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Take a step back in time to visit the most charming places across Chile: explore quaint little villages, idyllic country retreats, or find a respite from the hectic pace of life in a valley lost in the Andes or in the salty air of a quiet seaside escape. Chile has plenty of enchanting destinations, and here we have selected the most authentically charming ones, each sure to engage and delight even the most seasoned travelers.

Caleta Tortel

Caleta Tortel is the gem at the end of the Carretera Austral ("Southern Highway"). It was founded in 1955 to exploit the cypress wood that was abundant in the area and quietly became a little logging town, connected to the rest of Chile only by boat, and later by plane. Only in 2003 the Carretera Austral, still a narrow dirt road today, finally reached Caleta Tortel. Reaching this village is like reaching the end of a world. Cars are left in a parking lot at the entrance, as there are no conventional streets: instead there are only small wooden walkways suspended between the steep slopes of the forest and the green waters at the mouth of the Baker River. Cypress wood walkways run between the stilt houses, typical of Chilota architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers, and clinging precariously to the hillside. Walking is the only way to get around, along with boats. Even the fire truck is a boat. This gives Caleta Tortel the most special look and atmosphere and you can immediately feel it as you stroll along the boardwalks and cross the locals going up and down the many stairs. There is something magical to Caleta Tortel, a feeling of another era, not from the past, but rather in a parallel time where life goes nonchalantly, where even the rain seems to fall slowly.
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Frutillar

Located less than an hour away from Puerto Montt, Frutillar is the most pleasant and charming town on the shore of the Llanquihue lake, a fantastic place with picturesque beauty which preserves its beautiful and traditional German-style old architecture, filled with spectacular flower gardens. The legacy from the colonization of German families over 150 years ago is visible everywhere, from the street names, to the restaurants and their delicious strudels and kuchen, and also extends to culture, like the February's famous "Semanas Musicales" music festival, one of the most important celebrations of classical music in Chile. Frutillar is a very discret and relaxing place and its location on the lakeshore, its view of the magnificent snowcapped Osorno volcano, make it one of the preferred destination of many Chilean and international tourists during the summer. It is also the ideal starting point for a visit of the region and for those who want to try water sports, fly fishing or ecological tourism.
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Pisco Elqui

Pisco Elqui is a little charming village clinging to the mountainside and located at around 1280m (4,200 ft) above sea level, in a barren valley where a river flows at the bottom and irrigates all the surrounding vineyards, making it a beautiful sight. The sky is always blue and clear (more than 300 sunny days every year!), so the contrast with the green vineyards and the magnificent mountains of the Andes is intense and at the same time the whole landscape makes for an incredibly peaceful and meditative atmosphere. Many people go there to enjoy a calm and unperturbed time away from the city, to sunbathe in a fascinating and deeply relaxing silence, to recover from stress, tension and contamination, as this place is truly a sanctuary for the self, where quietude is revered and well being is a way of life. For many, the Elqui valley is also a mystical place, one of the world's most important energy centers, with natural healing properties, and people from all over the world come here to meditate and practice different kinds of spiritual activities like yoga, chakra healing, buddhism and astrology. Some also say the the valley is the place with the most UFO sightings in the world, and many locals will have a story to tell about UFOs! It is said that the more Pisco you drink the higher the chances you see a UFO... Not to be forgotten, the climatic conditions in that area create some of the clearest skies in the world and the most spectacular nights with millions of stars, making it a renowned place for astronomy with many international observatories.
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Pucón

