.

3. Nevado de Tres Cruces National Park

Straight across from Bahia Inglesa is the Nevado de Tres Cruces National Park where the Cordillera splits and over thousands or millions of years it formed a plateau where trapped water formed salt flats.

One of the salt flats, Salar de Maricunga, a shining-white expanse is flanked by tall awe-inspiring volcanoes and blue skies.

Continue on the road towards Mina Marta and you’ll pass mineral-rich mountains until you arrive at Laguna Santa Rosa and a little further south Laguna del Negro Francisco, home to wild ducks, flamingos and a vast variety of bird species.

Getting to and around this area isn’t easy by public transport so it’s best to rent a car and head out yourself. Just remember to pack plenty of supplies (gas and water) and plan your trip accordingly due to altitude.

4. The Hand of the Desert

This social media famous, Chilean landmark is essentially a stone hand sculpture rising from the desert floor.

Located in the middle of the desert, some 70km south of Antofagasta on Highway 5, the 36ft sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal draws people from all over looking for the perfect Insta shot.

The best time to visit is at sunset as that golden hour light starts to illuminate the landscape. Stay a few hours longer and you’ll get rewarded by some of the best stargazing in the area and nighttime photography opportunities.

If you do have some extra time for exploring the area I’d also recommend checking out some nearby mining ghost towns such as Oficina Yugoslavia, Oficina Bonasort and Oficina Rosario– now completely abandoned due to the collapse of the nitrate industry at the beginning of the 20th Century.

5. San Pedro de Atacama

OK, so not exactly an off the beaten track destination as San Pedro de Atacama is probably the most famous Chile tourist attraction in the north, but it simply couldn’t be missed in any article about Chile’s north.

Rent a car, base yourself in the area’s hub of San Pedro de Atacama and spend your days driving around and exploring the magic and otherworldliness of this stunning landscape. This trip is one of Chile’s highlights.

Some places you simply must visit in Chile’s Norte Grande region are the Tatio Geysers, Valle de la Luna and Valle de la Muerte, Lagunas Baltinache and Piedras Rojas. You’ll be able to experience the natural pools, salt flats and outstanding landscapes that have evolved over millions of years.

Don’t miss stargazing in this spectacular desert as well as epic sunsets and sunrises and local wildlife spottings such as vicuñas, flamingos, viscachas (Andean rabbit) and Andean foxes.

Read the full 4-day Atacama Self-Driving Itinerary to plan your trip. If you’re wondering whether to rent a car and drive yourself or to take tours read our Self-Drive or Tours in Atacama guide.

Where to Stay in San Pedro de Atacama? Read the Best Luxury Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama.

6. Humberstone Ghost Town

One of the most amazing places in Chile, Humberstone is the best-preserved ghost town in Chile and makes the perfect stop along Highway 5.

The north of Chile is full of these ghost towns which came about when towns and villages were abandoned entirely in the middle of the desert as mining of a particular mineral ceased, in this case, nitrate.

Humberstone and the surrounding villages like Santa Laura can be visited where you can explore the town’s theatre, grocery stores, houses, hotel, hospital and the industrial plants where the saltpetre was made.

Everything is exactly as it was when it was abandoned, giving such an eerie feeling, as though you’re walking through the set of a Western movie. There’s nothing quite like Humberstone in Chile or anywhere else in South America.

7. Iquique

Iquique is one of the best cities to visit in Chile having some noteworthy places to take into account if you’re staying for a day or two.

The main highlight of the city itself is its long beach, one of the best of Northern Chile’s beaches, on which you can relax and enjoy the warmest water you’ll get in Chile and long stretches of sand, perfect for strolling on at sunset.

In the centre of town you’ll also find the charming Municipal Theatre and Baquedano Boulevard, on which you’ll be able to see some of the oldest, yet nicely resorted houses in the city. 

The best thing to do in Iquique, nothing to do with the city itself, is paragliding. Iquique is backed by gigantic sand dunes which tower over the entire city making it the perfect place for paragliding over the city and the water’s edge.

