Chile is a very long, diverse, and surprising country.But when it comes to travel, almost everyone ends up in the same places: Santiago, Valparaíso, Atacama, Torres del Paine, or Easter Island. Nothing wrong with these classics; they're wonderful. But if you fancy a different kind of trip, quieter and less crowded, the country has a good number of alternative spots that seem tailor-made for those who enjoy going off the beaten path.
In this article you will find a very complete guide to alternative tourism in ChileFrom lost villages in Patagonia and remote archipelagos to silent valleys, green and sustainable destinations, brutal trekking routes or introspective experiences in the heart of nature.
1. Puerto Williams and Navarino Island: the new end of the world
Beyond the cliché of Ushuaia as “the city of the end” of the world”On the other side of the Beagle Channel, Chile scores a point with Puerto Williams, a small town that officially achieved city status in 2019 and rightly boasts of being the southernmost city on the planet. Here, the climate is harsh even in summer, chimneys never rest, and a hot plate of king crab is practically a matter of faith.
The population of Puerto Williams is divided between civilians, military personnel, and the Yaghan people.The Nahua, a nearly extinct canoe-faring people who once dominated the fjords, channels, and bays of Tierra del Fuego. Strolling through the village, talking with its inhabitants, and visiting the spaces dedicated to their culture is a powerful way to understand the human history of this remote corner of the planet.
Navarino Island is also a paradise for extreme hikingForests of twisted lenga trees, dark rock mountains, almost permanent snowfields, and a climate that changes in a matter of minutes. The star attraction is the Dientes de Navarino route, considered one of the southernmost trekking routes in the world—wild, demanding, and without park rangers, ideal only for mountaineers with solid experience.
From Puerto Williams, trips to Cape Horn National Park are also organized., a mythical area for anyone who dreams of the great southern seas, and excursions to Puerto Toro, another hamlet even further south where the ship from Punta Arenas appears only once a month.
How to get to Puerto WilliamsYou can reach it by boat from Ushuaia across the Beagle Channel, or by flying from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams. There are also boat trips from Punta Arenas, which are slower but very scenic.
2. Puerto Edén and Wellington Island: time standing still in the fjords
In the midst of an endless network of canals and fjords, Puerto Edén seems like a town outside of time.It occupies a small strip of land on Wellington Island and was historically Kawésqar territory, another canoe-faring people who traveled these icy waters long before maps existed as we know them today.
Currently, only about 170 people live in Puerto Edén.With simple accommodations, a handful of small shops that open by ringing the doorbell of the next house, and about a kilometer of wooden walkways that replace streets: there are no roads, no cars, and no way to get around without a boat. The climate is extremely humid, with frequent rain or drizzle and low temperatures almost all year round.
Life here moves slowly: each family bakes their own bread, chops their own firewood, and maintains their small vegetable gardens.Meanwhile, the village receives a monthly medical visit, and the boat that connects it to the rest of the world sets the rhythm of the weeks. For the traveler, the feeling is that of a remote refuge in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by forests, mountains, and a silence broken only by the wind and rain.
How to get to Puerto EdénAccess is exclusively by sea. There are boats that connect it with Puerto Natales (about 16 hours of sailing), with Caleta Tortel (around 14 hours) and with Puerto Montt (a trip of about 24 hours).
3. Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda and the Melimoyu Route: jewels of the Carretera Austral
Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda, in the Aysén Region, is one of the most beautiful and isolated towns on the Carretera Austral.Its very long name contrasts with the small size of the hamlet, located on an island of sand and forest between the mouth of two rivers and the Pacific Ocean, with an air of a "hidden" place even for Chileans.
The trails surround the village among incredibly old native trees.Passing by wooden houses half-camouflaged in the vegetation. Towards the coast, a vast beach makes the sunset merge with the sea, while the snow-capped Melimoyu volcano appears on the horizon on clear days: few postcards are as quintessentially Patagonian as that.
Melimoyu National Park is located very close by.One of the country's newest protected areas, it is dominated by the Valdivian evergreen forest, where the snow-capped, solitary Melimoyu volcano stands as a beacon in the landscape. Every summer, the nearby bay becomes a vital feeding ground for blue whales: it is estimated that around 10% of the world's population uses these waters to feed and rest.
The terrestrial fauna is another great attraction of this corner of AysénPumas, foxes, pudús, and seabirds and forest birds coexist in a territory that was ancestrally inhabited by the Chonos, expert navigators of the Patagonian archipelagos. It is an ideal destination to combine sailing, wildlife observation, and hiking in largely undisturbed forests.
How to get to Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda and MelimoyuPuerto Raúl Marín is connected by boat to Quellón (Chiloé) and by land to La Junta via a bus that operates only a few days a week. There is no direct road access to the Melimoyu area: it can only be reached by ferry from Quellón (about 12 hours) or from Puerto Cisnes (around 7 hours), or by private boats and flights.
Travel safely and responsibly to the most remote corners
Many of the destinations mentioned are far from large hospitals and advanced servicesAlthough medical insurance is not always required to enter Chile, consular authorities strongly recommend it, and rightly so: a sprained ankle in an isolated fjord, heatstroke in the desert, or an infection in a town without a clinic can be extremely expensive without international coverage.
There are specific insurance policies for adventure travel in Chile These policies cover everything from medical care and repatriation to baggage issues, theft, incidents with domestic flights, and sports such as high-altitude trekking, surfing, and snow activities. Considering one of these products is almost essential if you plan to venture beyond the main tourist routes.
In addition to insurance, it's advisable to check the weather conditions and access routes.Asking CONAF about the status of the parks, checking permits for volcanoes or long circuits, confirming ferry schedules on the Carretera Austral or conditions of the mountain passes. Planning ahead in Chile isn't a whim; it's a way to ensure the adventure remains enjoyable.
Chile is a true outdoor adventure park with dozens of alternative routes that go far beyond the classic agency brochures: isolated fjord villages, lost archipelagos, deserts that bloom, lakes sacred to the Mapuche people, impossible roads in Patagonia and cities that reinvent themselves far from mass tourism.
With a little preparation, a willingness to walk, and respect for the environment and local communitiesThese alternative tourism routes will give you some of the most intense and unforgettable moments.