Why Chile Is a 2026 Best Bet

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A country this slender shouldn’t hold so much, yet Chile layers entire worlds end to end: a cosmopolitan capital set against the Andes, a desert where the night sky feels close enough to touch, vast Patagonian parks that safeguard wild silence, and a Pacific island where living tradition matters more than spectacle. In episode nine of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie sit down with Jessica Canelo, Marketing Director at Chile Travel, to map a clear, inspiring path for traveling Chile in 2026. From what to see first and how to move smartly between regions to why community-led sustainability underpins every decision, this conversation brings Chile into focus.

We begin in Santiago, a city in the midst of reinvention. Walkable neighborhoods like Barrio Italia invite long meals and late nights, while the historic funicular to Cerro San Cristóbal delivers sweeping views that seamlessly link city and mountains. From the capital, Chile opens outward with ease. Nearby wine valleys Maipo, Colchagua, Casablanca, and Leyda tell a layered wine story, from benchmark cabernets to crisp coastal whites and the revival of heritage grapes like país and cinsault. Carmenere, once mistaken for merlot, now stands proudly as Chile’s signature, perfectly paired with smoky asados and Pacific seafood.

Then the journey stretches in every direction. Head north to the Atacama Desert, where San Pedro’s oasis culture balances cycling routes, sunrise valleys, geothermal wonders, and stargazing so pristine that observatories like ALMA peer deep into the universe. In rare years, the desert bloom transforms arid landscapes into fields of color. Fly west to Rapa Nui, five hours across open ocean, where the moai stand watch and the Tapati festival keeps cultural identity deeply rooted in everyday life. Travel south to Patagonia, where Torres del Paine’s granite towers rise above turquoise lakes and expanding parklands protect fragile ecosystems, continuing the conservation legacy championed by Chris and Douglas Tompkins.

So why 2026? Expanded airlift from North America brings Chile closer than ever, harvest season offers a vibrant winter escape for northern travelers, and September’s Independence celebrations fill the country with music, food, and open-armed hospitality. With communities guiding tourism and protecting what matters most, Chile invites travelers to slow down, go deeper, and feel more.

Join us next Tuesday for the finale of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series. Become a member at travelzoo.com to access exclusive offers.

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