10 of the most entertaining places to camp in Chile

It is the best alternative to live a vacation in full contact with the environment, breathing the fresh morning air and at night enjoying millions of stars right from the door of your "tent-home".

Camping has a number of benefits for the body, one of them is that it will allow you to completely disconnect from urban life and its worries, thus reducing stress levels and increasing the feeling of well-being, making you feel that you are "really on vacation". It is worth a try. The privileged geography of our country allows us to enjoy camping from north to south, in beautiful valleys or rugged mountains, next to lakes and rivers and with alternatives for all tastes and budgets. If you are up for it, these are some of the places we invite you to visit:

Torres del Paine: The most emblematic park in Patagonia allows visitors to get to know it directly from nature. There are several zones located in different areas of Torres del Paine National Park, being the Grey, Paine Grande, Dickson and Los Perros campsites located in the mountain area. The Pehoe and Río Serrano campgrounds have vehicle access. These camping areas have all the necessary services, including the rental of tents and sleeping bags for visitors. Tent prices start at approximately $10,000 pesos (US$15) for two people.

Other sectors in Torres del Paine have no fee. Some can only be used between November and April, such as Campamento Italiano, Campamento Torres and Campamento Paso. We recommend that you make your reservation in advance to be able to spend the night, because spaces tend to run out. Finally, Campamento Las Carretas is open all year round. You can only stay one night and they have bathrooms.

Radal Siete Tazas National Reserve: This reserve located in the Maule region, has the attraction of waterfalls of the Claro River, which form real pools or "tazas". The Parque Inglés sector is where the largest number of camping areas are located, with excellent views of the most beautiful places in the area: the Saltos de la Leona, the Velo de la Novia waterfall and the Siete Tazas itself. It is a place full of biodiversity of flora and fauna, and because of its different altitudes can be visited throughout the year. It is recommended to book in advance because of its proximity to the cities and easy access, it is one of the favorite destinations especially during long weekends.

3.- Elqui Valley: In one of the most energetic and mystical places in our country. In the Elqui Valley, located in the IV region, you can enjoy various alternatives to observe the starry nights directly under the sky. There are many sectors, such as Vicuña, which is the main city of the Elqui Valley. Other places are Paihuano and Pisco Elqui. In these sectors there are several camping areas, very well equipped, with bathrooms, hot water, electricity and drinking water, even with swimming pool and picnic areas for the day or to stay. Prices are approximately 10,000 pesos (15 dollars) per person.

Coquimbo: Also within the IV region and surrounded by beautiful resorts such as Guanaqueros and Tongoy, here we find many alternatives to stay in the middle of nature and also enjoy the sun and sand. In high season, due to the large number of visitors and children that arrive, most of the campsites offer recreational activities such as yoga, fun dancing and all kinds of games that complement the experience and allow you to meet more people. There are also campsites in the area of La Higuera, approximately 8 kilometers from Punta de Choros, one of the most beautiful places for dolphin, whale and Humboldt penguin watching.

Bahía Inglesa: The second region offers beautiful landscapes to visit and enjoy all year round and varied camping areas. All of them have basic services such as bathrooms and above all, an unbeatable view of the sea and the beach, such as Bahía Inglesa and Playa La Virgen. Within the same region, near the Pan de Azúcar National Park, in the Chañaral de Aceituno cove sector, there are other camping areas with complete equipment and great views.

Saltos del Laja: This beautiful sector located in the Bíobío region, corresponds to four waterfalls of the Laja River. It is a mountain environment, surrounded by vegetation and crystalline waters, a wonderful alternative to disconnect and relax. There are camping areas to stay in several sectors such as El Pinar on the road to Paraguay, Puente Salto del Laja sector and Chillancito sector.

Villarrica and Pucón: In the Araucanía region, with its beautiful landscapes next to lakes and volcanoes, camping is one of the best experiences you can enjoy. In addition to this, the area stands out for its large number of hot springs resorts. There are many sectors for camping, some of them are the Ojos del Caburga, Licanray beach, the sector of Coñaripe on the shores of Lake Calafquén, among others.

Chiloé: The magical island of southern Chile has thousands of landscapes to surprise and enchant. In each of its sectors, from Ancud to Quellón, you will find alternatives for camping and getting lost in nature. All its locations are beautiful and offer the possibility to immerse yourself completely in nature, enjoying rivers, waterways, beaches and much more.

It is possible that it rains a lot, even during the summer, so the recommendation is to bring the right gear for this adventure. One of the most typical sectors for camping is the area of Cucao, in the Chiloé National Park.

Cochamó Valley: World famous, the Cochamó Valley offers an impressive landscape of fertile nature surrounded by imposing granite walls. The camping experience is unique and you can enjoy beautiful views amidst larch forests, waterfalls and rivers. It is considered the "Yosemite" park of South America. It has camping areas, but it is necessary to bring all the implements such as food and water, as there is no service equipment inside. It offers various trekking routes and outdoor activities, especially rock climbing.