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Valle de la Luna, Chile

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Where to stay in Chile

Hotels in Chile

Hotels: 

Several luxury hotel chains have recently set up shop in Santiago and there are also various boutique hotels that meet exacting Western standards in the capital. Advance bookings are essential in resort areas during the high season. The cost of accommodation in Santiago is higher than in the provinces. Rates increase during the summer holiday from January to March, particularly in coastal resorts. Members of foreign motoring organisations can obtain discounts at hotels by joining the Automóvil Club de Chile. A tax of 19% is levied on all hotel bills, except those paid in foreign currencies by visitors, for which an export bill is required.

Grading: Hotels in Chile are graded from 5 (luxurious rooms) to 2 stars (basic commodities).

Camping: 

There are plenty of campsites throughout Chile. Some locals will happily allow visitors to set up camp in their garden or land upon polite request. Official sites can often be expensive. If you fancy taking charge of the steering wheel, you can hire your own caravan from Trekker Chile (www.trekkerchile.com) and choose your own destination.

Other accommodation: 

There are several hostels throughout Chile and on Easter Island. Membership of the Asociación Chilena de Albergues Turísticos Juveniles youth hostel association is required; many hostels are extremely crowded and it is advisable to book in advance where possible.

Backpacker hostels continue to crop up like mushrooms throughout the country, thanks to the increase in numbers of younger tourists travelling to Chile, and these usually offer friendly and cheap accommodation. Standards vary widely, from the bare basics to luxury hostels for the well-heeled. Visit www.backpackerschile.com for more information.

Residenciales are a cheap and popular type of accommodation, often consisting of a few rooms in the home of a local resident.

Cabañas (holiday chalets) are found in coastal resorts and in several mountain resorts; some are self-catering. They range from luxurious to basic.

In the national parks, refugios (basic sheltered accommodation) offer beds for a low price. Check with the regional forestry office - Conaf (www.conaf.cl) in advance.

Although it isn’t fully developed in the sense that there is one website to access all accommodation facilities, agrotourism in Chile is slowly coming in to its own. From a mud hut in the Mapuche Indian Marin Aillapi reserve to the purpose-built lakeside Kumelen lodge 90km from the nearest town of Osorno and the working farm Fundo Chacaipulli in the Lake District, the options are there - it’s simply a matter of digging about for them.

Recommended Sites:

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