What could be more exciting for a kid to see than puffing volcanoes, crackling glaciers, dense rainforests and blinding white salt flats?
Chile is a geological wonderland, home to the world’s driest desert and clearest skies, as well as Earth’s tallest mountains beyond the Himalaya. At its heart are vibrant cities with world-class museums and sprawling parks that are as fun for the kids as they are their minders. With some patience – and a bit of basic Spanish – this thin South American nation can be the perfect setting for a family adventure. Here's what you need to know about family travel in Chile.
Chile may not be well-known as a kid-friendly destination, but like many Latin American countries, the society here is centered around strong family bonds. Multigenerational trips are common among domestic tourists, with grandparents traveling alongside their kids and grandkids. As such, families visiting from abroad will be more than welcome and find many restaurants and lodging options catering to their needs.
In general, parents with kids – as well as pregnant mothers – will find priority seating on public transportation. Young people also instinctively give up their seats for those pregnant or traveling with children. Nearly every park or plaza in Chile has a playground, and many restaurants will have special menus for the little ones. If traveling in summertime (January and February), or over the winter school break (July) you’ll find special fairs, regional events and museum exhibits all geared toward vacationing school children.
The one major challenge in Chile is that few establishments – beyond large or internationally-owned hotels – have English-speaking staff or English-language information. Yet, many families use this as an opportunity to expose the kids to a second language.
In Chile, it may be better to stay on-the-beaten path if traveling as a family since the nation’s major destinations are also the very places best equipped for children. Home to a third of all Chileans, Santiago is brimming with kid-friendly attractions like nowhere else. Yet, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, in Patagonia, San Pedro de Atacama, in the northern desert, and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) out in the remote Pacific are all world-class (and wildly diverse) destinations where families are well received, too. Less known abroad – but extremely popular among Chilean families – is the Lakes District, filled with hot springs, thick forests and fairy-tale lodgings.
Envision a hotel shaped like a Christmas tree sitting on the far end of a wooden boardwalk from another hotel shaped like a pinecone. Such are the whimsical visions one can enjoy on a visit to Huilo Huilo, a private 1000-sq-km (386-sq-mile) biological reserve
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