Traveling to Chile
Stretched over more than 6,000 km of Pacific coastline, Chile packs an exceptional diversity of ecosystems into an often narrow territory: the Atacama Desert in the north, Patagonia's glaciers and fjords in the south, and Easter Island, isolated more than 3,500 km from the mainland. The long distances between regions frequently require domestic flights. Here's what to know before you go.
Chile in numbers
Capital
Santiago
Population
~18.5-20.2 M
Currency
Chilean peso (CLP)
Language
Spanish
UNESCO sites
7
Continent
South America
Time zone
UTC-3 to UTC-6
Airports covered
3
Why visit Chile
A narrow territory, extreme diversity
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
The moai statues, remnants of Rapa Nui civilisation, UNESCO World Heritage-listed, on an island isolated in the Pacific.
The Atacama Desert
One of the driest places on Earth, with geysers, coloured lagoons and the Salar de Atacama, a vast salt flat.
Chilean Patagonia
Glaciers, fjords and Torres del Paine National Park, renowned for its majestic mountains and deep-blue lakes.
Valparaíso and Chiloé
The UNESCO-listed colourful port on one side, the wooden churches and palafitos of Chiloé island on the other.
Traveling to Chile
3 airports covered by SniperAir
Arturo Merino Benítez (Santiago)
The country's main international airport, at the foot of the Andes.
Mataveri (Easter Island)
The only airport on the isolated island, more than 3,500 km from the Chilean coast.
Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (Punta Arenas)
The gateway to Chilean Patagonia and the Strait of Magellan.
SniperAir already tracks prices to the capital and the country's two geographic extremes.
SniperAir destinations in Chile
Discover our destination pages
Chile
Easter Island
The moai of Rapa Nui civilisation, UNESCO-listed.
Discover
Chile
Punta Arenas
The gateway to Patagonia and the Strait of Magellan.
DiscoverEach destination's full guide is coming progressively — price tracking is already active everywhere.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Chile
What's the best airport to arrive in Chile?
Santiago (SCL) is the country's main international airport. SniperAir also covers Easter Island (IPC) and Punta Arenas (PUQ), the gateway to Patagonia.
Can you visit all of Chile in one trip?
It's difficult: the country stretches over more than 6,000 km of coastline, and both Patagonia and Easter Island require separate domestic flights from Santiago. It's better to pick one or two regions per trip.
How much time should you plan for Easter Island?
Three to four days let you explore the main moai sites and Rapa Nui National Park without rushing, accounting for the flight from Santiago, the longest domestic flight in the world to an inhabited destination.
Is Chile just the Atacama Desert?
No — glacial Patagonia, Easter Island isolated in the Pacific, and the colourful port of Valparaíso all offer radically different trips within the same country.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Chile drops below my budget?
Create a SniperAir alert profile with your departure airport and your Chilean destination: we track prices for you and notify you as soon as a deal matching your criteria appears.
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