For those who love to travel, Chile represents the pinnacle of why we travel, and is a great example of how travel can be life-changing. Chile means “when the world ends” and the shape of the country is particularly interesting, at around 4300km long and only 180km wide.
This country has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world, combining more climate zones than anywhere else, from ice and glaciers, hot springs and volcanoes to the driest desert in the world, rainforests, sandy beaches, grasslands and mountains.
Along with truly breathtaking scenery, the cultural diversity is incredible in this country. Here are some reasons why you should visit Chile:
Santiago
Santiago is a metropolis and shows the sophisticated side of Chile. You’ll find tree-lined boulevards, gorgeous colonial buildings, huge public parks, a business district filled with skyscrapers, bohemian neighbourhoods, trendy restaurants and great art museums. The transportation system is modern and the subway system is the largest in South America.
The Mercardo Central is a must-see, with huge displays of produce, vegetables, meat and fresh fish.
The Atacama Desert
This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chile, due to the fact that this dessert is the highest and driest in the world. The unique rock formations attract photographers from around the world, and the most popular places to visit include Moon Valley, Death Valley and Dinosaur Valley.
Easter Island
Easter Island is one of the most isolated places in the world, and the linage of the people who live there can be traced back to Micronesia and Polynesia. It’s easy to travel around the island and you can hire bikes. LAN is the only airline which flies into the island, and you can get a flight from Santiago.
Vine Del Mar and Valparaiso
These cities are just an hour apart and located between 3 and 5 hours from Santiago. Valparaiso is a great place to see graffiti art, and you’ll find interesting portraits throughout the city, along with the Pablo Neruda museum. Vine Del Mar is where you’ll find the gorgeous (and famous) flower clock and a nice beach so you can relax in the sun.
Patagonia
Patagonia looks like it belongs in Switzerland, with towering snow-capped mountains on the border of Argentina and Chile. The Torres del Paine national park is also here, and the lake country is waiting to be explored.
Colchagua Valley
Chile produces 10 times as much wine as Argentina and is the fifth-largest exporter of wine in the world. The Colchagua Valley is home to around 20 wineries and the climate here makes it ideal for wine production. be sure to visit some of these wineries and explore the region before you leave.
Chiloe
You’ll find Chiloe south of the Lake District, and it’s part of a mountain range that actually sank below the water after the last Ice Age.This is where you’ll be able to explore rural Chile, along with more than 150 wooden churches and chapels from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
