Chile's Hidden Gems: The Four Places I'd Send My Own Family

Eleven days. More than 15 hotels. One very long country.

In September, I travelled the length of Chile with our partners, from the Atacama Desert in the north all the way down to Patagonia. Some of the hotels we visited were big, fancy 5-star resorts. But the ones that stayed with me were the smaller places: a handful of rooms, staff who know your name, and the kind of character you just can't build into a resort.

So this isn't a list of everything I saw. These are the four places I'd send my own family and friends to, and why I think they'll make your trip to Chile that little bit more special.

1. Santiago: Rugendas, a true home away from home

WHERE: A quiet street in Las Condes, around a five-minute walk from the metro and 15 minutes from the Costanera Center
WHY I LOVE IT: Cosy, spotless rooms and a restaurant that's a hit with locals
DON'T MISS: Dinner in the restaurant, even if you're not staying
ROOMS: 51

None of us in the group had heard of Rugendas before, and what a find it turned out to be. This charming boutique hotel sits on a quiet street in the Las Condes neighbourhood, only around a five-minute walk from the metro station and 15 minutes from the Costanera Center, so you're perfectly placed for exploring without the noise of a big city hotel.

Step inside and the whole place feels warm and homely. The rooms are cosy, spacious and spotlessly clean, with lovely little touches like a desk pad for planning out your time in the city. It really is a home away from home, and at the start or end of a long trip, that's exactly what you want.

Then there's the restaurant, a real highlight and very popular with locals (always a good sign). You'll spot its huge woven pendant lights from the street. Inside, it's elegant and warm, and the menu is all about Chilean flavours paired with Chilean wines. Even if you're not staying here, book a table for dinner!

While you're in Santiago

You'd be missing out if you didn't head up Sky Costanera. It's at the top of the tallest building in South America, with 360-degree views across the city and towards the snow-capped Andes.

Afterwards, slow things down with a stroll around nearby Parque Bicentenario. It's a lovely green space with a large pond full of koi carp and swans, and a great spot for birdwatching. A really relaxed way to spend a couple of hours.

2. San Pedro de Atacama: Casa Solcor, my favourite in San Pedro

WHERE: A little outside the main town: a 5–6 minute bike ride, or around a 10-minute walk, into the centre
WHY I LOVE IT: It's lovely and quiet, and so much is included that your money goes a long way
DON'T MISS: A rica rica pisco sour
ROOMS: 20

I visited lots of hotels in San Pedro, from small, quaint B&Bs all the way up to 5-star all-inclusive resorts. The one I really fell for was Casa Solcor, a 4-star hotel with just 20 rooms. It's set a little outside the main town, so it's lovely and quiet, yet only a 5–6 minute bike ride (or around a 10-minute walk) into the centre.

What really stood out was how much is included, so your money goes a long way here. You stay on a B&B basis, but on top of that you'll find:

Two guest kitchens, if you fancy cooking for yourself

Free bikes, sun cream and books

Tea, coffee, juice, yoghurt and water
- Do-it-yourself laundry (a lifesaver after dusty days in the desert)
- Fire pits lit in the evenings, with marshmallows
- A yoga area, with an instructor free of charge
- An outdoor film screen they can set up on request
- A jacuzzi and two pools, one of them heated

Even the toiletries are made with rica rica, a local herb that grows wild by the roadside here. It's also the star ingredient in the famous rica rica pisco sour, which was by far my favourite of the many variations I tried! Pretty much the only thing you pay extra for is a massage.

Two experiences you won't find on the usual San Pedro checklist

Casa Solcor is the perfect base for exploring the Atacama, and two of my favourite experiences here were a little off the beaten track.

A walk with llamas

On a small farm just outside town, we met our guide, a local Atacameña lady who breeds the llamas herself for their wool. After introducing us to the herd, she led us on an hour's walk alongside them. They were incredibly well behaved (no spitting, I promise!) and loved a good scratch under the chin. I found the whole thing so calming. Afterwards, we sat in the shade of a tree while she told us some local legends.

A cultural lunch at Rincón de Solor

This is a real hidden gem in the Ayllu de Solor, one of the small farming communities just outside San Pedro. It's run by a local Atacameña family, and the whole experience tells the story of the Lickanantay (Atacameño) people, their land and the food they've grown and preserved for generations.

There's no menu. Everything is prepared for you and served around one shared table, with each course introduced using traditional ingredients like corn, quinoa, native herbs and chañar. The ribs with quinoa were outstanding (the best quinoa I've ever tasted!). We finished by making our own infusion from native herbs, followed by ice cream with chañar syrup, which I've been hooked on ever since.

MY TIP: The two experiences pair perfectly in one day. After the early starts and long drives to see big highlights like the Altiplanic Lagoons and El Tatio, it's a lovely, slower-paced day spent getting to know the local Atacameño way of life.

