Solo Female Travel in Chile: How to Plan Your Itinerary

Hi again, and welcome to Tourist Lookup, the best place to go on an adventure before an adventure. Not only do we tell you where to go, we bring them to life right in front of your eyes. And today, we’ll be exploring the Republic of Chile in South America and spoon-feeding you all the nutrients you need for your on-fleek Chile solo female travel. 

Chile is a long, narrow country that stretches over four thousand Kilometers, earning it its spot as the longest country in the world. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, the daring Atacama Desert, and the peaceful Patagonian region (replete with solid mountains and stunning glaciers)

Chile is also renowned for its wine production, so if you know and love your wines, you can visit The Central Valley, located near Santiago, and enjoy a treat of exquisite wines and enjoy the scenic beauty of the vineyards. But other than its wine-ness, Chile has other worthwhile reasons for visiting. 

Because of its landscape, the country offers a wealth of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, surfing, and wildlife watching. So whether you’re a little or a lot outdoorsy, you’ll fit right in. Chilean culture is also very inviting, as it is a unique blend of indigenous traditions and European influences. 

Like most countries, the most popular city in Chile is its capital, Santiago, and it will definitely pop up a lot in your Chile solo travel itinerary. Santiago, in particular, is a great place to intake the country’s rich history, with remnants of ancient civilizations, colonial architecture, and a vibrant arts and music scene.

But asides from all the excitement that this country affords you, you might be wondering —since we are talking about solo female travel— “ Is it safe to travel to Chile alone?” Well, the answer is yes. Chile is a perfectly safe country, especially if you are in the right places like we are about to show you. 

By now, you should be able to tell the purpose of this post. We’re about to bring Chile to you and tell you all you need to know to plan your itinerary for your solo travel in Chile. So get ready, strap on, and let’s get going. 

How to Plan Your Solo Female Itinerary 

When embarking on your Chile solo female travel, you need to meticulously plan. As much as Chile is not the biggest country in the world, it is not a tiny country either. There are many attractions in the city that are fighting for your attention and your Pesos, and not all of them are worth visiting. 

From the vibrant city life of Santiago to the mystical landscapes of the Atacama Desert to the awe-inspiring beauty of Torres del Paine National Park to the captivating cultural heritage of Valparaíso to the pristine wilderness of Patagonia, it all can be a little confusing. So we’ll map it out for you. 

Day 1: Visit Santiago and Valparaíso (City Experience)

What better way to start your amazing female Chile solo travel than to explore the vibrant capital city, Santiago, and take in all its wonders? If you are up for it, start with a relaxing climb of the Santa Lucia hill, which offers the most amazing views of the city you are about to explore. 

After the hill, you can go on with your adventure by visiting the historic center, Plaza de Armas, and stroll through the bustling streets of Bellavista. While in the city, you should check out Santiago Bahá’í Temple. It has stunning architecture that has won a number of awards. 

Depending on how long you plan to spend in Chile, you can visit a lot more places in Santiago. From immersing yourself in history at The Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral to witnessing the changing of the guards at the Palacio de La Moneda to riding a cable car up San Cristobal Hill, there are myriads of activities to keep you busy. 

If you plan to spend only a few days in the country, then you should try to round up your tour in Santiago by morning and, in the afternoon, take a 90-minute bus ride to Valparaíso. Valparaíso is a must-have on your Chile solo travel itinerary. 

On getting to Valparíso, you can have the time of your life. Whatever you do, make sure you explore the colorful hills of Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre and enjoy the stunning views of the city and the Pacific Ocean from various lookout points.

You can also ride the Historic Funiculars, visit the Open-Air Museum, stroll along Paseo Yugoslavo and Paseo Gervasoni, and take a boat tour of the harbor to experience Valparaíso from the water.

After an exciting and adventurous afternoon and evening tour, you can treat yourself to a delicious seafood dinner in any of Valparaíso’s charming restaurants and catch a sunset over the Pacific Ocean as a perfect end to the perfect day. 

Valparaíso is a city full of surprises, so allow yourself to get lost in its charming streets, interact with locals, and embrace the vibrant artistic and cultural atmosphere that makes it so unique.

Day 2: Visit the Atacama Desert (Natural Wonders)

After a wonderful night’s rest at any of the Valparaiso hotels like the Hotel Palacio Astoreca or Casa Higueras Hotel Boutique, continue your Chile solo female travel with an early morning flight from Santiago to Calama, and take a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. This is where the next phase of your adventure will be. 