Pucón is known as one of Chile adventure capitals, because of the variety of outdoor activities that are readily available: canyoning, hydrospeed, canopy, fishing, white water rafting and kayaking, water skiing, snow skiing, natural hot springs, backpacking, horse back riding, climbing the active Villarrica volcano (guided ascents are available), and more. But it is also one of the most charming town in Chile, beautifully located at the skirt of a smoking volcano and the shore of a glittering lake. For those who want to spend relaxing vacations, Pucón offers a wonderful beach by the lake with the unforgettable sight of the Villarica Volcano, and many restaurants, bars, attractions and low-key activities to make your stay highly enjoyable. All that and its very stable stable weather (especially in the summer) make it a popular destination for tourists. Don't forget to explore the surrounding national parks, mountains, waterfalls, rivers and lakes, villages with local handicrafts and typical food markets, and also the areas home to the Mapuches, Chile's largest native ethnic group, which traditions are very much alive and highly interesting.
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Putre

Putre is a typical Andean village, superbly located at a literally breathtaking 3,500m (11,500 ft.) above sea level, just below the Altiplano, and backed by the summits of the 5,775m (19,000-ft.) Taapaca Volcano. This little picturesque village, one of Chile's gems, was built by Spanish in 1580 on an ancient Inca site as a safe stoppage along the precious metal trade route betwee Potosí and Arica. Today, much of the colonial atmosphere remains as the time seems to have stopped. When you walk the streets you will see many buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, 200-year old stone portals flanking doors at many houses, and historical edifices like the 1670 stone-built church, which is the highlight of Putre, especially during the "Semana Santa" when it is richly decorated. Some streets even show pre-colonial constructions like central water runoffs. Putre is also the starting point for excursions to Lauca National Park, one of Chile's most stunning national parks famous for his perfectly shaped twin volcanoes and for Lake Chungará, the highest lake in the world situated at 4,570 m altitude. Also, don't forget to visit the many tiny colonial villages nearby, and the Jurasi hot springs. When one realize the beauty of this village, its exceptional location, its history, and the many attractions in the area that are still well off the beaten track, it's no wonder that in a few years Putre, with that great tourism potential, could be the next San Pedro De Atacama. So make sure you go there while it still has the charm of a preserved and authentic little village.
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San Pedro De Atacama

Known all over the world and visited by Chileans as much as foreigners, San Pedro De Atacama never fails to fascinate the visitor. Built of adobe brick, this quaint oasis has been an important village since pre-Hispanic times and today it is simply the archeological capital of Chile. It is located in the vastness of the driest desert on Earth, where Nature has created the most varied, dramatic, beautiful and overwhelming landscapes you can imagine: the Valley of the Moon, a wasteland of bizarre, salt-laced rock formations, the Valley of Death, a surreal, erosion-sculpted moonscape, salt marshes, the El Tatio geysers, located at 4,200 meters (13,800 ft) above sea level, immense salt flats and lagoons, natural hot springs, altiplano lakes, volcanoes like the spectacular 5,920m (19,500 ft) Lincancabur, and much more. All that under an intense turquoise-blue sky. In the village itself, between dusty roads, you'll find many restaurants, some with exceptional cuisine, open air bars, and an impressive museum. Take your time in San Pedro de Atacama and plan for lazy days between your excursions. There are indeed many things to see, but you also want to enjoy the special atmosphere of this quaint village and savor the experience of just being in the heart of the driest desert on the planet.
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Valdivia

Not widely known by tourists, Valdivia is one of the most charming cities in Chile, often refered to as "The pearl of the South", "The City of Rivers", or even "Chile's most beautiful city". It is located on several rivers and channels, which are among the few that can be navigated in the country, and the old mansions, hotels, residential neighborhoods, gardens, restaurants and colorful marketplace all look towards them. Founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1552, the city's waterside atmosphere in combined with a european style inherited from the german colonists that arrived to the area in the 1800s, and with the hispanic style inherited from its early Spanish colonial past. This is what makes it different from other cities in Chile. Both periods left visible landmarks such as the forts of Corral Bay located at the mouths of its rivers and the German-style wood houses. If you can visit Valdivia in February you will be able to attend many free cultural events organized by the municipality along the river site, such as concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment. The end of the summer season (in February) is the time for the "Noche Valdiviana" (Valdivian Night) where many local groups and communities parade over the river on boats, each with its own theme, during the night.
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