3. Patagonia: Estancia 3 Pasos, my favourite of the whole trip

WHERE: On its own, just off the road between Puerto Natales and Cerro Castillo, on the way to Torres del Paine (around 25 minutes from Puerto Natales Airport)
WHY I LOVE IT: A cosy, country Patagonian estancia with no other buildings in sight and countryside views from every room
DON'T MISS: Chupe de centolla, the local king crab bake
ROOMS: 10

This was my big new discovery and my absolute favourite of the whole trip. I don't have the words to do it justice, but I'll try.

Estancia 3 Pasos sits on its own just off the road between Puerto Natales and Cerro Castillo, with no other buildings in sight. It's an old estancia (a traditional Patagonian ranch) founded in 1904, before the town of Puerto Natales itself, and it takes its name from the three valleys it sits between.

There are only 10 rooms, all with lovely views of the countryside, and the whole place has that cosy, country Patagonian feel. Curl up with a book by the wood-burning fire, and take a moment to look around: the walls are full of old photos and antique telephones that tell the story of the region's early pioneers.

The estancia is especially proud of its link to the poet Gabriela Mistral. She stayed here and is said to have written poems from her collection Desolación during her time here, before going on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945.

And the food is incredible. The menu changes every day, but one thing that's always on there is chupe de centolla, a king crab bake that's a speciality of the Magallanes region, topped with melted cheese and served with crispy baguette. It was my favourite dish of the whole trip, so make sure you try it!

There's plenty to do right from the door, too: hike up the mountain behind the house, go horse riding, birdwatching or fishing, and when night falls, the skies are so clear that it's a brilliant spot for stargazing. Being only around 25 minutes from Puerto Natales Airport also makes it a great place to spend your last night in Patagonia.

How I'd plan it: spend a few nights in Puerto Natales while you do the main excursions, like exploring Torres del Paine and the boat trip to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Then finish with at least one night at 3 Pasos, or two if you can.

Don't miss: Tierra de Ovejeros

Alongside the big sights, you really must get a bit of local culture into your trip, and only 20 minutes away is Tierra de Ovejeros. At this family-run sheep farm, two brothers show you their sheepdogs at work, sheep shearing and how the wool is spun. Then comes the best lamb I've ever tasted, followed by an incredible rhubarb cake.

4. Wine country: La Casona at Matetic Vineyards, the perfect finish

WHERE: The Rosario Valley, surrounded by vineyards
WHY I LOVE IT: Staff who know you by your first name, and the perfect place to completely switch off before heading home
DON'T MISS: The biodynamic tour
ROOMS: 10

After travelling from north to south, getting sandy in the desert, cold in the national park and spending plenty of time on planes, there's nothing better than ending your trip somewhere you can completely switch off before heading home. La Casona is exactly the place to do it: a 1920s colonial-style house in the Rosario Valley, surrounded by vineyards, with just 10 rooms, each named after a different type of wine.

I'd definitely book it on an all-inclusive basis, as you're right in the middle of the vineyards with not much else around. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all covered, along with a five-course wine-pairing dinner at Restaurante Equilibrio and plenty of excursions to keep you busy, if you wish. On arrival, the activity coordinator sits down with you (glass of wine in hand) to plan your stay.

A must-do is the biodynamic tour. Over around 2.5 hours, you explore the vineyards and gardens while learning how they care for the soil and produce their wines, before finishing in the bodega with a tasting. You can also go horse riding through the open grassland and woodland, or head out on one of the cycling or hiking routes.

The sea breeze helps keep the valley cooler even in summer, so coming back to a warm, cosy room at the end of the day is lovely. And the bedding? Some of the best I've ever slept in.

But what really makes La Casona special is the staff. They know you by your first name. They're holding the door open before you even reach the restaurant, and showing you to your usual table. Need anything? It's just a WhatsApp message away. It was a 10 out of 10 for me.

Not a wine lover? Swap this for a couple of nights in colourful Valparaíso on the coast instead. It was my first time visiting, and parts of it almost felt like a little European city in Chile. Before the Panama Canal opened, Valparaíso was one of the most important ports on the Pacific. Today, it's known for its colourful hillside buildings, incredible street art and the historic funiculars that carry you up and down its steep hills.

My top tips for Chile

Don't fall asleep on the drive up or down to El Tatio.

Keep sipping water, yawning and chatting to help your ears adjust to the change in altitude. I learnt this one the hard way!

Pick the right window seat when flying to Patagonia.

Sit on the A side flying down to Puerto Natales and the F side flying back for some of the best views of the mountains and volcanoes along the way.

Bring binoculars!

They're definitely worth having for spotting wildlife and taking in some of those far-reaching views.

Give yourself plenty of rest days between busy days.

It's tempting to pack everything in, but some downtime stops the whole trip from going by in a flash. It gives you time to properly take everything in, recharge and enjoy the busier days even more.

Ready to find your own hidden gems?

Every one of these places can be built into a tailor-made trip to Chile. Get in touch and we'll help you plan yours.