RustyC

Looks like LAN has some pretty good domestic fares for October all over the country except IPC (where I've already been), so I'm looking for suggestions on a good place in Chile to fly for 3-4 days.

TIME: October, probably the latter half

HAVE ALREADY BEEN TO: Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Easter Island

INTERESTS: Outdoorsy scenery or a beach place if there's a good one. Budget and time constraints would rule out something really ambitious, like multi-day treks or places that are hard or expensive to reach, but a national park not far from a city would be doable. Am also not sure how far south I could go before weather becomes an issue at that time of year.

JohnnyColombia

I'd go to Puerto Montt. Rent a car, drive to Puerto Varas and spend your time there. It has stunning scenery and even has a sort of beach on the edge of the lake. Take your car and drive up to the top of Volcán Osorno. Have a cup of hot chocolate with the skiers. Come back down, visit the Petrohué Waterfalls, drive around Lago Llanquihue and visit Frutillar.

If you really want to push it harder then I'd fly in to Puerto Montt and out of Valdivia. Pick up Ruta 5 at Frutillar after your day of volcanos, waterfalls and lakes. Drive up to Valdivia. From there you can visit the Kunstmann brewery, the volcanic beach at Niebla and do an economical tour of Valdivia's beautiful river system around the city.

Actually adding Valdivia requires a one way rental on your timescale. But possible if you want to use Hertz from PMC to ZAL

FrogProf

I recommend flying to Temuco. Rent a car and drive to Pucón. Stay on or near beautiful Lake Villarica. Enjoy the black sand beaches. Visit Villarica Volcán. Spend an afternoon at one of the many thermal spas. I especially like Menetúe Parque Termál (very reasonably priced spa treatments). Pucón also has a casino if that does anything for you.

Eastbay1K

Beach place in October? Head up to IQQ. Rent a car and drive out to Pica for a day. It is an easy drive, and probably your first real oasis, and you can see where the special lemons and mangoes grow. This is dry dry dry desert. IQQ isn't particularly beautiful, but there is a restored area of the city center that would remind you of Old Sacramento (but nicer) if you are familiar with that.

North will be cheaper than South for your hotels, fuel, and probably food, too. South will be greener than North.

Arica is ok, but for a more relaxing beach time in October, Iquique is better. Arica provides the opportunity to take a relatively inexpensive day trip to Lauca National Park. DO NOT DRIVE IT YOURSELF. The altitude extremes are sudden and painful when they hit - you go from sea level to 4.500m in a relatively short time period. The scenery is incredible, and so is the headache.

RustyC

Thanks for responses so far. I take it that car rents are a sensible option? How are the roads?

Eastbay1K

Roads are good to excellent. Inter-city main highways are generally toll. Rental car rates are on the higher side. If you drive a manual, you'll save a fair chunk of change. Econorent is a reliable option.