Honeymoon in Chile: A 12-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Santiago de Chile - Start your honeymoon in the capital city of Chile! Visit La Moneda Palace, the Plaza de Armas, and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Head to Cerro San Cristobal for a stunning view of the city. Enjoy a romantic dinner at Boragó restaurant, known for serving dishes made with indigenous ingredients.
• Day 2: Valparaiso - Travel to Valparaiso, a charming coastal city known for its colorful houses and street art. Take a stroll along its steep hills and visit the Museo La Sebastiana, once home to the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Enjoy fresh seafood for dinner with a view at Restaurant Portofino.
• Day 3: San Pedro de Atacama - Fly to San Pedro de Atacama, located in the heart of the Atacama Desert. Visit Valle de la Luna and admire its unique rock formations and lunar landscape. Head to the Puritama Hot Springs for a relaxing soak in natural hot springs. Have dinner under the stars at Kunza restaurant.
• Day 4: Atacama Desert - Take a day trip to the El Tatio geysers, one of the highest geothermal fields in the world. See the steamy fumaroles and hot water pools with the backdrop of the Andes Mountains. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Chilean barbecue at Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa.
• Day 5: Puerto Varas - Fly to Puerto Varas, a charming town on the shores of Lake Llanquihue. Visit Osorno Volcano and hike around the beautiful Petrohué Waterfalls. Walk around the colorful German-style architecture of Puerto Varas and have dinner at Casa Valdés, known for its fresh and local ingredients.
• Day 6: Chiloé Island - Take a day trip to Chiloé Island, known for its palafitos (houses on stilts) and unique cultural heritage. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castro, and don't miss a visit to the Chiloé National Park. Try curanto, a traditional dish cooked in the ground, at Tierra Chiloe's restaurant.
• Day 7: Santiago de Chile - Fly back to Santiago de Chile and visit the quirky Museo de la Moda, which houses one of the world's largest collections of clothing and accessories. Head to the Sky Costanera, the tallest building in Latin America, for an unforgettable view of the city. Enjoy a farewell dinner at 040 restaurant, known for its exquisite Chilean wine selection.
• Day 8: Colchagua Valley - Head to Colchagua Valley, one of Chile's top wine regions. Visit the Viu Manent Winery and learn about the wine-making process. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at La Llavería restaurant. Spend the night at the charming Colchagua Camp, a luxury campground surrounded by vineyards.
• Day 9: Santa Cruz - Visit the town of Santa Cruz and its several wineries. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the vineyards at the Viña Montes Winery. Enjoy a wine and cheese tasting at Viña Casa Silva. Have dinner at Rayuela Wine & Grill, known for its grilled meats and extensive wine list. Spend the night at the charming Hotel Terravina.
• Day 10: Puerto Natales - Fly to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Visit Cueva del Milodón, a cave that once housed a prehistoric giant sloth. Have dinner at the cozy Afrigonia restaurant, which blends African and Chilean cuisine.
• Day 11: Torres del Paine - Head to Torres del Paine and spend the day hiking around some of the park's majestic peaks, glaciers, and lakes. Don't miss the Grey Glacier or the Towers of Paine. Have a picnic lunch with breathtaking views. Spend the night at the remote Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa.
• Day 12: Punta Arenas - Fly to Punta Arenas and visit the cultural center of the city, the Palacio Sara Braun. Walk around the historic cemetery and admire the grand tombs of Chilean luminaries. Have dinner at the renowned La Marmita restaurant, known for its local ingredients and creative recipes.

Time and Costs Estimates:

• La Moneda Palace (2 hours, free)
• National Museum of Fine Arts (3 hours, $8)
• Cerro San Cristobal (2 hours, $6)
• Boragó restaurant ($$$)
• Museo La Sebastiana (2 hours, $9)
• Restaurant Portofino ($$$)
• Valle de la Luna (4 hours, $30)
• Puritama Hot Springs (3 hours, $30)
• Kunza restaurant ($$$)
• El Tatio geysers (8 hours, $80)
• Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa barbecue ($$$)
• Osorno Volcano (4 hours, $20)
• Petrohué Waterfalls (2 hours, $10)
• Casa Valdés restaurant ($$)
• Castro (4 hours, free)
• Chiloé National Park (4 hours, $10)
• Tierra Chiloe's curanto ($$$)
• Museo de la Moda (3 hours, $15)
• Sky Costanera (2 hours, $25)
• 040 restaurant ($$$)
• Viu Manent Winery (2 hours, $40)
• La Llavería restaurant ($$)
• Colchagua Camp ($$)
• Viña Montes Winery (3 hours, $50)
• Viña Casa Silva winery (3 hours, $30)
• Rayuela Wine & Grill restaurant ($$$)
• Hotel Terravina ($$)
• Cueva del Milodón (2 hours, $6)
• Afrigonia restaurant ($$)
• Torres del Paine National Park (8 hours, $50 entrance fee)
• Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa ($$$)
• Palacio Sara Braun (2 hours, free)
• Historic Cemetery (1 hour, free)
• La Marmita restaurant ($$)
• Total Estimated Costs: $737 per person (excluding flights, accommodation, and transportation)

Transportation:

For domestic flights, we recommend booking with LATAM airlines or Sky Airlines. A one-way flight from Santiago de Chile to Calama (Atacama Desert) costs around $120 per person, while a flight from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Montt (entry port for Puerto Varas) costs around $80 per person. Private transfers and tours can be arranged with local operators, with costs ranging from $50 to $200 per person. Car rental is also an option but not recommended for the Atacama Desert or Torres del Paine National Park due to unpaved and unmarked roads.

Useful Tips:

If you have more time, consider visiting the wine regions of Maipo or Casablanca Valley, the beach town of Viña del Mar, or the historical city of La Serena. If you have less time, skip Chiloé Island or Colchagua Valley. Don't forget to pack layers, as Chilean weather can change rapidly. Bring comfortable hiking shoes and a waterproof jacket. Be careful with the altitude in the Atacama Desert and drink plenty of water. Chilean currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP) but US dollars are widely accepted. Tipping is not common in Chile but rounding up the bill is appreciated.

Airports:

Santiago International Airport (SCL) is the main gateway to Chile, located 17 km northwest of downtown Santiago de Chile. Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (PUQ) serves the Patagonian region, including Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. El Loa Airport (CJC) serves the Atacama Desert, located 6 km northwest of Calama. El Tepual Airport (PMC) serves the Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt area, located 16 km from Puerto Montt city center.