Where to Stay in Chile
A regional guide to accommodation across the country
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Regions of Chile
Each region offers a distinct character and accommodation scene. Find the one that matches your travel plans.
Chile's capital offers the country's most diverse accommodation options, from international luxury chains to budget hostels concentrated in Providencia, Las Condes, and the historic center. Business hotels dominate the eastern suburbs, while bohemian Bellavista and Barrio Italia attract boutique properties. The city serves as most travelers' entry point and offers the best value for upscale accommodation compared to remote regions.
The coastal region around Valparaíso and Viña del Mar features historic hotels on hillsides, beachfront resorts, and artistic guesthouses in colorful port neighborhoods. Summer sees a surge in prices and Chilean vacationers, while winter offers excellent value. The UNESCO-listed port city of Valparaíso provides unique stays in renovated historic buildings with Pacific views.
The Colchagua, Casablanca, and Maipo valleys offer boutique vineyard hotels and luxurious wine lodges where accommodation is often bundled with tastings and gourmet meals. These properties range from converted haciendas to modern architectural statements amid the vines, providing immersive wine tourism experiences within easy reach of Santiago.
The extreme north features business-oriented hotels in mining cities like Antofagasta and Iquique, alongside beach resorts in Iquique's coastal zone. Arica near the Peruvian border offers budget-friendly beachfront options. Accommodation here caters primarily to mining industry workers and surfers, with limited tourist infrastructure outside major centers.
San Pedro de Atacama dominates this region with adobe-style boutique hotels, luxury desert lodges, and backpacker hostels catering to the constant flow of international tourists. Prices are significantly inflated due to remote location and limited water resources, with even basic accommodation commanding premium rates. The town's mud-brick architecture and desert oasis setting create a unique accommodation aesthetic found nowhere else in Chile.
This transitional region between desert and central Chile features La Serena's beachfront hotels and the Elqui Valley's astronomical lodges and pisco distillery stays. Accommodation is more affordable than the Atacama, with options ranging from coastal resorts to rural valley guesthouses. The area attracts Chilean beach-goers and international stargazing enthusiasts.
The Araucanía and Los Lagos regions offer German-influenced guesthouses, lakeside lodges, and adventure hotels amid volcanoes and pristine lakes. Pucón and Puerto Varas serve as main bases with wide accommodation ranges, from party hostels to luxury spa resorts. The region's Bavarian heritage is reflected in chalet-style architecture and family-run hosterías offering homemade kuchen and hearty breakfasts.
This mystical island region features wooden palafitos (stilt houses) converted to guesthouses, rural agroturismo stays, and small family-run hospedajes in colorful fishing villages. Accommodation is modest and traditional, reflecting the island's isolated character and folklore-rich culture. Castro and Ancud offer the most options, while remote areas require advance booking.
Chile's most remote road corridor features rustic lodges, simple hospedajes, and camping as primary accommodation options in tiny settlements scattered along 1,200 kilometers. Properties are basic but welcoming, often family-run with home-cooked meals included. Limited options and difficult access mean booking ahead is essential, especially in summer when the unpaved highway becomes accessible.
Chilean Patagonia's crown jewel features exclusive all-inclusive lodges with million-dollar views, mountain refugios for trekkers, and hotels in gateway town Puerto Natales. Torres del Paine accommodation ranges from luxury eco-lodges charging premium rates to basic refugios on the W and O circuits that must be booked 6-12 months ahead for peak season. Punta Arenas offers more affordable city hotel options.
Rapa Nui offers limited accommodation concentrated in Hanga Roa, from family-run residenciales to the island's only luxury resort. The remote Pacific location means prices are inflated across all categories, and availability is limited year-round. Many properties include airport transfers and breakfast, with some offering full-board options. The intimate scale means most stays feel personal and culturally connected.
The Andes ski resorts near Santiago offer slope-side lodges and apartment rentals with premium winter pricing. Valle Nevado, Portillo, and La Parva feature all-inclusive ski packages, while Termas de Chillán combines skiing with hot springs. Summer sees dramatic price drops and many properties close entirely. Most accommodations bundle lift tickets and meals into multi-day packages.
