Peru or Chile?

[ICriedAllTheWayToTheChipShop]

That's my question - I can't decide between the two because they're completely different holidays and I don't know which one I like the idea of most.

The Peru tour takes in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Puno, Colca, Arequipa and the Nazca Lines. Chile would involve Santiago, Puerto Varas, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine and then Easter Island. Both equally interesting but for different reasons!

The things that might decide it for me are the food, the friendliness, how expensive or otherwise it is to eat out, how good the roads are, how efficient the local airports are for internal flights, and how safe it will be for me, as a lone woman, to go out of my hotel in the evenings. I don't want to be limited to eating at hotels every night preferably!

Has anyone been to either or even both and had a strong preference for one over the other?

Oh that is tricky, because as you say they would be so different! I would say Chile would be 'easier'. I travelled through Chile and Argentina after university and loved it, and plan to return one day. The big cities are quite European and would be easy enough to explore on your own. I only spent a day or two in Peru on a flight stopover from Central America , so I can't really comment. I think the tourist trade is very centered around Machu Picchu, with few exploring further afield. I'm sure it would be amazing, but possibly not quite as straightforward as Chile.

I've been to both countries and would find it hard to choose between them but Chile would just pip it. Loved Easter Island and Torres del Paine, stunning scenery everywhere. And really good wine. But Peru was amazing too (walked the Inca Trail and would do it again). Haven't seen the Nazca lines though.

My DH has been to both. If you're into history and want more of a cultural trip, then Peru. DH got quite ill in Peru from the food - he said it wasn't very clean. Chile, OTOH, is much more modern and first world feeling. Very different countries, I think (but I haven't been to either!)

Are you doing this on your own OP or going on a tour? I'm looking at both countries too - as a lone traveller (haven't been to either though so can't comment, sorry!).

Realised I didn't answer some of your questions. I did the Peru trip with Exodus and Patagonia with Journey Latin America, both time as a single traveller in a group and visited Easter Island on my own. Often ate out on my own in both countries and felt safe. Had lovely ice cream in Easter Island. Travel around was efficient, quite a few internal flights too. If you're a wine drinker consider taking a corkscrew, not too many screw top bottles in Chile.

Chile! I have been to both Peru and Chile and Torres del Paine was absolutely stunning. We did both the chile and Argentina side and both were equally breathtaking if you are into hiking. Patagonia is one of my top places in the world and I have been to over 70 countries.

Never been to Easter island but it’s on my bucket list! We also went to the Atacama desert which was quite unique but not as much of a “must see” as Patagonia in my opinion. The astronomy tours were amazing though and we saw Saturn through the telescope. We caught a few internal flights to get to places

Peru was quite different and more touristy. We did enjoy going to Machu Picchu and all the sites around Cusco. more cultural for sure and was easy to get around with the Peru Hop bus. Definitely worth going also but if I had to choose just 1, it will be Chile.

Both felt quite safe btw and food was great (can try the guinea pig in Peru if you are up for it!)

I would be going with a tour group but as a solo traveller, so I'd be alone in the evenings.

There's a lot of food for thought in these replies - thanks everyone. It sounds like Chile is the preferred option for scenery and hiking, and Peru is more about historical sites?

I have been to both, including Easter island, and I have to say, for me, Macchu Picchu makes Peru a winner every time, I even went back a few years later to visit it again (got the train both times) … it’s heartstopping to wander those ancient ruins amid the mountains … once in a lifetime experience for most, feel so blessed to have been there twice and I long for one more final visit (if I win the lottery maybe) … anyway, just my opinion!

I've been to both (travelling and hiking) and both were amazing but if I could only return to one it would be Chile. The scenery, especially in Torres del Paine, is simply out of this world. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could. Peru probably has more obvious culture and history and also some beautiful scenery if you get into the Andes.

I went to Peru as part of a group tour (and have done many similar tours elsewhere) and my experience is that people often go out together in the evenings to eat and drink and that you only end up alone if you want to be.

That's difficult! I have spent time in both travelling independently on a motorbike, these are my thoughts.

The Peru one goes to Puno - presumably for Lake Titicaca - which is really interesting if you have a trip to an island. Cusco is obviously for Machu Picchu - lots of interest in Cusco area as well as M.P which is well worth seeing. Colca Canyon is a good stop as is Nazca for the lines - which are very intriguing.

