Chile sometimes looks like a hand-painted masterpiece. Don’t believe us? Here are nine landscapes in our country that don’t look like they’re from Earth.
From the extreme aridity in the north to Patagonia’s cold climates, our country has the conditions for nature to gift us unique photos. Check out this list and plan your trip to our country!
Cover photo: @timothydhalleine
1. Salar de Gorbea
One of the hidden treasures of the Atacama Region. Located nearly 4,000 meters above sea level, the Salar de Gorbea is a sanctuary of green, yellow, turquoise lagoons and reddish mountains. Far from being a simple visual effect, these hues have a scientific explanation linked to the soil’s composition and volcanic activity. Doesn’t it look like it was taken straight from Mercury or Venus?
2. Valley of the Moon
Many consider it one of the most special places in our world. Located in San Pedro de Atacama, the Valley of the Moon is a breathtaking landscape where aridity and silence stretch across the entire horizon. With different guided trails, it’s one of the must-sees of the Atacama Desert.
3. Torres del Paine
We head down to Patagonia to tell you about a place known as the eighth wonder of the world. The Torres del Paine, located in the national park of the same name, are three granite spires whose highest point rises 2,850 meters above the Patagonian steppe. They look like sculptures carved by wind and time over millions of years. Their silhouette changes color with the daylight: austere gray at midday, vivid pink at sunrise, deep orange at sunset.
4. Isla Mocha
Fire burning on the sea? Just 34 km off the coast of the Biobío Region, Isla Mocha is a pristine place with magical natural surroundings. Here, small natural gas seepages emerge between the rocks and make it possible to light flames directly on the water, creating a postcard-perfect scene that looks like it came straight out of a dream.
5. Marble Cathedrals
The Marble Caves are one of the main attractions of the Carretera Austral. They’re a set of calcium carbonate mineral formations located on the shore of General Carrera Lake. You can visit them on a boat tour or—if the wind is on your side—do the route by kayak for an even more mind-blowing experience.
6. Red Lagoon
One of the greatest mysteries in northern Chile. Located in the Altiplano, the Red Lagoon owes its red color to the presence of sediments and microalgae, creating a magical postcard scene that’s the source of local legends. They say the devil himself turned it red as a warning!
7. Southern Ice Fields
Imagine an endless white desert spanning more than 13,000 km². The Southern Ice Fields are the third-largest freshwater reserve on the planet, home to giants like the Grey, O’Higgins, and Pío XI glaciers. With more than 20,000 years of history, sailing among their millennia-old ice will make you feel how small we are in the face of time’s vastness.
8. Rapa Nui
Known as the navel of the world, Rapa Nui is a fascinating island with an ancient culture. It’s a territory with more than 900 moai—giant monolithic statues whose construction still amazes us today. They were built to honor ancestors and watch over the community from their altars. That’s why most face inland, except for the Ahu Akivi, which are oriented toward the sunrise points.
9. Laguna San Rafael
Fjords, channels, inlets, and millennia-old ice make up the stunning Laguna San Rafael National Park, a striking setting where sky blue dominates the horizon. Boats depart for this impressive destination from Puerto Río Tranquilo and Puerto Chacabuco, which also offers different walking trails through pristine nature.
