After the vows have been said and toasts made, there’s no better feeling than the excitement of jetting off to a new destination – and Chile will certainly provide a honeymoon to remember! Escape all thoughts of everyday life on journeys through snow-capped volcanoes and desert dunes, glacial fjords and the ancient figures of Easter Island. And whilst the landscapes may be wild and wonderful, the accommodation is far from rustic, and there’s a collection of fabulous lodges designed to make your trip truly memorable. Read on for our Chile honeymoon guide designed to help get your planning started – and you, very, very excited.
The highlights of Chile
Designed to showcase just about everything Chile has to offer, we couldn’t think of a better honeymoon than this megawatt trip. You’ll ease into Chilean life with a few sun-kissed days in the Wine Valleys and the jewel-bright cerros of Valparaíso, before preparing for the biggest adventure of them all: Patagonia. First up is the Lake District with its mirror-smooth waters, forests and volcanoes, and myriad ways to explore. Enjoy hiking, horseback rides, kayaking, skiing and mountain biking, to name a few, as well as plenty of quiet moments simply soaking up the vistas. The star of the show, Torres del Paine, is your next stop. A thrilling landscape dominated by icy peaks, it’s one of the best trekking destinations in the world and the unique lodges will get you as close to the action as possible. Then, it’s a complete 180 to the Atacama, a desert frozen in time between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Have your camera at the ready as you meander between plateaus of geysers, rainbow-hued valleys and martian landscapes. Last but not least, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) feels like an entirely different world filled with ancient ruins and moai statues. Enjoy the astonishing scenery, swim in the clear-as-glass waters and snorkel to your heart’s content…
Top spots to stay
In the Wine Valleys, we’d have to choose La Casona, a romantic hideaway on its own vineyard, whilst in Valparaíso, Casa Higueras has the best views around. In Santiago, Hotel Magnolia combines vintage charm with a snazzy style (and for ultimate privacy, book the Magnolia Suite). In Patagonia, Hotel AWA is a gorgeous first stop with its volcanic rock fireplaces and hand-crafted Mapuche decor. Getting you as close as possible to Torres del Paine, it has to be Explora Patagonia with its astonishing views, best enjoyed from the outdoor whirlpools. In the Atacama, Altiplanico San Pedro was inspired by a traditional village design with the added benefit of an outdoor rainfall shower, and on Easter Island, Hotel Altiplanico Rapa Nui has fantastic views from its clifftop perch.
Vineyards, desert scenes & Easter Island
This trip combines the surreal ‘scapes of the Atacama Desert with a few laidback days of wine tasting and wandering in Central Chile, capping it off with the mysterious gem that is Rapa Nui – aka Easter Island. Start in the vine-filled valleys just south of Santiago, and sample Chile’s signature grape (amongst plenty of others!) and explore the pretty countryside. Then, make your way to the Pacific coast for a few days in bohemian ‘Valpo’, a flurry of colourful mansions, bold street murals, and scrumptious seafood. On a quick stop in Santiago, take in the history, frequent the foodie spots and marvel at the Andes from the hilltops, before making a beeline for the Atacama Desert. Explore to your heart’s content, sandboarding down the dunes and soaking in hot springs, hiking amongst geysers, surreal valleys and salt pans, and spending every evening under a star-spangled sky. Your last stop is Rapa Nui, a staggering 3,700 kilometres off the coast of Chile, where carved sentinels watch over volcanic craters and ancient villages, and lie embedded in the ocean floor.
Top spots to stay
One of the best hotels in the wine valleys, the Vik is exquisitely designed with a gravity-defying infinity pool and incredible lake views – and a fabulous place to begin a trip. In Valparaíso, the Hotel Palacio Astoreca is bold and bright, just like the town itself, and in Santiago, The Singular is pitched just right for a romantic stop-over. With its own private guides and vehicles, Awasi Atacama is one of the most luxe choices in the desert and on Rapa Nui, we’d definitely plump for Nayara Hangaroa, an eco-hotel that pays homage to the island’s traditional homes and cares for its magical environment.
The best of Chilean Patagonia
One of the most famous destinations in South America, Patagonia most certainly deserves a trip all of its own – and this is it. After a few days of sightseeing in Santiago, delve into Aysen for a sensory overload. Here, snowy mountains rub shoulders with ancient forests, and the barren steppe turns into frigid fjords where glaciers crackle and waterfalls sparkle. Your choice of activities is just as varied, whether it’s kayaking, white water rafting and a boat ride through the marble caves, or remaining on land for wildlife-spotting hikes, glacier trekking and riding horseback with local gauchos. Next up, the peaceful Lake District is a delight. Explore on foot, bicycle or horseback, and uncover its history as a Mapuche heartland and German outpost. The stilted, brightly-painted houses of Chiloe Island are also a treat to visit. End your trip in the Torres del Paine National Park, a photogenic landscape where peaks shimmer in sky-blue lakes, pumas and guanacos can be spotted on horseback rides across the grasslands, and the hiking is second to none.
Top spots to stay
Ideally-situated, the ivy-covered Le Reve Hotel Boutique is a picture-perfect spot in Santiago, before heading to the shores of Lago General Carrera and the Mallin Colorado Ecolodge, which feels far removed from everyone and everything. In the Lake District, Hotel Mari Mari boasts 13 miles of shoreline to explore and, on your return, a wood-burning hot tub to soak in. With views of the Patagonian Steppe and Torres del Paine, Awasi Patagonia is an alpine dream with private guides and roaring fireplaces to retire in front of.
Chilean adventure: deserts to glaciers
Experience a little bit of everything on this trip from the Atacama Desert to the icy world of Torres del Paine National Park. The driest sand desert on earth, the Atacama has to be seen to be believed – and you’ll do just that on bike rides, hiking expeditions and drives, taking in the multi-coloured valleys, looking out for desert-adapted creatures and swimming in the turquoise Cejar Lagoon. Catch your breath in Santiago where tempting eateries line the streets, and museums and architecture tell a fascinating history. Then, it’s a journey deep into the Chilean Patagonia, and the soaring peaks and thrilling scenery of Torres del Paine National Park. The stunning scenery has lured travellers for centuries and you’ll explore on kayak rides past the mighty Grey Glacier, hikes to the base of the ‘towers’, and 4×4 drives across the expansive landscape.
Top spots to stay
Set in gardens of native flora, the Hotel Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa is a true oasis in the desert, complete with plunge pools, pampering spa treatments, and sensational views. Casa Bueras Boutique Hotel enjoys a prime spot in Santiago’s artistic hub – try to snag the rooftop suite for the ultimate view – and in Torres del Paine, we highly recommend the geodesic domes at EcoCamp Patagonia. Light on the Earth and offering a front-row seat to the vistas, it’s spectacular in every way.
