eSIM Chile

880-meter hill in the middle of Santiago de Chile, topped with a 22-meter Virgin Mary statue and reached by funicular, cable car, or a long uphill hike from the Bellavista neighborhood. The hill has multiple viewpoints, the Tupahue pool complex, and the Jardin Zoologico Nacional. Mobile data works at the top and at the funicular stations, which is useful for checking the closing time of the cable car back down.

Main square of Santiago de Chile's historic center, surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the Museo de Arte Precolombino. The square is the oldest part of the city and the meeting point for walking tours. Mobile data is reliable across the plaza and the surrounding Centro blocks, and the metro station Plaza de Armas is the easiest entry from Providencia or Las Condes.

Cast-iron market hall from 1872, holding the famous seafood restaurants and stalls of central Santiago de Chile. The most traditional lunch is the caldillo de congrio (conger eel soup) at La Piazzetta or El Galeon. Mobile data is strong inside the covered market, which is useful for translating the Spanish-only menu boards and for booking a same-day wine tour from the agencies in Bellavista.

Bohemian neighborhood on the north bank of the Mapocho river, with colorful street art, the Patio Bellavista food court, and the entrance to Cerro San Cristobal. The neighborhood is busiest at night, with bars and live music. The metro station Baquedano is at the south end, and the area has reliable 5G, which is useful for calling a Cabify back to Providencia after a late dinner.

Wine-producing valley 70 km west of Santiago de Chile, known for the cool-climate white wines and the cooler reds from the coastal mountain range. Bodegas like Matetic, Casas del Bosque, and Viña Mar are the most visited, and the Ruta del Vino can be done as a day trip from the capital. Mobile data is reliable on the main Ruta 68, with some 3G in the side roads of the smaller vineyards.

Hilltop neighborhood in Valparaiso's UNESCO-listed port, with colorful houses, street art on every corner, and the cafes around Paseo Atkinson. The area is one of the most photographed in Chile and the easiest to walk without taking the ascensores. Mobile data works on the flat blocks and at the main viewpoints, and drops to 3G on the steep stair alleys that connect the upper streets.

House museum of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, built on Cerro Bellavista with the same playful design as his other two houses (La Chascona and Isla Negra). The museum holds the original furniture, the poet's collection of bottles, and panoramic views of the port. The audio guide is downloadable at the entrance over the local 5G, and the museum WiFi is fast enough as backup.

Historic funicular from 1902 connecting the lower Plan with the upper Cerro Alegre. The original wooden cabin is the most photogenic of the surviving funiculars in the port, and the upper station lands at the Paseo 21 de Mayo lookout. The funicular uses the same Bicav system as the other ascensores, and the local 5G is strong at the upper station and patchy on the steep climb.

Salt flat and sand dune complex 8 km west of San Pedro de Atacama, with a sunset tour that ends at a high dune overlooking the Licancabur volcano. The park closes at sunset, and the tour is the only practical way to visit without a 4x4. Mobile data works at the park entrance, drops to nothing inside the park, and returns at the entrance gate, so download the tour info from the agency in San Pedro first.

Field of geothermal geysers at 4,320 meters altitude, about 90 km north of San Pedro de Atacama. Tours leave around 4am to reach the field for sunrise, when the steam columns are highest. The high altitude affects most visitors, and the local 4G is unreliable at the geyser field, so the agencies in San Pedro deliver the tour info by WhatsApp the night before over the local 5G.