Attractions of Chile

To help inspire or plan your trip to Chile, some of its major attractions for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country. These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Chile which represent the best of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
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Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Go to Region of Chile-> Central Chile - Northern Chile - Easter Island

Central Chile - Cultural attractions

Maipo Valley
The Maipo Valley near Santiago is Chile's oldest and best wine-growing region. With vineyards dating back to the 18th century the estates, lying in the shadow of the Andes, are an excellent destination for a wine tour and are particularly renowned for their Cabernet Sauvignon grape.

Sewell Mining Town
Sewell Mining Town is located 60km east of Rancagua in central Chile and was built by the Braden Copper company in 1905 to house workers at what was to become the world’s largest underground copper mine, El Teniente. The town was built on a hillside too steep for vehicles, do developed from a central staircase leading upwards from the railway station. Without vehicles there was no need for roads, so paths ran along contours of the central staircase, leading to public squares and streets lined with colourfully painted houses. The 'City of Stairs' is an excellent example of company towns built in remote and harsh locations. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sewell Mining Town

Sewell Mining Town

Sewell Mining Town is located 60km east of Rancagua in central Chile and was built by the Braden Copper company in 1905 to house workers at what was to become the world’s largest underground copper mine, El Teniente. The town was built on a hillside too steep for vehicles, do developed from a central staircase leading upwards from the railway station. Without vehicles there was no need for roads, so paths ran along contours of the central staircase, leading to public squares and streets lined with colourfully painted houses. The 'City of Stairs' is an excellent example of company towns built in remote and harsh locations.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sewell Mining Town

Northern Chile - Cultural attractions

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
The Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpetre works were located near the Atacama desert in the remote Chilean Altiplano and were used to process the largest deposit of saltpetre in the world for over 60 years from 1880. This produced the fertilizer sodium nitrate that was to transform agricultural lands in North and South America and Europe. The workers at these plants, from Chile, Peru and Bolivia, lived in company towns and formed a distinctive communal pampinos culture which promoted solidarity and enabled them to fight for social justice, having a profound impact on the social history of the region. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

The Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpetre works were located near the Atacama desert in the remote Chilean Altiplano and were used to process the largest deposit of saltpetre in the world for over 60 years from 1880. This produced the fertilizer sodium nitrate that was to transform agricultural lands in North and South America and Europe. The workers at these plants, from Chile, Peru and Bolivia, lived in company towns and formed a distinctive communal pampinos culture which promoted solidarity and enabled them to fight for social justice, having a profound impact on the social history of the region.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Easter Island - Cultural attractions

Rapa Nui / Easter Island
Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world and one of the most mysterious and isolated destinations in world travel. The island was settled between the 4th and 16th centuries by a Polynesian society, who developed a unique culture free from outside influences and left the distinctive monolithic stone statues, or moai, as a reminder of their culture. Of the 800 or so maoi originally built, some 400 remain today in various stages of completion and repair, ranging in size from 2 to 21 metres. The maoi were constructed from solidified lava at Rano Raraku and transported to their sites of erection on wooden rollers - this resulted in the deforestation of the island and the barren landscapes seen today. In addition to the maoi, there are ceremonial shrines or ahu, raised rectangular platforms some of which have associated maoi or tombs, and pictographic writings (rongo rongo) which are still undeciphered. After flying the 3,790km from Chile to Easter Island, you will arrive in Hanga Roa, a small town of less than 4,000 inhabitants but a good base from which to explore the island. Some of the main maoi sites include Ahu Tongariro with 15 restored moai right on the coastline, Ahu Vaihu with 8 toppled moai lying facedown on the ground and Anakena on the northern coast with a perfectly restored maoi overlooking the beach. The ceremonial village of Orongo in the south of the island is one of the most culturally important sites where the warriors of the Birdman Cult would swim to the nearby island of Motu Nui in search of the first of the eggs laid by the manutara, or sooty tern, each year. There are several important ruined buildings and petroglyphs at this site. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rapa Nui National Park

Rapa Nui / Easter Island

Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world and one of the most mysterious and isolated destinations in world travel. The island was settled between the 4th and 16th centuries by a Polynesian society, who developed a unique culture free from outside influences and left the distinctive monolithic stone statues, or moai, as a reminder of their culture. Of the 800 or so maoi originally built, some 400 remain today in various stages of completion and repair, ranging in size from 2 to 21 metres. The maoi were constructed from solidified lava at Rano Raraku and transported to their sites of erection on wooden rollers - this resulted in the deforestation of the island and the barren landscapes seen today. In addition to the maoi, there are ceremonial shrines or ahu, raised rectangular platforms some of which have associated maoi or tombs, and pictographic writings (rongo rongo) which are still undeciphered. After flying the 3,790km from Chile to Easter Island, you will arrive in Hanga Roa, a small town of less than 4,000 inhabitants but a good base from which to explore the island. Some of the main maoi sites include Ahu Tongariro with 15 restored moai right on the coastline, Ahu Vaihu with 8 toppled moai lying facedown on the ground and Anakena on the northern coast with a perfectly restored maoi overlooking the beach. The ceremonial village of Orongo in the south of the island is one of the most culturally important sites where the warriors of the Birdman Cult would swim to the nearby island of Motu Nui in search of the first of the eggs laid by the manutara, or sooty tern, each year. There are several important ruined buildings and petroglyphs at this site.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rapa Nui National Park