Accommodation Landscape
What to expect from accommodation options across Chile
International chains including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Radisson have significant presence in Santiago and select regional cities like Puerto Varas and Pucón. Ibis and NH Hotel Group offer mid-range options in major cities. Chilean chains like Diego de Almagro and Hotel Panamericano provide reliable mid-range accommodation across the country. However, outside Santiago and major tourist hubs, independent properties dominate the landscape.
Chile's accommodation character is defined by diverse local options: hospedajes and residenciales (family-run guesthouses offering basic rooms with breakfast), hosterías (small inns often in rural areas), cabañas (self-catering cabins popular in the Lake District and Patagonia), and apart-hotels (apartment-style lodging common in beach towns). Many properties are family-owned and operated, offering personal service and local insights. In rural areas, estancias (working ranches) offer farm stays with meals included.
Chile offers distinctive accommodation experiences including refugios (mountain huts along Patagonian trekking routes requiring sleeping bags), palafitos (traditional Chiloé stilt houses converted to guesthouses), vineyard hotels amid wine country with harvest experiences, astronomical lodges in the Elqui Valley with observatory access, eco-lodges in Patagonia focused on sustainability and wildlife viewing, and historic haciendas in the Central Valley. The Atacama's adobe architecture creates a unique desert aesthetic, while Patagonian estancias offer gaucho culture immersion.
Booking Tips for Chile
Country-specific advice for finding the best accommodation
Torres del Paine refugios and popular lodges sell out 6-12 months ahead for peak season (December-February), as do Easter Island properties during Tapati festival. Even budget accommodation in Puerto Natales fills quickly. Consider shoulder season (November or March) for better availability and lower prices while maintaining reasonable weather.
Many remote lodges in Patagonia, Atacama, and wine country operate on all-inclusive models bundling meals, excursions, and transfers—sometimes the only practical option given isolation. Always clarify what's included, as some 'all-inclusive' packages exclude park entrance fees, premium excursions, or alcohol. In cities and towns, accommodation is typically room-only or with breakfast.
Many properties in Patagonia, Carretera Austral, and ski valleys close entirely during off-season (roughly April-October in the south, November-May for ski resorts). Always verify opening dates before booking shoulder season travel. Conversely, some Atacama and Easter Island properties maintain year-round operation due to consistent demand.
Smaller Chilean properties, especially family-run hospedajes and rural lodges, often offer better rates when contacted directly by email or phone, and some don't appear on international booking platforms at all. Many include airport/bus station pickup when booked directly. However, larger properties and chains typically offer best rates through booking platforms or their own websites.
While major hotels accept credit cards, many smaller properties, especially in remote areas, prefer cash (Chilean pesos) or bank transfers. Some quote in US dollars but accept pesos at prevailing exchange rates. ATMs can be scarce in remote regions like Carretera Austral or Chiloé, so carry sufficient cash when heading to rural areas.
When to Book
Timing matters for both price and availability across Chile
For Patagonia (December-February), book 6-12 months ahead, especially for Torres del Paine refugios and popular lodges. Lake District and beach towns require 2-3 months advance booking for summer. Ski resorts need 3-6 months for peak winter weeks. Easter Island should be booked 4-6 months ahead year-round. Santiago and wine country can often be booked 2-4 weeks ahead except during major events.
November and March offer excellent availability in Patagonia with 1-3 months advance booking sufficient for most properties. April-May and September-October in central regions provide good flexibility with 2-4 weeks notice typically adequate. Shoulder season in Atacama (June-August) still requires 1-2 months advance booking despite being technically low season.
Winter months (June-August) in Patagonia and southern regions offer last-minute availability and significant discounts, though many properties close entirely. Central coast and Santiago have excellent availability with 1-2 weeks notice. Summer (December-February) in northern regions and ski areas during non-winter months can often be booked within days of arrival.
Book 3-6 months ahead for Patagonia, Easter Island, and peak season anywhere. Book 1-2 months ahead for Lake District, Atacama, and wine country during high season. Santiago and cities can typically be booked 2-4 weeks ahead except during Fiestas Patrias (September 18-19) and New Year's when domestic tourism surges nationwide. Always book further ahead for long weekends around Chilean public holidays.
Good to Know
Local customs and practical information for Chile