CHILE - Land of Deserts, Volcanos, Glaciers & Great Wine - & Rapa Nui (Easter Island)!
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Famously described by British travel writer, Sara Wheeler, in her book "Travels in a Thin Country", Chile’s enormous length makes it the longest and most varied country in the world.   With its arid deserts and imposing snow-capped volcanoes in the Atacama Desert; to its famous vineyards and capital, Santiago, in the ​Central Valley; to the beauty of the Rivers & Lakes region; to the majestic Andes and plunging fjords of Patagonia - the variety that can be seen in ​Chile is unsurpassed! 
Also with unique experiences to be enjoyed on her Pacific islands and in Antarctica, visitors return again and again! 
​We liked Chile so much we decided to come and live here!
Stretching over 4,300 kms along the Pacific Coast from Peru to the southern tip of South America, Chile has an area 1.5 times that of France* or California**, yet has only a quarter of their population.  Divided into 5 geographic zones as shown on the map, each has a different type of landscape and flora, resulting in such diversity in flora and fauna.  Whilst travel is safe and efficient, it DOES take time, with most legs by air passing through Santiago. 
​First time visitors to Chile tend to head for San Pedro de Atacama (2) in the north, or the fabulous Torres del Paine National Park (8) in the south, or seek to include Chile's Polynesian territory, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (P), but there are MANY OTHER sights to see!  This site aims to show potential visitors what exciting experiences may be suited to them in Chile.
(* Metropolitan France - 550,000 km2; ** California - 424,000 km2)​
 The list of activities is almost endless, from superb bird and mammal observation &  photography, to trekking, kayaking, surfing, riding, skiing, white water rafting in world-class grade 6 waters, jet-boat and catamaran cruises to glaciers, or a peaceful cruise on an exclusive yacht in tranquil waters, superb salmon and trout fishing on the bluest rivers and lakes, and even an opportunity to "cross the Andes to Argentina by boat"!  The cuisine is fresh and superb, from thick beef steaks to fresh Pacific seafood, all accompanied by Chile's famous wines or a glass of the national beverage, pisco sour!  Some guests even go on to cross her borders, visiting uniquely beautiful locations in Bolivia, or sighting mighty glaciers in Argentina's Patagonia.  A lucky few set sail to Antarctica!
Most destinations merit 4-5 days to extract the best in each, and travel time between each region must be vectored into the equation.  Also see our Holiday Reports for great holiday packages we have created for previous visitors.  IN ADDITION to the three most popular destinations in Chile listed above, we recommend the following other areas for special consideration (see map for approximate location), which may be added to vacations depending upon visitors' interests:
​NORTE CHICO​:  South of ​Norte Grande and the Atacama​, we encounter the transition zone known as Norte Chico​.  Less arid than the north, occasional rains here result in the amazing phenomenon known as the "​Desierto Florido​​" (or "Flowering Desert"), when dormant eggs and seeds burst into life changing the face of the otherwise dry and stark desert (Aug - Oct).  Also famed for its superb beaches, coastal cities like La Serena and ​Coquimbo bustle with vacationers in January and February.  Outstanding breaks can also be enjoyed at coastal marine reserves and in pretty villages along the Elqui Valley​, famed for its pisco, observatories, and the cradle of Chile's Nobel laureate, Gabriela Mistral.
​For MORE, click on an image opposite. 
ZONA CENTRAL​:  Continuing south we come to the ​Zona Central​ where we find Chile's b​ustling capital, Santiago, a mix of modern and old that dates back to its founding by Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1541.  Here, visitors can enjoy top scale shopping in modern city malls; riding and trekking in the nearby Andes, where good skiing can also be conducted in the winter; or an outing to one of many famed vineyards; or a day's outing and more to one of several pretty coastal cities, such as to the old port city of Valparaiso​.  For MORE ​on activities in the ZONA CENTRAL​, CLICK on an image opposite.   
ZONA SUR​:  Some 1,000kms south of Santiago, centred on the city of ​Puerto Montt​, is the spectacular "Rivers & Lakes" region.   With the backdrop of the Andes and some of the most scenic, if active, snow-capped volcanoes, it has pristine forests, crystal clear rivers and sparkling lakes.  Extremely beautiful, the "Switzerland of Chile", it is highly popular for Chileans in the summer.  South of ​Puerto Montt ​​is Chiloe Island​, famed for its stilt houses (Palofitos​) and seafood farms, and a great destination for a peaceful cruise.   Puerto Montt ​is also the start point for the fabled Carretera Austra​l​ ​(Southern Highway) that  snakes deep into the mysteries of North Patagonia,​ with reserves like ​Alerce Andino and ​Pumalin​​, and with world-class white-water rafting at Futaleufu!
​​For MORE, click on the images opposite!  
ZONA AUSTRAL​:  ​Perhaps the most dramatic zone in Chile is the ​Zona Austral​.  Starting some 300kms south of Puerto Montt ​​it extends down to ​Tierra del Fuego​.  The northern part is usually accessed by air into Balmaceda, near Coyhaique​, whilst the southern area, including Torres del Paine National Park, is accessed via ​Punta Arenas.   Outstanding destinations in the north include the luxurious lodge at Puyuhuapi, with its famous therms and nearby "hanging glacier" of ​Quelat.  ​Further south, on the ​Carretera Austral​, a high-speed catamaran takes guests in style to see the mighty San Rafael Glacier, whilst even further south, on Lago Carrera, visitors are awed by the ​Marble Cathedral ​and associated caves.  But MOST visitors head straight to Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine National Park!  For MORE on this and other great sights in this zone, CLICK on an image opposite.

​ANTARCTICA​.  Finally, for those wishing to add a stamp from the Great White Continent to their passports, both Chile and Argentina provide excellent jumping off points for those wanting to experience the ultimate adventure, in Antarctica!  Unique Destinations ​can offer great discounts for the "early bird" booker, or for those that are looking for a last minute deal!   Visitors must be aware that Mother Nature can often show her wild side here, with high winds and weather that may change itineraries.  So travellers to Antarctica must include "buffer time" on either side of planned visits. 
​For an experience of a lifetime, a visit to Antarctica, click on one of the images opposite to see MORE!  
TRAVEL ADVICE & HEALTH   The vast majority of visits to Chile are trouble free, normally earning a Level 1 rating from the US State Department - Exercise Normal Precautions!   The most common crime is that of "distraction theft", most usually occurring in the main cities at busy tourist destinations.  Avoid demonstrations and other political assemblies.  For CURRENT DETAIL click HERE for updated  UK FCO advice, or HERE for US State Department guidance.   Both links also give advice on HEALTH issues, and additional advice can be obtained from the (US) Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - by clicking HERE.