When I first arrived in Santiago, Chile, I landed without a checklist, without a plan, without knowing how long I’d stay—or if I’d stay at all. And those first few months, I couldn’t quite articulate why it felt like such a perfect choice for me. But the longer I stayed, the clearer the reasons became. Here are all the practical (and unexpected) reasons why I remain in Chile.
1. Santiago: A Well-Connected Major City
I value connectivity when I’m looking for places to live or stay for a while. And Santiago offers just that. The major international airport there is huge and offers a variety of direct flights to countries near and far.
Recently, I heard that this airport (Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport) is one of the top-rated for on-time flights. From personal experience, every one of my flights out of there has been either on time or pushing back even a few minutes early.
Besides having a large, efficient airport, Santiago is well-connected within the city. The metro station in Santiago is the best in South America; in fact, one traveler from Chicago told me she prefers the Santiago metro over the one in Chicago. It’s clean, relatively safe in my experience (just watch for pickpockets), and can drop you off in all the most popular places in the city. You can take it all the way to the eastern edge of the city, if you’re like me and want to access the mountains.
I’ve also found the bus system to be efficient, widespread, and easy to use. I’ve taken bus routes to the city limits, even out to San Jose del Maipo, an hour out from the city, for a camping trip with friends. And with my “BIP card” (the reloadable transportation payment card), it’s all too easy to beep myself onto the metro platform or the bus.
2. The Chilean People & Their Culture
In the year I spent in Santiago, I had the pleasure of getting to know truly wonderful people, many of whom I met in unexpected places or large group activities. Even though, as I learned, Chileans (from the big city) are relatively more reserved than those in other South American countries, I found them to be more welcoming, warmer, and friendlier in general than places I’ve lived in the States.
In the coastal town of Los Molles, after doing a chilly yet rewarding scuba dive, the guide invited me to his family’s home, along with another diver. Sharing a moment like that, cracking a Patagonia-brand beer (“Austral Calafate,” my favorite flavor), swapping scuba diving stories, and learning a few Chilean “dichos” (sayings) is priceless.
And yet, it’s all too common, from what I’ve experienced in Chile. I’ve found the culture to be hospitable andcaring. You might get invited into someone’s family home, in which case they’ll surely feed you and make you feel genuinely at home.
I will never forget the kindness and generosity of some of the Chilean acquaintances and friends that I made in Santiago and along the coast. Taking “once” (a light evening meal, usually with bread and tea) with my Spanish teacher’s family.
Having home-cooked “carne al jugo” (slow-simmered beef in broth) at a friend’s apartment. Being offered help from Chilean friends when I refuse to ask. Those moments were really what cemented Chile’s place in my heart.
3. Skiing by Day, Beaches by Night
One of my favorite things about living in Santiago has to be the proximity to the mountains and the beach. Before choosing Santiago, I searched far and wide using this criterion: “What major cities are close to both the mountains and the beach?” And let me tell you, there aren’t as many options as you’d think, but Santiago is one of them.
In the late summer, I have hiked up to snowy parts of the mountains near Santiago and gone for a day at the beach on the same weekend. If you’re ambitious, you can literally ski at La Parva (about a 1.5-2 hour drive from Santiago) and head to the beach to enjoy calm ocean views (also a 1.5-2 hour drive from Santiago) on the same day.
I love the dilemma of having to choose between the beach and the mountains. Because staying in Santiago means both options are feasible. And if you have a whole weekend free, you don’t have to choose; you can simply do both, as I did.
And the mountains—the Andes— are real mountains, with spectacular beauty. Granted, the chilly ocean water near Santiago is not for the faint of heart, but trips to the beaches near Santiago provide me with the same satisfaction I got from beach days in Florida, my previous home.
4. The South
As soon as I set foot in Chile, I started hearing about “the South.” People (Chileans and foreigners alike) were practically demanding that I travel down to Patagonia, to Pucon, Valdivia, Torres del Paine, etc., etc. And I haven’t stopped hearing about the South—for good reason.
Southern Chile offers some of the most spectacular and iconic natural landmarks in the world. I’ve had the pleasure of catching a glimpse of some of the South, but I have much more to see.
’ve witnessed the mystical island of Chiloe, the surreal rainforests around Hornopiren, and the active Volcan Villarrica near Pucón. Glowing yellowy-green, early-fall landscapes in Reserva Nacional Altos de Lircay, with mountains scattered in the distance.
Southern Chile is less of a place and more of a dream. Driving down the Carretera Austral (the Southern Highway) wasn’t just a roadtrip; it was pure awe. Pure, unmatched beauty.
Where else in the world can you stumble upon hidden, mossy waterfalls, just meters away from the highway? Misty expanses of rolling hills that collide with deep blue waters? I cannot wait to continue exploring more of the vast expanse and breathtaking nature that make up southern Chile.
Chile’s Quiet Magic
Chile has an unmistakable draw, and the reasons on this list only scratch the surface. I believe that the spirit of Chile isn’t even in the moments that can be written about on paper or in the most iconic landscapes of this country; it’s in the unglamorous spaces: simply being welcomed into someone’s home, lingering over a meal, spending quiet time in nature. And that’s why this country has pulled me back time and time again.