If you’ve never tried it and want to give it a go, this is one of the best places in Chile to do so.

8. Lauca National Park

Further north, located on the border with Bolivia and fairly close to Peru you’ll find Lauca National Park, quite easily one of the best national parks in northern Chile.

This truly is an off-the-beaten-track destination as not many people make it here due to its remoteness and altitude.

You’ll need to rent a car to explore this area (best done in Arica) and you can use the town of Putre as a base to explore the area, also serving as a great place to acclimatise.

Lauca National Park is Chile’s highest national park, most of it between 4,000 and 6,000 metres above sea level, so you’ll have to consider acclimatising and moving slowly.

Discover the abundance of local wildlife like flamingoes and vicuñas, snow-capped volcanoes and immense expanses of windswept planes.

Where to Stay in Putre:

Terrace Lodge– One of the best accommodations in the village is this no-frills yet comfortable and friendly spot to use as a base to explore the area.

9. Las Vicuñas Natural Reserve

Located just south of Lauca National Park and easily combined with the above, this can also be counted as one of the most beautiful national reserves in the North of Chile.

There’s little else to do but drive around, take in and photograph the sweeping views and get up close and personal with the resident vicuñas, this Andean llama-like animal is everywhere in these parts. 

This park is pretty tricky to navigate and it isn’t well sign-posted so it might be a good idea to bring a local guide who can point out the best view spots and places to go.

10. Volcan Isluga National Park

Another gem in Chile’s north, this under-visited national park is well worth it if you make the effort to get out there. Here you’ll find jaw-dropping natural views of desert plains and iconic volcanoes towering over the landscape.

You’ll see wild vicuñas traversing the landscapes and geysers in the middle of the desert (Campo Geotermico de Puchuldiza). Don’t miss the one-horse towns of Enquelga, Arbilla and Isluga and its beautiful little church.

11. Humboldt Penguin National Reserve

A little while north of La Serena (75km) is the Humboldt Penguin Reserve. These islands and waters hold some of the richest marine life that Chile has to offer and if you’re an animal lover and love to observe animals in the wild, this place is unmissable.

Base yourself in the tiny town of Los Choros where you can organise boat tours to take you to Isla Choros on and around which you can observe the Humboldt penguins, sea lions, bottle-nosed dolphins and depending on the time of year, humpback and sperm whales passing to and from the Antarctic.

Top Tips for Visiting the North of Chile

↠ Having your own wheels really makes a difference. While travelling from one major city to another is relatively easy in Chile, it helps to have your vehicle when exploring smaller villages and national parks.

Buses can be few and far between in national parks and if you want to explore places like Lauca National Park or Tres Cruces you’ll benefit from having your own wheels. Luckily car rental in the north of Chile is much cheaper than in the south. Check the best car rental rates with Discover Cars here.

↠ Avoid the most touristic areas like San Pedro de Atacama, Bahia Inglesa, Iquique and the Elqui Valley in February, as this is vacation month for most Chileans. February is a great month to make your way to some of the lesser-visited national parks of the north instead.

↠ If driving make sure to have enough gas for your whole trip and plan ahead. Gas stations are few and far between in some areas in the desert in Northern Chile and you don’t want to run out in the middle of nowhere.

↠ The climate in north Chile is a hot, desert, semi-arid climate. Days are sunny and hot and nights are cold, sometimes below freezing. Make sure to bring gear and clothes for all seasons.

↠ Distances are long so make sure to stock up on healthy, road-trip-friendly snacks like cereal bars, fruit and nuts so you don’t go hungry.

↠ Altitude can be a serious problem in some of these areas, especially the national parks close to the Andes. You’ll want to plan your itinerary based on the changes in altitude, moving up gradually. Naturally, you’ll also need more time in these areas to acclimatise.

Do you have any comments or questions about the travel itineraries in northern Chile? Let me know in the comments below:

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