Exploring nature is not only a way to see the world; often, by observing the stars, walking through the forest, or marveling at a majestic mountain, we find the answers we were seeking about ourselves.

At Chile Travel, we want to make your journey of self-discovery easier, and we suggest these 5 destinations in Chile that are perfect for finding yourself.

1. Elqui Valley in the north

Many people who have visited Chile know the Elqui Valley. If you haven’t come yet, or you’re here and don’t know it, don’t miss this opportunity. This valley is one of the most important in the country, recognized as the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. If you are the type of person who feels captivated by the stars, then you must explore this place, which offers a unique view of the stars.

With horseback riding, trails of varying difficulty, and different excursions that you can do by bicycle, you also have everything you need to encounter the nature of this area. After exploring nature during the day, you can visit one of the various observatories for a close encounter with the stars, which you can end by staying in one of the Elqui domes and enjoying one of the best Syrah and Carmenére wines in the world, originating from this area.

In this place, recognized as the energy center of the earth, you can visit the Stupa of Illumination monument located in the commune of Paihuano, inside the Elqui Valley.

2. Rapa Nui, an island in the middle of the Pacific

The most isolated inhabited place in the sea in the entire world, the island of Rapa Nui is a truly unique place on the entire planet to go to find yourself. On this island in the middle of the ocean, you can explore volcanoes and meadows, and even, if you feel the call of the sea, you can dive in one of the most fantastic places in Chile to find the moai submerged under the sea of the island, definitely one of the most legendary places you will see in your life.

Tour the island galloping, by boat, or walking along the trails; you can choose the way you want to get to know this magical land in the middle of the sea. Exploring Rapa Nui, you can find natural wonders such as the Rano Kau crater, one of the most special views in the world in the middle of the ocean, or the Rano Raraku crater with the spectacular views that surround it. If what you are looking for connects more with ancestral cultures, then a visit to the moai, the silent witnesses of the world, cannot be left out of your exploration trip.

3. A forest bath in southern Chile

This area brings together several of the most picturesque cities in Chile, such as Concepción, Valdivia, Pucón, and Puerto Varas, which makes it one of the most beautiful places you can visit in our country during the summer. In addition, each of these points can serve as your resting place or starting point for the various adventures that the south has to offer.

If you feel at home in the forest, the sound of the river calms you, and the lakes give you peace, then here you can find all the landscapes necessary to calm your heart and find yourself. Explore the Arauco territory and connect with the ancestral Mapuche worldview, observe the araucarias in the interior of the Nahuelbuta National Park, find peace in the crystalline waters of Lake Ranco, be amazed by the Huilo Huilo waterfalls in the surroundings of Panguipulli, or explore the surroundings of Lake Llanquihue to be enchanted within enormous forests and lakes.

If the experience of the rivers, waterfalls, and lakes has not yet taken you where you want to go to get to know yourself, then try a forest bath. This practice, originating in Japan, will allow you to get the most out of the trees, becoming infected with their vitality and microorganisms to recover your energy while enjoying a powerful connection with the environment.

4. Carretera Austral, a route full of contrasts

The Carretera Austral is one of those trips that everyone who has undertaken remembers fondly and mentions many times as a turning point in their lives. This famous journey, traveled by both Chileans and foreigners, takes you through diverse landscapes of the southern zone of our country, through snowy mountains, giant glaciers, and lakes surrounded by one of the wildest vegetations in our country and possibly the world.

In addition to being one of those trips on which movies are based in itself, within the tour of the Carretera Austral you will find the opportunity to visit some of the most magical places in the world. The Queulat National Park, home to the enchanted forest and the hanging snowdrift, is a clear example of this, as well as the town of Caleta Tortel, one of the most special places in the world located in a truly fantastic environment.

If you only have a few days for your adventure, don’t worry, here is an itinerary that will allow you to compress several of the most transformative experiences of the entire area in just 5 days.

Thus we reach the end of our journey, from the desert to enormous glaciers, passing through forests and mountains. Chile has everything you need to connect with nature and find yourself.

5. Chilean Antarctica in the extreme south

For the most extreme travelers, who are willing to face the adversity of the climate, the remoteness, and the cost of undertaking this adventure of discovery to some of the most remote places in the world, the Chilean Antarctica is an incredible option. With an area of 1,250,257 km2, here you can find a challenge of inhospitable lands and white immensities.

Find the largest animal in the world in its waters, visit an island that does not freeze in the middle of Antarctica with a volcano in its center, see the churches that are still on King George Island and the Villa de las Estrellas. Whale watching, Deception Island, and Full Days are all incredible ways to get to know this corner of the world, only available to the intrepid. If the challenge of unexplored and inhospitable places is the best way to get to know yourself, this is an adventure you cannot miss.