Do you need a visa for Chile in 2026? +
No. EU citizens enter visa-free for tourist stays up to 90 days. On arrival, you receive a Tourist Card (PDI) to keep until departure. Passport valid for the length of stay, return ticket required, proof of accommodation sometimes asked. Source: Chilean Immigration Service (sermig.gob.cl), France Diplomatie.
How many days do you need in Chile? +
14 days minimum for the basic Atacama + Patagonia + Santiago combo. 3 weeks to add Easter Island or the Lake District, or to combine with Argentina (Buenos Aires + El Calafate). The country stretches 4,300 km from north to south: you don't cover it all, you pick 2-3 zones.
When to go for both Patagonia AND Atacama? +
November to March (austral summer). It's the only window when Patagonia is fully accessible (refugios open, regular flights to Punta Arenas, W Trek trails clear). Atacama also visits well at this time (dry, warm days 20-25°C, cold nights at 4°C). Tourist peak: December-February, book Torres del Paine 6-8 months ahead.
How to book Torres del Paine W Trek refugios? +
Two operators share the park: Vertice Patagonia (refugios Paine Grande, Grey, Dickson, Los Perros) and Las Torres Patagonia (Central, Chileno, Cuernos, Francés). You must book with BOTH. Reservations typically open in July-August for the following December-March season. Plan €80-110/night in refugio with half-board, €25-40 in equipped camping. Aggregator: torreshike.com.
How to get to Easter Island? +
LATAM is the only carrier on the Santiago-Hanga Roa route, 5.5 to 6.5 hours flight, ~€600 return from Santiago. As of 2026, you must file the FUI (Single Entry Form) online 21 days before arrival, present a booking with a Sernatur-registered host, and buy the Rapa Nui National Park ticket ($80 USD, valid 10 days, local guide mandatory at main sites). Stay capped at 30 days.
Can you drive in Chile? Are the distances manageable? +
Right-hand driving, French/EU license accepted plus international permit recommended. But the country is so long that a car only makes sense by zone: Santiago + vineyards + Valparaíso, or the Lake District (Pucón-Puerto Varas-Chiloé). For Atacama and Patagonia, LATAM/Sky/JetSMART domestic flights are practically mandatory. Carretera Austral (route 7) in northern Patagonia: stunning but 4-5 days minimum, suitable rental car.
Should you combine Chile and Argentina? +
Yes for 21 days or more. Patagonia is shared between the two countries: Torres del Paine on the Chilean side, El Calafate / Perito Moreno and Ushuaia on the Argentine side. Puerto Natales-El Calafate bus 5h, well-oiled crossing. Classic combo: Santiago + Atacama + flight to Buenos Aires + El Calafate + Torres del Paine + Punta Arenas + return. Plan for 4 domestic flights minimum.
Is Atacama altitude an issue? +
San Pedro de Atacama sits at 2,400 m, manageable for most. But classic excursions climb fast: Tatio Geysers 4,320 m, altiplano lagoons 4,200 m, Salar de Tara 4,300 m. Day 1 in San Pedro = rest and hydration, no altitude excursion. Coca mate and acetazolamide (Diamox) on prescription for sensitive travelers. Avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours.
