Chile Travel Guide

Welcome to the wilds of Chile. In the north you’ll find tropical beaches worthy of the Caribbean and sophisticated vineyards, while down south there are glaciers, icy peaks and whales splashing about in the bays. The middle is a slow-altering shift between the two, home to vast cities, empty plains and mountains that hold heartbreak stories but still entice with their sheer beauty.

Chilean Cities are a refined blend of Spanish colonialism and South American charisma. In capital Santiago you’ll find an intimate jazz scene (and vivacious yearly festival) alongside oodles of a… read morert, architecture and a buzzing park culture, all set against the snowy backdrop of the Andes. Misty Valdivia operates at half speed; spend your days throwing fishy scraps to the lazy lake’s sea lions or take time out in the colorful cafes or bars stocked by the local, German-influenced brewery.

It’s scenery that really astounds in Chile, though, like hikes through the frightening but awe-inspiring active volcanoes at Pucon, exploring the gushing geysers at San Pedro de Atacama or wading amongst the flamingos at Parque Nacional Lauca. There are enough remarkable walks in Chile to last even the most ambitious of ramblers a lifetime, though routes through the reknowned Torres del Paine and its spiky, Patagonian horns are the most renowned.

Offshore you’ll find another Chilean icon: Easter Island. This entrancing open-air museum is home to the ‘moai’: antiquated rock statues of angular faces scattered across the island. Motu Nui’s translucent waters are a scuba divers haven, while surfers worldwide chew the fat about waves with an entire ocean’s thrust behind them.

In Algarrobo, the world’s largest pool (2kms in length) awaits the energetic swimmer, while the isolated islands of Chiloé offer an entirely different take on Chilean culture, with stilted wooden houses and mythological beliefs in witchcraft. In La Serena you’ll find long stretches of golden beaches and star-filled skies clear enough to attract international observatories.

Unless you have months to kill, you’ll probably have to pick a small corner of Chile’s varied climes to explore. Wherever you settle upon, you’re assured a warm welcome and a taste of a gracious culture and assortment of dazzling natural scenes you’ll never forget.