7 Days in Chile with Kids: Patagonia and Santiago
Kids ages: 10 & 8
Month of visit: March
Have you ever dreamed of staying in a vast, awe-inspiring national park and having it pretty much all to yourself? Chilean Patagonia had long been on our bucket list to visit once the kids were old enough to handle longer, more challenging treks. And the enticing flight and luxury lodge deals over Spring Break were too enticing to pass up. Our week in Chile far surpassed our expectations, with a two-night stopover in Santiago to recharge and soak up the sun before venturing onward to spend five days in the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park.
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DAY 1-3 | SANTIAGO
Map of area around Mandarin Oriental, Santiago
Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, is situated in an upscale neighborhood of Santiago, conveniently located just 20 minutes from Santiago International Airport (SCL). The hotel itself is fairly standard when compared to other luxury hotels in the region, but it offers an excellent value for US travelers who are looking for quality accommodations without over-spending.
Welcome amenity
We booked interconnecting rooms for our stay, and the hotel surprised us with lovely welcome amenities in both rooms that added a nice touch during the check-in process. The hotel also stocks complimentary waters and sodas in the mini-fridge.
Outdoor pool at Mandarin Oriental, Santiago
The hotel features an Instagram-worthy outdoor pool complete with a stunning waterfall and attentive poolside service, which creates a serene, luxurious atmosphere. Additionally, the glass elevators offer a modern touch that is sure to delight and entertain young guests as they move throughout the property.
Playgrounds at Parque Araucano
Our kids absolutely loved playing at the nearby Parque Araucano, a beautiful park that features expansive playgrounds, plentiful shade structures, and a whimsical aviary that is conveniently located about a 5-10 minute walk from the hotel. The park provided a wonderful opportunity for our family to enjoy the lovely weather and time outdoors together.
Buffet breakfast at Mandarin Oriental, Santiago
A delicious buffet breakfast was included in the overall room rate. This visit marked our sixth stay at a Mandarin Oriental hotel in the past three years, and the Mandarin Oriental dining program consistently surpasses our expectations, particularly when it comes to the exceptional quality of their breakfasts.
Glass elevators at Mandarin Oriental, Santiago
After two rejuvenating nights spent in the vibrant city of Santiago, we eagerly flew onward to Puerto Natales airport for the next exciting leg of our unforgettable stay in the beautiful country of Chile.
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DAY 3-7 | TORRES DEL PAINE, PATAGONIA
Tierra Patagonia
We arrived at Puerto Natales airport, and the striking difference from Santiago in both terrain and climate was immediately evident as we stepped onto the windy tarmac. After we collected our luggage from the baggage carousel, we were warmly greeted by our driver, who was meeting a group of us for a shared transfer to Tierra Patagonia. Each seat of the van had a thoughtfully prepared bag containing bottled waters and an assortment of healthy snacks for the scenic 1.5-hour drive to the hotel, ensuring our journey would be as comfortable as possible.
Tierra Patagonia, view from hotel
Set in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra Patagonia occupies a picturesque swath of lakefront territory, featuring wild, abundant flora and diverse fauna, as well as jaw-dropping views of the three famous peaks of the Cordillera Paine mountain range.
Guanacos spotted on excursion, Torres del Paine National Park
Staying at Tierra Patagonia is like going on safari with a luxury lodge as your home base. The hospitality was incredible — staff were attentive, personal, and went above and beyond. The nightly rate is all-inclusive, covering not only all meals and house wines and spirits, but also your choice of full-day or two half-day excursions with small groups and expert guides. Given the age of the kids, we opted for half-day excursions. Highlights included horseback riding, Laguna Azul hike and waterfall visit, and a fossil-hunting excursion to Sierra Baguales. Wildlife spottings were plentiful during our time here, including guanacos, ñandus, a grey fox, and rare sightings of two torrent ducks (swimming on the Baguales excursion) and a mother puma with two cubs (caught on film our first day).
Deluxe King room (with interconnecting Deluxe Twin), Tierra Patagonia
We booked interconnecting rooms, one with a King bed and one with two Twins. An outer door turned this into a suite configuration.
Lounge and dining room, Tierra Patagonia
The dining and service here was excellent and fully inclusive, including house wines and spirits (premium wines and spirits available for additional charge). The breakfast buffet had a variety of cold dishes as well as some hot options, a machine for fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a menu was available to order hot items. Prix-fixe menus were available for lunch and dinner and rotated for each meal; an a la carte menu was also available. Meals and post-excursion refreshments were also provided.
Indoor pool, Tierra Patagonia Spa
We spent most of our afternoons at the indoor pool at the Tierra Patagonia spa. The spa also had an outdoor whirlpool, relaxation lounge, and treatment rooms. A well-equipped fitness center was located adjacent to the sauna.
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GOOD TO KNOW
Sunset, Tierra Patagonia
Tierra Patagonia welcomes children ages 10+ — we contacted the hotel in advance and were granted an exception for our youngest. We felt safe our whole time in Chile, though pumas and wild boars in Torres del Paine are common so travelers should exercise caution and children should never be left unsupervised. Weather in Santiago and Torres del Paine was starkly different. Santiago had sunny, hot, dry weather during our stay whereas Patagonia was windy, rainy, and cold for much of the trip, though the weather varied widely there, even throughout the day. For Patagonia, pack lots of layers, including base layers and warmer outer layers, hats, gloves, and sunglasses — rain jackets and pants are essential, as is sunscreen, as the ozone layer is thin here.
