Chile had long been on my travel bucket list — from the cosmopolitan energy of Santiago to the world’s clearest night skies and the mysterious, windswept beauty of Easter Island (Rapa Nui). And after two weeks exploring this breathtaking country, I can confidently say Chile is one of those rare places that captivates both your spirit and your senses.
If you’re planning a trip of your own, make sure you pair this with my packing list for Chile — you can find it HERE. Trust me, it’ll make your life so much easier as you hop between climates from high desert to ocean breeze. Especially since it's in the southern hemisphere and opposite our season.
I'm going to break this blog post up into three sections. Santiago (our base), Las Campanas Observatory and Easter Island. I was invited to join this special trip by my friend Ruth M. You might remember we did this trip to Africa together. This adventure was a small group trip organized by the Perot Museum with exclusive opportunities. I'm sharing in case you want to build your own trip to this South American treasure. I also saved trip tidbits to this Instagram Highlights.
Santiago: City Culture, Cuisine, and Panoramic Views
When you land in Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, you immediately notice its rich blend of old world charm and modern sophistication. The Andes Mountains frame the skyline, and the city pulses with creativity, heritage, and food culture. Santiago is a large, bustling city of over 8 million people. Our journey was an easy one as Dallas to Santiago is a nine hour non-stop flight on American Airlines in winter. It's a seasonal non-stop; otherwise you can connect through Miami.
We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Santiago, and honestly, it was the perfect introduction to Chile. The hotel itself feels like a serene urban oasis — spacious rooms, impeccable service, and just the right mix of luxury and warmth. This is what I call our base hotel. It has a beautiful pool, large outdoor spaces and included daily breakfast. Everything you need to get acclimated to a new country.
We enjoyed two special dinners with guests while in Santiago. The first was at Carnal, known for their exceptional steaks and more. It's chic yet relaxed, with an open kitchen and lively energy. That was my first introduction to a Pisco Sour (pictured above). There we got our introduction to astronomy with Carnegie Science special guest and president, Dr. John Mulchaey. Pete and I got to hear his presentation at the Perot Museum and he is fascinating!
Our second dinner was at Peumayen. This is a deeper taste of Chile’s culinary soul and a cultural feast. Every dish draws from Chile’s indigenous roots — from the Mapuche to the Aymara — showing a side of Chilean cuisine most travelers never experience. Our special guest that night was Dr. Terry Hunt, professor of anthropology and specialist in Polynesian history, who got us ready for our Easter Island (Rapa Nui) visit.
No trip to Santiago is complete without a visit to Cerro San Cristóbal — the iconic hill overlooking the city. You take the funicular from Barrio Bellavista — an experience in itself, with panoramic views gradually unfolding. There’s a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary, lookouts with sweeping city views, and cozy cafés if you want to linger. It's a great pic to capture.
Las Campanas Observatory: Telescopes and Stargazing
One of the most otherworldly parts of my Chile adventure was visiting Las Campanas Observatory in the Atacama Desert. If you’re drawn to astronomy or just fascinated by vast skyscapes, this will blow your mind. The Atacama Desert is arguably the best place on Earth for stargazing. Why? Extremely dry air — almost no moisture to distort light. High altitude — thinner atmosphere means sharper views. Minimal light pollution — pure darkness that reveals the Milky Way in all its glory.
While Las Campanas Observatory is not open to the public, you can find observatories that you can visit. Notably, the McDonald Observatory in Texas is an excellent observatory open for public visits. Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California is also a great place to visit. We were so lucky with two clear nights of excellent dark skies and star gazing. In fact, my picture of the Milky Way was taken with my iPhone. How amazing is that!
While there, we visited with and learned from leading astronomers about the Swope Telescope, the DuPont Telescope the twin Magellan Telescopes. We also toured the Giant Magellan construction site, which is being built now and hopefully will be finished in 2030 Each night, we would have fireside chats about astronomy, watch the sunset and when we were at complete dark sky, we would enjoy stargazing with the astrophysicists. It was magical!
Tanya's Tip: If you can't make it to an Observatory, head to your local science museum or planetarium. They do a great job of an introduction to astronomy. In Dallas we have the Perot Museum. Better yet, become a member of the museum HERE. If you are in L.A., be sure to visit the California Science Center.
Easter Island: Explora Resort & The Rapa Nui Adventure
From starry deserts to the remote wonders of the Pacific — Easter Island (Rapa Nui) was the crescendo of our Chile journey. This small, volcanic island — thousands of miles from mainland Chile — feels like a world apart. Santiago to Rapa Nui is a 5 hour non-stop flight on LATAM Airlines. They offer two flights per day to the island and the intake of visitors is tightly controlled.
We stayed at Explora Resort while on Easter Island and I highly recommend it. The resort felt like a gateway to the island itself — elegant, inviting, and totally in harmony with its surroundings. Rooms blend modern style with indigenous touches. Breakfasts with local fruit and coffee, dinners with fresh seafood — all excellent and always thoughtfully prepared. Everything is included in your Explora Resort stay. The staff and guides at Explora make Rapa Nui feel accessible, meaningful, and deeply personal. They are proud of their island and heritage and are happy to share their knowledge with you.
Moai, Hiking, and Mystical Landscapes
Easter Island’s most iconic feature, of course, is the moai — those massive stone figures scattered across the island. But there’s so much more to explore. Since we were with Dr. Terry Hunt, an expert in Polynesian history and Rapa Nui, we were in excellent hands each day. His book, The Statues That Walked is an excellent read if you are interested in this subject matter or plan to visit. Of note, Easter Island also provides some excellent stargazing at night. You are looking at the southern hemisphere and will easily see the Southern Cross and Milky Way on a clear night.
We did two daily explorations and mild hikes per day and visited amazing sites. Ahu Tahai, the southern coasts monumental aju and moai at Vinapu, Vaihu and Akahanga, Rano Raraku - the stone quarry where over 400 moai remain in various stages of carving and being transported. You can also walk a portion of the ancient moai transport road to get a feel of how they moved the giant statues so long ago. We also visited Tongariki and Te Pito Kura, home to the island's most massive moai. We got a very special treat arranged through Explora Resort - a picnic barbeque lunch at Anakena Beach. This is the only sandy, swimmable beach on the island.
We also visited Rano Kau, the extinct volcano where rapamycin was discovered and Orongo - the Birdman ceremonial village which was fascinating! If you are wondering how we saw so much - you do two explorations per day with your expert guide (much like a safari). At night, our group always gathered at the Explora Resort bar for a cocktail or mocktail and then enjoyed dinner. Everything is included at Explora Lodge. One night we did venture out to town to enjoy cocktails and the cultural show at Te Moana. It was well worth it. The dancers were phenomenal!
On our last day, we explored Ahu Akivi and Puna Pau, the red scoria quarry. These are the structures that look like hats on top of the moai.
Chile swept me off my feet — in city streets, desert stars, and Pacific winds. It’s a country of contrasts: sleek urban style meets ancient traditions; barren desert skies hold infinite stars; and remote islands feel both isolated and eternally connected. And while this journey was incredible, your own adventure will be uniquely yours — shaped by the paths you choose and the moments that surprise you.
Just remember one thing: great trips start with great preparation. If you haven’t already, check out my Chile packing list HERE — it’s especially helpful for navigating Chile’s many climates. I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.
xoxo - Tanya
P.S. A HUGE thank you to my dear friend Ruth for including me on this trip of a lifetime! Also, kudos to Dr. Linda Silver and Katherine Stenesen from the Perot Museum and Jason Valdivia of Valdivia Ventures for the perfect itinerary and planning!
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