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Are you headed to Chile for a fall trip (or technically spring in the northern hemisphere)? Like a northern autumn, South America sees varying temperatures and climates, so planning a Chile packing list can be a little tricky.
However, I can confidently say that my husband and I successfully brought all the essentials for a recent 10-day fall Chile trip. Even though we needed to plan for shorts weather and temperatures below freezing, we still managed to each only bring a carry-on suitcase!
What makes planning a Chile packing list even more complicated is how long the country is, covering a range of climates at varying altitudes. Our trip included time in the Atacama Desert, the Colchagua wine region, and Santiago.
Depending on where you are headed your clothing needs could be different, which we’ll discuss below. That being said, here is everything my husband and I packed for 10 days in Chile in just our carry-on bags and personal items!
Packing List for a Fall Trip to Chile
Packing for Chile in a Carry-on: The Essentials
Below are the items you’ll never see me traveling without – especially internationally.
- Passport
- Copy of passport to keep on your person (a photo on your phone works too). I like to keep my actual passport locked in my hotel room to avoid it being lost or stolen.
- Global Entry card
- Boarding pass (be sure it reflects TSA PreCheck if you have it)
- Credit cards: I like to bring one Visa and one Mastercard when traveling internationally.
- ATM card: Wondering how much cash you should carry in Chile for a 10 day trip? Withdrawing about 200,000 Chilean pesos (a little over 200 USD) was enough for us.
- Face masks (because planes are still gross)
- International Driver’s License if you are renting a car. You can get one at AAA.
Clothing for Your Chile Packing List
Choosing clothing for a fall trip to Chile with multiple climates was the trickiest part of packing. For example, temperatures in the Atacama Desert swung between almost 80° F during the day to the mid-40’s° F at night. Therefore, it is necessary to bring layers in order to stay comfortable.
We also had a day trip from San Pedro de Atacama to the Tatio Geysers. Since the best time to see them is just before sunrise, that meant we were subjected to high altitude temperatures just below freezing.
I ended up bringing my down winter parka to make sure I stayed warm enough since I don’t have a more compact insulated winter jacket. I didn’t love wearing this coat on the plane since it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase for only limited use during the trip. However, I ended up using it quite a bit in the cold mornings and was overall glad to have it.
Here are some tips to remember during your own packing:
- Plan for temperature fluctuations: In the Atacama Desert, the temperature will peak close to 80° F in the fall, but will be chilly in the morning. Layering short sleeves and lighter fabrics with warmer clothing to take off will be necessary.
- Wear bulky items: Boots or heavy coats are difficult to fit into carry-on luggage. Therefore, I recommend wearing winter coats and hiking boots on the plane (you can take them off while en route).
- Keep it casual: I initially worried about only having a fleece jacket to wear in Santiago and during winery visits. However, I found that Chileans were overall dressed casually at restaurants and it was normal to wear jeans pretty much everywhere.
- Stay somewhere with laundry: It’s much easier to pack light when you can do laundry mid-way through your trip. Try to book an Airbnb that allows this option or carve time into your itinerary to visit a laundromat.
Clothing I packed for 10 days in Chile:
- 2 bras
- 4 sports bras
- 1 bralette
- 8 pairs of underwear
- 10 pairs of athletic socks
- 4 pairs of warm socks
- 2 pairs of pajama shorts
- 6 pajama tops (ribbed tank tops)
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 1 pair of linen pants
- 4 long-sleeve casual shirts
- 1 short-sleeve active top
- 2 casual tank tops
- 1 pair active shorts
- 2 active tank tops
- 1 sun shirt
- 1 winter coat
- 1 fleece zip-up jacket
- winter hat
- gloves
- 1 swimsuit (for hotel pool, salt lagoons, or hot springs)
- 2 long-sleeve active shirts
- 1 pair lounge pants
- 2 pairs yoga/active pants
- 2 t-shirts
- Jewelry (necklaces/bracelets/earrings)
- Hat
Footwear for Chile
Visiting outdoorsy regions of Chile often necessitates hiking boots. For exploring cities like Santiago, a regular pair of sneakers is fine. I didn’t have enough room to pack any dressy shoes in my carry-on, but didn’t miss having them.
- 1 pair of hiking boots
- 1 pair of sneakers
- Shoe inserts for people like me, who have arch issues
- Optional: sandals/flip-flops
- Optional: dress shoes
Personal Care Items
Below are all the essentials you’ll need for personal care when packing for Chile. If like us you aren’t checking luggage, you will be limited to a 1-quart bag with up to 3.4 oz. each for liquids, gels, and aerosols.
