5 LESSER-KNOWN CHILEAN PLACES

Flickr Creative Commons License, Photo by Helder Ribeiro

If you’ve thought about traveling to Chile, you’ve probably heard about exploring Moon Valley in San Pedro de Atacama or traversing the W trek in Torres del Paine. However, these aren’t the only places worth visiting in the country. These are just the destinations that most people are familiar with. In this article, I’ll be listing five lesser-known destinations in Chile. These places are every bit as gorgeous as the well-known attractions, just with fewer people!

1. Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve

Flickr Creative Commons License, Photo by Christian Córdova

Okay, if this picture of a MAGICAL TREEHOUSE doesn’t make you want to pack your bags and immediately head South, then you might have a problem. Seriously guys, Montaña Mágica Lodge in Huilo Huilo looks like something out of a dream. Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is the perfect place for outdoor adventurers. Some of the many activities you can participate in at Huilo Huilo include rafting, hiking, horseback riding, and even zip-lining! If you’re not much of an outdoorsy person, you’ll still love all of the different animals you can observe in their natural habitat. Endemic fauna include the pudú, the world’s smallest deer (the cutest of all Chilean animals), and 81 bird species!

2. The Marble Caves

Flickr Creative Commons, Photo by Steffen Sauder

The marble caves, or cuevas de mármol in Spanish, are not easily reached. Thus, not many people take time out of their trips to see these azure beauties. To see these remote caves in person, you’ll have to fly from Santiago to Coyhaique. Then, you’ll need to rent a car to drive around 200 miles to General Carrera lake. Once there, the marble caves are only accessible via boat. However, those who do make the journey to the caves always state that it was worth it. Photographers from all over the world travel to Chile to capture this stunning display of nature!

3. Frutillar

Flickr Creative Commons, Photo by Hector Garcia

Visiting Frutillar is almost like finding a mini European village in the South of Chile. German immigrants in the 1850s mainly settled the city. Popular foods to try include kuchen, a type of German cake. If you’re seeking picturesque views and photo spots, look no further. Frutillar’s main road faces Llanquihue lake, offering a perfect photo op of Osorno volcano (pictured in the featured image of this post).

4. Isla Damas

Flickr Creative Commons, Image by Mauricio Arriagada

Isla Damas is a perfect day trip from La Serena, Chile, a beach town in the North. Animal lovers, in particular, will enjoy this wildlife reserve as penguins, whales, dolphins, and sea otters are all frequent sightings! From La Serena, you’ll need to drive about an hour and a half to reach Punta de Choros. Tour boats leave from this point to take you to the island. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see bottlenose dolphins and other types of marine animals on the ride. While it is possible to make this trip on your own, I went with a tour agency. Ecoturismo La Serena picks you up from your hotel and takes care of all of the planning!

Side note: I paid for my tour with Ecoturismo. This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with the company.

5. San Alfonso del Mar

Flickr Creative Commons, Photo by Kyle Pearce

So, we’ve all seen the posts on social media about this gigantic pool being in Chile. Nonetheless, how many tourists get the chance to go there? The answer is not many. I finally had the opportunity to visit San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo during Fiestas Patrias last year, and man, it was a cool experience. I had expected San Alfonso to be a hotel, but it’s a private complex of condos that people buy and rent out. The pool itself holds 66 million gallons of water, and you can enjoy activities such as sailing and kayaking in this massive construction.

What are your favorite lesser-known destinations in Chile?

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