Chile Travel Guide
Chile Essentials
Language: Spanish
Currency: Peso (CLP)
Rate:
Time Zone: GMT -3
Capital City: Santiago de Chile
Population: 17.1 million
Layout: See Map
Travel to Chile
Stretching down half the length of South America's western coast, Chile's skinny shoelace form is a wonderland of geographical and climatic diversity permeated with countless natural attractions. From arid desert expanses to volcanoes, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, beaches and mountains, magnificent Chile is a world in one country, offering visitors an irresistible selection of awe-inspiring destinations waiting to be explored.
Although Chile has some memorable urban centres, the country's most compelling feature is its incredible natural environment and the leisure and adventure opportunities that it presents. Visitors are drawn to the country by the promise of its superb coastline - made up of almost 4,800kms of sandy beaches, sheltered coves and hidden inlets and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes with their fabulous skiing opportunities. Additionally, there is the mysticism of the Atacama desert vistas, the remote allure of Patagonia, and the scenic splendour of the country's volcanic regions.
Any visit to Chile, however, would be incomplete without a trip to the cosmopolitan centre of Santiago, the country's bustling capital located in the central region. The modern metropolis offers scores of fine restaurants, a buzzing nightlife and limitless cultural attractions, while simultaneously affording easy access to world-class ski resorts, beautiful beaches and white-water rafting opportunities.
Arica, Chile's northernmost city is equally well-positioned close to the archaeological and environmental sights of Lauca National Park and the geoglyphs at Putre. Also nearby is La Serena, one of the country's oldest post-Colombian settlements, encompassing a striking coastline and steeped in historical detail.
Away from the cities, Chile's exquisite national parks come in all shapes, sizes and descriptions. Parque Nacional Puyehue, in the gorgeous Lake District, is Chile's most visited national park, with striking volcanic terrain and dense forestation concealing abundant bird and animal life. In the isolated region of Patagonia at Chile's southernmost tip, Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael is a spectacular visual feast of fjords, mountains and floating icebergs.
The relatively small island of Chiloé is home to over 150 quaint wooden churches and Parque Nacional Chiloé, with its extensive coniferous and evergreen forests and virgin coastline. Meanwhile 3,700kms west of the mainland lies fascinating Easter Island, where hundreds of mammoth statues carved from hard volcanic basalt where mysteriously transported from inland quarries to their coastal perches.
Chile's natural wealth and geographical variety lend themselves to an enormous number of adventure sports and leisure options. Hiking, diving, river rafting, climbing and mountain biking are just a few of the extreme sports on offer here, while the less adrenalin-hungry might prefer the more hedonistic pursuits of sun-worshipping or sampling the delicious Chilean wines.