Once there, check into your accommodation at either Terrantai Lodge Andino or Nayara Alto Atacama, or any other hotel of your choosing, and get ready to explore the otherworldly landscapes the region has to offer. 

The whole region here is known as the Atacama desert, and it is a vast and arid landscape stretching across thousands of kilometers and is considered one of the driest places on Earth. It has some places that have never recorded any rainfall at all, and it has some striking natural features that give it an aura of mysticism. 

You can begin your adventure with a guided tour of the Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna), where you’ll witness extraordinary geological formations and stunning salt flats and enjoy the breathtaking sunset over the desert.

Since Laguna Cejar and Salar de Atacama are quite close to town, they are the next stop. Laguna Cejar is a stunning saltwater lagoon that offers a refreshing swimming experience to take a break from your exploration and just relax in the water. 

To maintain that relaxing atmosphere and mood, the next stop should be Salar de Atacama. It is, in fact, one of the most common things to do on solo travel in Chile. 

Salar de Atacama is a salt lake covered by a thick crust of salt. It is home to many interesting birds, including several different types of flamingos, and is a perfect place for birdwatching. 

After visiting Salar de Atacama, you can further explore the remarkable attractions in the Atacama Desert, including Lagunas Altiplánicas, Piedras Rojas, El Tatio Geysers, and Tatio Cactus Valley.”

To make it easier for you to tick off your Chile solo travel itinerary, here’s a list of the attractions. You can just paste them into your Chile solo travel itinerary. 

1. Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)

2. Laguna Cejar

3. Salar de Atacama

4. Lagunas Altiplánicas (Miscanti and Miñiques)

5. Piedras Rojas (Red Stones)

6. El Tatio Geysers

7. Tatio Cactus Valley

After a wild day of touring the deserts, you can catch an impressive view of the night sky with some evening stargazing. 

Day 3: Torres del Paine National Park (Outdoors and Recreation)

After a wonderful time in the desert, it’s time to return to Calama. Take a flight from Calama to Punta Arenas and transfer to Torres del Paine National Park.

Torres del Paine is renowned for its awe-inspiring beauty and captivating landscapes. It is home to the iconic three granite towers and is covered with stunning crystal-clear waters. It is one of the most popular parks in the whole country and is a must for solo travel in Chile. 

From hiking in the park to taking in the breathtaking views of the granite peaks to exploring the lakes and glaciers, you have a couple of things that don’t require company. The parks also have a variety of cozy lodges or campsites that gives you the best of both comfort and nature. 

To enjoy more of the natural and scenic views, you can start a personal tour of all the surrounding regions starting from the scenic views at Laguna Azul to the cascading waterfalls of Salto Grande. You can then take a short hike to Lake Pehoé and enjoy stunning views of the Cuernos del Paine.

Day 3: Alternative

Alternatively, if parks are not your thing, you can instead fly from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt and take a 30-minute drive to the charming town of Puerto Varas. 

Puerto Varas is known for its German architecture and stunning views of Lake Llanquihue. You can take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, visit the iconic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and enjoy a traditional German-inspired meal.

In the afternoon, take a ferry to Chiloé Island and visit the picturesque fishing villages and wooden churches. You can take a boat or ferry ride from Puntas Arena to visit the beautiful island, Isla Magdalena, and spot the large King penguins in their habitat (the world’s second-largest species of penguins). 

Conclusion 

Though this plan specified only three days, you can extend your Chile solo female travel as long as you like. Each city and place has enough attractions to keep you for a day or two more. Of course, that may cost a little more, but if money is not a problem, then, by all means, turn this 3-day plan into a 10-day one. 

For instance, you can explore the Maipo Canyon: A majestic masterpiece of towering cliffs, vibrant colors, winding rivers, and untamed natural beauty just outside of Santiago if you have more time to spend in the city.  

Also, after enjoying Laguna Cejar, you can take a long trip to the Marble Caves. It would involve a flight to Balmaceda Airport in the Aysén Region and a 5-hour drive to Puerto Río Tranquilo. Once in Puerto Río Tranquilo, you can join a boat tour to visit the Marble Caves on General Carrera Lake. 

If you want to go even further south, you can go on to find other amazing places to explore in South America. Also, if you’re looking for the answer to the question, “ Is it safe to travel to Chile alone?” Here you go; it most definitely is!