For Peru in answer to your questions - food wise, I don't know as only ate basic stuff but did have lots of lovely fruit. People are friendly enough if you can speak any Spanish. Roads can be very rough but I am guessing on a tour, you won't be too far off the beaten track. Airports I don't know as was travelling on a motorbike. As a lone woman I would be happy in all those places - you just have to be sensible. I can't say for Lima as haven't been there.

Chile includes the Lake District with scenic volcanoes and nice hikes, Puerto Natales is a town near Torres de Paine. It has a really remote feeling down there and I really liked it. Brilliant for hikes in Torres del Paine. I haven't been to Easter Island or Santiago so can't say about those.

For Chile in answer to your questions - food, I can't think of anything much but good salmon and cherries (but I was eating cheaply). People again are friendly enough if you speak Spanish. Same as Peru, roads can be rough depending on where you are, maybe not as bad for landslides etc. Don't know about airports again. As a lone woman I would be happy in any of the places mentioned that I have been to.

Overall I would say Peru is more raw (in a good, adventurous way) and has intriguing sites on your tour whereas the Chile tour is focussing on mostly scenic beauty.

I've been on a couple of group tours as a singleton and I'm happy to pal up with other solo travellers, but I never feel very comfortable with imposing myself on a couple at dinner, even if they offer. I'd just rather quietly go through my photos and people watch!

DH and I have been to both as young backpackers doing our own thing. Like you say, they are very different tours. Peru is more ticking off the main tourist attractions whereas Chile is more exploring the natural beauty. Personally we preferred Peru. Cheap and easy to get around, interesting history and culture (compared to Chile which is more European), and it felt safer in the evenings as there are so many other tourists around (being aware of the usual pickpockets and tourist scams of course). How do you get around Peru, are there many night buses or do you fly between places?

As an aside, we actually really liked Bolivia if there's the option of a tour that takes in some of Bolivia as well, maybe instead of Nazca, Arequipa and Colca Canyon? They're nice enough but not absolute must sees compared to say the salt flats near Uyuni. La Paz was really interesting as well.

The towns in Chile don't really have much going for them as such, they're just jumping off points for the surrounding national parks and nowhere near as touristy. Other than the one day we spent in Torres del Paine, the other places were very forgettable and not places we'd go back to. Pucon was nice though if the tour goes there? Otherwise we actually preferred the Argentinan towns of Bariloche and El Calafate.

I’ve not been to chile, but would add the Amazon to any Peru visit.
A home stay on lake Titicaca was a highlight.
Walking the Inca trail but just the short climb, was fab too.
We used several internal flights and they were easy, if a bit chaotic in the north.

What an amazing dilemma. I haven't been to chile, but went to Peru solo recently and did the salkantay trek plus the part where the desert meets the ocean in paracas which I found absolutely extraordinary. (Google it) I loved Peru. Really easy as a solo traveller. Amazing food. Didn't see Machu Picchu due to the cloud. I don't know what I'd choose in your situation as I know chile is also incredible for the Andes, although possibly more of a pain to get to from London.

I travelled around central and South America after uni and would choose Peru. I loved it there. Machu Piccu is amazing. Really liked Cusco too. We also did the Amazon in Peru and it was incredible. Felt very safe and food is great! Although guinea pig is a delicacy there.

Chile was just ok for me. It was only the place we got robbed (backpack) and I found the men quite sleazy (lots of staring, shouting Guapa (beautiful) at us lots. It is beautiful and I loved the coastline however it's a one and done for me.

Like PP I also adored Bolivia. Was my favourite country.

Good luck! What an incredible trip!

I have been to both and personally would choose Peru for the ‘differentness’ of it. Chile has spectacular scenery and lovely people but is quite European in feel and more expensive than Peru. Peru is a bit more spiritual and magical ( but that might not be your thing!). I will go back to Peru some day but I feel like I’ve ’done’ Chile and wouldn’t go back. I felt very safe in both countries.

I would add - learn as much Spanish as you can as it will improve your experience I think.

Have a lovely time!

Never been to Chile.

Went to Peru 20 years ago with a friend,great buses, really modern. Good roads. Loved it, and the food was very good. It's very poor in places. You could eat alone safely.