To comply with this, I use small reusable containers for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. However, if you aren’t picky, hotels and vacation rentals often provide these items for free (I become less picky every year). For things like face wash and shave gel, I try to find tiny samples for purchase from stores like Target, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty.
Note: Definitely don’t skimp on the sunscreen when exploring the outdoor landscapes of Chile. Be especially diligent in the Atacama Desert, which has the highest levels of UV radiation on earth.
Pack in Your Carry-on:
- Chapstick (with SPF)
- NAKED Eye Shadow Palette
- Wide-toothed comb
- Dental floss
- Toothbrush
- Razor
- Pads/tampons
- Face wipes for makeup
- Hair ties
- Eyelash curler
- Deodorant
- Q-tips
- Cotton balls
- Bronzer
- Blush
- Makeup brushes
- Eyeliner
- Eyeliner sharpener
Pack in a Separate 1-Quart Liquids Bag:
- Shampoo (I actually didn’t bring any on this trip and used the hotel’s/Airbnb’s)
- Conditioner
- Body wash (again, didn’t bring this)
- Face wash (I’ve been liking this one by La Roche Posay)
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen for face (this 50 SPF one is my go-to)
- Eye shadow primer
- Mascara
- Perfume
- Hand sanitizer
- Other skincare (ie. vitamin C or retinol)
Travel Savvy Tip
If it is still difficult to squeeze the above items into a small 1-quart bag, see if you can share anything with your travel companions (if applicable). For example, my husband always seems to have leftover space and we can both use the same toothpaste.
Additionally, some airlines have become more lenient with hand sanitizer in recent years. Therefore, you might be able to pack a small container outside of your normal liquids bag.
Medications
It’s critical to continue taking care of your health while traveling; the last thing you need is downtime in Chile nursing an ailment. The fact that areas like San Pedro de Atacama are at altitude adds another layer of risk. While some people don’t notice much of an affect on their body, others will feel symptoms like headaches and nausea.
Minimize interruptions during your adventures for medical reasons by staying prepared (including hydration!). This includes daily prescriptions and preventative items, just in case.
- Prescription meds
- Ibuprofen or other pain reliever
- Band-aids
- Neosporin
- Vitamins (keep that immunity high while traveling!)
- Probiotic (in case of upset stomach)
Electronics
Even if you seek to get off the grid, you’ll probably need to travel with at least a few electronics. For example, you’ll likely want your cell phone for communication, if not also for navigation and photos.
Although international flights usually have decent entertainment, I still like to download a few Netflix shows to my iPad. I also prefer to bring my Sony A6000 camera for high quality photos.
- Cell phone
- Phone charger
- iPad
- iPad charger
- Portable USB charger
- Universal travel adapter/converter (ie. the outlets in Chile are a different shape and voltage than in the USA)
- Camera
- Camera lens
- Hair straightener
- Hair wand for curls
Other Chile Packing List Essentials
Below are some other miscellaneous items you will want for your Chile trip. I know I was glad to have the following:
- Copies of itinerary, entry tickets, addresses for lodging
- Small cross-body purse
- Insulated water bottle. I recommend filling it with water in the airport before boarding your flight (although they made us dump ours out literally on the Santiago jetway before returning to the USA…).
- Under-the-seat bag for plane
- Cell phone tripod
- Headphones
- Pen
- Alcohol wipes for airport and plane. Germs aside, I am constantly finding old crumbs on tray tables.
- Books
- Snacks for plane. I don’t like plane food, so I bring granola bars from home and purchase sandwiches in the airport.
Items to Leave Off Your Chile Packing List
Don’t bother bringing the below items, which are supplied by your hotel or will otherwise take up extra space. You can always buy the below products as needed in Chile:
- Hair dryer
- Towels
- Hair spray
- Sunscreen for body
- Aloe vera in case of sunburn
- Bug spray (we didn’t experience any issues with bugs while in Chile)
- Anti-itch cream for pesky mosquito bites
• • •
Now you are all set to start packing for 10 days exploring Chile in just one carry-on bag and small personal item. You’ll be perfectly comfortable during hikes that deliver on otherworldly scenery, while also being prepared to hit the pavement in Santiago. All that’s left is to get that much-desired passport stamp!
Will you be making a fall trip to Chile? What regions of Chile do you wish to explore?
