Chile Adventure Tours: Trekking in Patagonia and the Atacama Desert

Chile runs 4,270 km from north to south and averages only 177 km wide, so one destination holds very different trips. In the north, the Atacama Desert stretches about 1,600 km along the Pacific and is the driest non-polar desert on Earth. The Andes along the eastern border holds more than three dozen active volcanoes and the country’s highest summit, Ojos del Salado (6,893 m). The far south ends in Patagonia, a land of fjords, ice fields, and granite peaks.

Our adventure tours in Chile run at both ends of that map. In the far south, they explore Torres del Paine National Park, an area of 1,814 km² adorned by granite peaks, glacial lakes, and steppe. Its highest summit, Paine Grande, reaches 2,884 m, and Grey Glacier (15 km long) flows down from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. In the north, they start in San Pedro de Atacama, a village of adobe houses at 2,450 m.

Chile hiking tours in Torres del Paine: the W Trek and the O Circuit

Hiking in Chile has two classic routes in the park, both around the Paine Massif. Connecting Grey Glacier, the French Valley, and the Base of the Towers, the W Trek is featured in our 5-day and 7-day trekking tours (spanning 58 to 71 km).

If you want to explore the northern trail and tackle John Gardner Pass—the steepest ascent on the route—the 9-day O Trek covers more than 124 km along the O Circuit.

Pumas, wildlife, and lodge stays in Chilean Patagonia

Not every adventure in Chile means a multi-day trek. The all-inclusive tour keeps you in a heated dome and lets you choose one guided excursion each full day, from a 2.5 km walk to Grey Glacier’s boat landing to the 22 km hike to the Base of the Towers.

For wildlife tours in Chile, the 6-day Puma Tracking Program allows you to search for pumas by 4×4 and on foot, in groups of at most 6, between herds of guanacos, Patagonian foxes, and Andean condors.

On the park’s eastern edge, Estancia Cerro Guido hosts stays on a working ranch of 100,000 hectares, founded in 1906, with gauchos, horseback rides, and a day with the team that studies the puma.

Hiking, camping, and stargazing in the Atacama Desert

Trekking in Chile looks different in the north. Headquartered in San Pedro de Atacama, our Atacama Desert itineraries venture up to high-altitude destinations, reaching 4,350 m (14,272 ft) at the Altiplano lagoons.

Small groups of up to 9 join our 4-day tour package and 5-day Atacama tour to witness Moon Valley at sunset, flamingos at Salar de Atacama, the vibrant Piedras Rojas, sunrise at the El Tatio geysers, and clear night skies for stargazing.

If you are looking for extended hiking, the private 7-day Atacama trek traverses roughly 65 km between 3,250 and 4,267 m elevation. Alternatively, the camping expedition features 2 tent nights, splitting time between Cactus Valley and the village of Machuca (4,000 m).

Best time to visit Chile, from Patagonia to the Atacama

In a country this long, the season depends on the region, and each trip page states its own. In Patagonia, our trekking departures run from October to April (the O only from November to March), when summer days average 11°C (52°F). The Atacama runs all year, with days of 20–24°C (68–77°F) from October to March.

Planning to extend your journey? Pair Atacama and Patagonia in one Chile vacation, or combine it with our trekking tours in Peru or adventure trips in Brazil!