4-week Northern Chile itinerary with kids
My family and I recently spent four weeks exploring the northern part of Chile and wanted to share our experiences to help others plan their adventures.
These 4 weeks were purposefully slow travel. This means that while we could have spent half the time in some of these places, we really wanted to slow travel and spend time just enjoying life in those places and not just rushing through sights.
Chile is so huge, planning an itinerary can be a little overwhelming. Here are the places we stayed in and the highlights of our trip.
Northern Chile Itinerary
COQUIMBO & VALPARAÍSO PROVINCES
4 days - La Serena was our first base to explore the region.
Our favourite visit was the boat trip to the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve.
4 days - For our second stop, we stayed by the beach near Puchuncavi for a slice of real non-touristy Chile. I can recommend this fabulous Airbnb we loved. Set on a private road, steps away from the ocean, it is a little peace heaven.
Our favourite visits included Valapraíso, playa Cau-Cau and the small villages along the coast.
RAPA NUI (EASTER ISLAND)
5 days - We stayed just outside of Hanga Roa, the main town.
Highlights: sunrise at Ahu Tongariki (my favourite), sunset at Tahai and swimming with turtles (my children’s favourite part).
ATACAMA & EXTREME NORTH
4 days - We based ourselves in Iquique. A fascinating city wedged on a flat piece of land by the sea.
Our highlight: Humberstone mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
12 days - We stayed in San Pedro de Atacama. I highly recommend this Airbnb. The hosts are extremely kind, the view is stunning and the peace is out of this world.
Highlights: the salt flats and its flamingos, Devil’s Throat and the village of San Pedro itself.
SANTIAGO
3 days - We stayed in the area of Providencia.
Our highlight was definitely the Museum of pre-Colombian art, a must-see visit. My children loved to see mummies older than the Egyptian ones.
Travel Tips
Transportation: We opted to rent cars for many stops of our trip. They provided us with the flexibility to explore at our own pace. Chile's road infrastructure is excellent, making it easy to navigate the country.
Flights: We flew (from Santiago) to Rapa Nui and Calama for our visits to Easter Island and the Atacama Desert.
Weather: Consider the weather when planning your trip. We chose to visit the northern part of Chile during the our summer months (July and August) to avoid the colder temperatures in the southern regions. Don’t forget that it is winter there during that time!
I hope our itinerary inspires you to plan your own family adventure in this incredible country.
