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Chile is a unique gay travel destination that allows visitors to ski the Andes, explore volcanoes, relax on pristine beaches, and hit the clubs in Santiago’s gay district all in one day. The vast and varied landscape and landmarks of Chile include arid deserts, the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, the statues of Easter Island, the Elqui Valley of La Serena (long rumored to be associated with extraterrestrial activity), the Mirador de Chepu Penguin Colony, and old-world churches and architecture throughout the country.
The uniqueness of Chile’s natural, cultural and historic attractions provide the opportunity to plan a variety of gay vacations including adventurous excursions trekking through breathtaking Patagonian landscapes and exploring ancient island cultures, ski or snowboard trips to world-famous Andes ski resorts like Valle Nevado, pilgrimages to visit churches and experience the deeply entrenched Catholic influences throughout the country, family beach vacations in Vina del Mar, wine-tasting tours, or trips centered around the bustling nightlife and rich culture and history of Chile’s capital, Santiago.
While Chile will certainly not soon be mistaken for a bastion of gay rights, the macho Chilean culture that is deeply influenced by the military and Catholicism is slowly becoming more welcoming to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The center of gay culture in Chile lies in Santiago, where folks on a Chilean gay vacation will find the most acceptance and the highest concentration of gay-owned and gay-friendly establishments. The Barrio Bellavista, a trendy neighborhood with quaint cafés, shops, eateries and clubs is home to the majority of Santiago’s gay clubs, bathhouses and hangouts. While you will not see rainbow flags hanging from balconies or couples holding hands walking down the street, you will see gay magazines displayed in newsstands and couples enjoying espresso at cosmopolitan sidewalk cafés.
The gay-owned Spanish restaurant, Capricho, is a popular first stop for a night out in Bellavista, often followed by drinks a one of the local gay bars and dancing into the early hours of the morning at one of Santiago’s gay clubs. Options for clubbing range from discos much like those found in most large cities to risqué clubs with live sex shows. It is common to begin a night out with dinner around 9 or 10pm, followed by a lively night of escapades that may not end until the sun is coming up. There are also several bathhouses – often called saunas – in Santiago, including a more upscale option catering to professionals. As in the U.S., HIV is a concern and precautions should be taken to ensure a safe, enjoyable gay vacation in Chile.
Santiago’s central location in this long, narrow country makes it an ideal choice as a home base for exploring all that Chile has to offer. Because it is also the most welcoming location for gay vacations, Santiago is a popular choice for gay vacations. When planning gay tours to Chile, working with a travel agency well-versed in gay travel in this region will assist you in designing a memorable vacation that is safe, fun-filled and meets your travel needs whether you are traveling as a group of single friends, a couple or a family.
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