As an avid budget traveler always seeking adventures off-the-beaten-path, Chile has long been at the top of my bucket list. This remarkable nation stretches over 2,600 miles from the driest desert on Earth to the soaring peaks and glaciers of Patagonia. With such a diverse array of landscapes and experiences, I knew a trip through Chile could easily break the bank if I wasn’t careful about finding affordable hotels and accommodations.
Well, challenge accepted! After months of research and spontaneous bookings along the way, I can happily report that it’s entirely possible to explore Chile’s surreal natural wonders without spending a fortune on places to stay. From budget motels and backpacker hostels to blissful eco-lodges and beachfront bungalows, Chile has an incredible range of affordable accommodation options if you know where to look.
Let me share some of the money-saving tips and highlights from my recent 6-week journey through this extraordinarily beautiful country:
San Pedro de Atacama
In the heart of the otherworldly Atacama Desert, this tiny tourist town can be shockingly expensive, with some hotels charging $400+ per night. However, I found an incredible deal at a family-run guesthouse for just $35/night including breakfast. It was basic but clean, with incredible views of the Valley of the Moon from my window. Splurging a bit by taking an affordable $12 tour also allowed me to visit incredible sites like the El Tatio geysers without the hassle of arranging transportation.
Valparaiso
This colorful, bohemian port city is a perfect home base for exploring central Chile’s beaches, vineyards, and more. I stayed in a fantastic hostel dorm room right in the heart of the historic quarter for only $10 per night. The hostel also offered private rooms with shared bathrooms for $30-40 per night. The best part was being just steps from incredible street art, lively plazas, and amazing seafood.
Torres del Paine
This national park in Chilean Patagonia was the main splurge of my trip, but even here I discovered some budget-friendly glamping and camping sites starting at $20 per night. Waking up to see those iconic Torres towering over my tent in person was an experience I’ll never forget. Just outside the park, the town of Puerto Natales had simple cabañas (cabins) and Airbnb apartments for $30-50 per night.
Easter Island
One of the most remote islands on the planet, I’ll admit that it’s not cheap to get to Easter Island. But once there, staying in a basic beach bungalow with a small kitchenette was very affordable at $75 per night. Being able to cook my own meals helped me save a ton. Renting a motorbike for $10/day allowed me to see all of the iconic moai statues while also discovering my own secret spots around the island.
Santiago
In Chile’s cosmopolitan capital, you can find luxury hotels and fashionable boutique properties. But I opted to stay about 30 minutes outside the city center, where I scored an amazing deal of $40/night for a private Airbnb casita (little house) with a pool and gorgeous views of the Andes. Using the efficient metro system made it easy to get around without paying insane rates downtown.
No matter where I went in Chile, some common threads emerged in finding economical hotels, motels, and lodges:
Privately-owned guesthouses, B&Bs, and hospedajes frequently offer the cheapest rates
Hostels with dorm beds are a backpacker’s best friend for solo travel
Off-season deals abound outside of summer months (book early for holidays)
Location outside major tourist hubs can mean huge savings
Camping and cabañas in national parks are great budget options
Self-catering accommodations with kitchens let you save by cooking
Rental apps like Airbnb often beat hotel prices, especially for groups
Search thoroughly using hotel websites to compare rates
While sticking to a tight budget, I managed to experience the full range of what Chile has to offer: the driest desert, vibrant cities, lush winelands, lakes, glaciers, volcanoes, islands, and everything in between. Part of the fun was mixing low-cost hostels and campsites with the occasional homey Airbnb or beachfront splurge.
Regardless of whether you seek basic motels or unique ecolodges, want to be footsteps from world-class vineyards or mountaineer basecamps, Chile has affordable hotels and accommodations to fit every travel style and adventure. With its remarkable diversity of landscapes from the Andes to Antarctica, Chile is a bucket list destination where you can indeed explore affordably without breaking the bank.
The key is being flexible, thinking creatively, and using a mix of accommodation types during your travels. Put in a little research upfront, keep your dates flexible if you can, get recommendations from fellow travelers, and you’re guaranteed to score incredible deals all across Chile. Don’t let fears of expensive hotels deter you from experiencing one of the most naturally beautiful and adventurous travel destinations on the planet!