@ICriedAllTheWayToTheChipShop Ive been to both. We did the Rain Forest and not Nazca in Peru and it was first class. Sasha Lodge. Just brilliant. We had dc with us on this trip. I need to mention altitude at Lake Titicaca. Not great for me! However the rest of Peru was outstanding and I’ll never forget going. It felt safe and we found plenty of places to eat by using a travel guide. Not sick and we found the food appetizing. We had a mix of flights and mini bus.

I would say a few areas of Peru are busy but you would expect that. Getting up early to beat the crowds is important. We went in August I remember. It was with Families Worldwide so it was a group tour. Women would be safe in tourist areas I feel. There are also wonderful markets in Peru.

Dh and me have been to Chile recently. It’s a very long country and you have more of a southern itinerary. We went to Easter Island. It’s totally unique. It’s safe and there are tours that show you a lot. We hired a car (there no insurance) and spent ages at the quarry area.

Santiago was a distaster. DH’s camera was stolen. He is not the most careful person and it was in a street cafe. So beware. It’s always happening apparently and I think the tour guide set it up. She engaged dh in active conversation and he had his back to this guy on the next table. She made a phone call before he turned up so he knew where we were. It felt shit. So be very very careful. Santiago had lots of demos when we were there and restaurant tables had handbag locks.

We didn’t go as far south as Torres del Paine. I would love to go back down there. We went to the Atacama desert, Valparaiso, and the wine area plus Easter Island. It was winter in the far south! Overall your trip to Peru would be cultural and it’s more about natural sights in Chile. Having been to both, I like your itinerary in Chile. I would check how much road travel you are doing in Peru. You need to fly to Puno and Arequipa. Ditto going south in Chile because it’s vast. I believe Chiloe Island is great too.

Have fun but you know you will have to do both!!!

As a PP has said, be really mindful of the altitude in Peru. I suffered massively with it, migraines at the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca, so much so that I didn't see any of it and that was with taking diamox which helps with altitude sickness. I'm very prone to it though whereas my travelling companions were all ok. Definitely don't miss a trip to the Amazon if you go to Peru. Loved Peru so much, seeing the ladies in their traditional costume at the airport had me squeaking in delight (silently in my head!)

Oh and the full Inca Trail is incredible

@Somuchyoungerthanbefore I was the only one who suffered too! Not so bad in Atacama Desert but it can cause issues with migraines. I hadn’t had one for years but it was full on in Peru. DH found a chemist with Imigran. Total relief! I’m a huge fan of wildlife so we always factor in that aspect. Torres del Paine would be great for that too. I agree on the local dress in Peru.

I think it’s a case of doing a spreadsheet here! Rank each aspect of each holiday. So transport, culture, nature, quality of hotels, food, local markets and whatever else interests you. See where’s top, but there’s only one Easter Island and one Machu Picchu. Both amazing.

There are only two reasonable options: extend your trip to do both; or toss a coin and pick one now and then the other in future 😀

Thats not helpful I know but it’s such a tough choice! I loved both. I’ve travelled a lot and Peru is the country that felt most special to me. Something about it really spoke to me, like it pulled at my soul somehow. That probably sounds odd but everything about it felt magnificent and beautiful and compelling.

Chile was beautiful and much less busy for the most part than Peru. Easter Island was spectacular, one of my top 3 highlights from a 4.5 month trip in South America.

What time of year will you be going? I was in Chile in March/April and Peru in May, and then Easter island in July. Weather was largely good but we were quite unlucky with cloud and rain in Chile so didn’t get some of the wonderful volcano views we hoped for. And my flight to Easter island was delayed a day which I believe is quite common (someone I met there ended up literally only having a day on the island due to flight delays).

small points but you might have to make your decision based on small points…

March/April is late for Torres del Paine.

It'll be October, so hopefully dryish and not too hot in either (verging on cool in southern Chile). I have a lot of thinking to do! I could take in the Amazon in Peru but was wavering on that because it would mean having to get a yellow fever vaccination. Probably worth it, but I worry about side effects.

And there's no doubt I'll end up doing the one I don't choose now at some point in the future - I just can't afford to do them both at once.

@TizerorFizz I do love a spreadsheet...