From the desert to the coast, Chile reveals little-explored destinations that broaden the perspective on its landscapes, cultures, and travel experiences
Submitted at Mar 23, 2026, 11:30 AM
Isla de Chiloé, Chile (iStock/Divulgação)
Chile is often associated with its classic routes, such as the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, and the central wine region. However, the Chilean territory holds a variety of landscapes and cities that remain off the best-known itineraries, offering experiences that go beyond the obvious.
Exploring Chile through these less popular destinations allows for more direct contact with the local pace, and reveals settings that move between the desert, the coast and areas of strong historical value. Below are a few places that broaden one’s understanding of the country and invite less predictable journeys.
Located south of Taltal, in the Antofagasta region, Cifuncho reveals a lesser-known side of Chile, where the desert meets the sea in a surprising way. The landscape is defined by long stretches of white sand and the absence of vegetation typical of the coast, creating a setting that is arid and, at the same time, singular.
Cifuncho (MOP Antofagasta/Divulgação)
With clear waters and a tranquil atmosphere, the seaside resort stands out as a little-explored refuge in the north of the country. Beyond its natural beauty, Cifuncho also draws attention for its local cuisine, especially fresh seafood.
In northern Chile, the Salar de Surire reveals a lesser-known salt landscape, yet every bit as impressive as Bolivia’s desert. Situated at over 4,200 meters in elevation, the setting combines white plains, lagoons and a distinctive fauna, notably flamingos and vicuñas that roam freely across the area.
Salar de Surire (CONAF/Divulgação)
Beyond the visual experience, the region is home to the Termas de Polloquere, natural hot-spring pools that emerge in the middle of the altiplano. The contrast between the arid climate and the waters creates an unexpected pause along the route, making the visit even more singular.
With more than three centuries of formation, Arcoíris Lagoon has a singular origin: it arose after a flood that submerged part of a Nothofagus forest, creating a setting where nature and time overlap. The result is a landscape that combines water, vegetation and geological memory.
Lagoa Arcoiris (Divulgação/Divulgação)
Located in Conguillío National Park, in Chile’s Araucanía region, the lagoon stands out for its crystalline waters and the color variations that are reflected throughout the day. The shades, which seem to blend naturally, reinforce the almost unexpected character of this destination.
Humberstone and Santa Laura are former company towns in northern Chile, built to house workers from the saltpeter mines and their families. Abandoned since 1958, they still retain structures such as a theater, hotel, and common areas that are practically intact, creating a silent setting that reveals the everyday life of an era marked by industrial activity.
Humberstone e Santa Laura (Reporte Minero/Divulgação)
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these saltpeter plants bear witness to an important period in Chile’s economy, when sodium nitrate fueled the country’s development. Today, the site can be visited from Iquique and preserves not only the architecture but also the memory of pampino culture.
About a three-hour flight from Santiago, Chiloé Island reveals one of Chile’s most singular settings. Part of an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, the destination combines rustic landscapes, a slower pace and an intense relationship with the sea, creating a project geared toward contemplation and contact with the local culture.
Isla de Chiloé (CNN Brasil/Divulgação)
Geographic isolation has contributed to the development of distinct traditions, visible in the architecture, folklore, and wooden churches scattered throughout the island. The palafitas (houses built on stilts at the water’s edge) are among the symbols of this territory, which also stands out for its cuisine and crafts that are characteristic.
CASACOR Publisher is an exclusive content-creation agent, developed by the CASACOR Technology team from the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.
