Escape the Heat with a Summer Trip to Chile

Summer often means beach vacations or big-ticket trips to popular destinations like Europe where family travelers can make the most of the summer sun and long school breaks. But while those might be great vacation plans, those trips also come at a time of year when temperatures are rising and crowds increase at alarming rates.

While the northern hemisphere is in the throes of a hot summer, southern hemisphere destinations like Chile are enjoying the cooler temperatures of winter, making them ideal getaways for families looking to escape the heat this summer. In Chile you’ll find multiple regions, each featuring different geographies, so you can experience anything from mild desert climates to snow-capped mountains where skiing in August is the norm.

If you are worried about missing out on a classic American summertime festivity by heading south of the equator, you can head to Punta Arenas for the Winter Carnival and Fireworks. This annual event, which takes place in the southernmost large city in the world, runs July 21–22, and will feature 15 different events across the city designed for the whole family to experience the sounds, colors, foods and culture of wintertime in Chile.

If you feel like an island vacation is a must in the summertime, Chile has an option for you with Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. While you won’t get the island beach experience you would expect from the Caribbean or the Greek Isles, you’ll get a dream vacation filled with the one-of-a-kind history and culture of the island’s indigenous Rapa Nui people and their ancient Moai statues that make the island one of the world’s most mysterious places.