Six secret gems in Chile you need to explore

What Chile may lack in tourist numbers, it certainly makes up for with a wealth of spectacular landscapes, experiences and hidden gems. Here are the country’s most underrated places truly worth the voyage.

While more and more travellers make the voyage to South America each year, Chile is all too often overlooked in favour of its better-known neighbours.

Here Michelle Mohaupt – former Chilean resident and founder of Moh Collection Latin America (South American luxury hotel and cruise specialists) – reveals the most underrated places Chile has to offer.

1. Cape Horn

Tierra del Fuego, Chile’s southern Patagonia

Many travellers don’t realise that the southernmost point of South America is in Chile – a title often mistakenly given to neighbouring Argentina.

Cape Horn, also known as ‘the end of the world’, is the very tip of the continent and is located on Hornos Island within the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in Chilean Patagonia.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Cape Horn is rich in maritime history that dates back to the 1600s when it was first discovered and used as a navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Synonymous with rough seas and howling storms, ‘rounding the Horn’ is recognised as the ultimate maritime rite-of-passage for keen sailors.

Lucky for less-experienced travellers, you can now access this extremely remote part of the world aboard Australis, a luxury expedition company that also journeys through Patagonia’s southernmost fjords and glaciers.

Australis Patagonia Cruises www.australis.com

2. Ski Portillo

Andes mountains, 120km from Santiago

Hidden in the majestic Andes mountain range near the Argentine border, Portillo is one of the most unique ski resorts in the world.

With more than 60 years history and family hospitality, Portillo is also the oldest and most traditional ski resort in South America.

The resort stands alone – with no town or village – on the edge of Inca Lake which provides one spectacular vista reflecting the towering Andean peaks that surrounds it.

Like a cruise ship in the sky, Portillo envelops its guests in world-class views and extraordinary beauty.

With the ski terrain exclusive to Portillo guests, there are no crowds nor lift lines, affording skiers unparalleled privacy and space.

This exclusivity attracts the likes of celebrities and international Olympians, who you can end up chatting with on a ski lift or over a pisco sour at the bar.

Ski Portillo www.skiportillo.com

3. Pucon

Araucania region

With its lush green forests, snow-capped volcanoes and mirroring lakes, Pucon is one of the most charming and picturesque regions of Chile.

Although it’s a popular destination with Santiaguinos (local visitors from Santiago, Chile’s capital) who fill hotels and holiday homes during the summer, very few international travellers actually know this area exists.

Recognized for being Chile’s adventure capital, visitors to Pucon can partake in a variety of activities year round like hiking volcanoes, whitewater rafting and fly fishing in the summer to skiing volcanoes, dog-sledding and bathing in natural hot-springs during the winter.

This region is also the heart of the Mapuche culture, Chile’s largest indigenous group.

A hidden gem within this gem is the brand new Vira Vira Hacienda Hotel. Swiss couple, Michael and Claudia Paravacini, have created this very special retreat in which they also provide guided adventures throughout the region, as well as farm-to-table dining.

Vira Vira Hacienda Hotel www.hotelviravira.com

4. Lastarria Neighbourhood

Santiago

The Lastarria Barrio (neighbourhood) is a hidden oasis within Santiago’s bustling downtown.

Declared a Zona Tipica (heritage listed typical zone) in the late 90s, the area brings together an eclectic mix of classic European style and bohemian-chic influence.

Widely recognised as the cultural and historical heart of Santiago, savvy travellers revel in the Barrio’s surprising assortment of museums, galleries, theatres, design stores, charming boutique hotels and great restaurants.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

5. Piedras Rojas

Atacama Desert

With its otherworldly natural landscapes from infinite salt flats filled with pink flamingos to barren lunar valleys sitting below the world’s cleanest night skies – Atacama is an extraordinary region that is home to some of Chile’s most beautiful vistas.

Even though the region is now becoming more popular with international visitors, one of the most underrated local gems remains well off the tourist path. Piedras Rojas (Red Rocks) is, as the name suggests, an area of red volcanic rock formations that surround and sit within a pale turquoise salt lagoon at the foot of the Andean volcanoes.

Situated over 4000m above sea level, arriving in Piedras Rojas alone feels like you’ve arrived on another planet, let alone its surreal landscapes and unparalleled beauty.

6. Marble Caves

Lake General Carrera, Chile’s northern Patagonia

Lake General Carrera – South America’s second largest lake after Lake Titicaca – is home to one of the most – if not THE most – beautiful cave networks in the world.

Formed over thousands of years by the crashing waves of the lake, Chile’s Marble Caves are also some of the most intricate.

Prepare to be genuinely awe-struck when you see the spectacular light show put on by the lake’s glacial azure waters reflected onto these marble formations.

Despite being widely recognised as one of the most beautiful geographic sights in Chile, the Marble Caves remain quite untouched because it’s such an effort to reach them. Like any precious gem, they are hidden deep in the wilds of Patagonia.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.