Chile Holidays

CHILE

SANTIAGO AND THE HEARTLAND

A great many of  Chile's attractions are out of doors, in the national parks, adventure sports, etc, but the capital Santiago, has a rich cultural life and is a good base for visiting nearby areas. These include the port of Valparaiso and the beach resorts to north and south, principally Viña del Mar; ther vineyards of the Central Valley; the Andean foothills; the ski resorts.

NORTH OF SANTIAGO

La Sirena is a popular seaside resort, from which can be reached the Elqui Valley, where Cilean pisco is made, and three major astronomical observatories.

Heading north, the land becomes more barren, but after rain, usually September/October, the flowers that have lain dormant desert burst inti bloom; if you are in the areas, a sight not cooper mine at Chuquicamata and the isolated Andean town and popular tourist resort of San Pedro de Atacama. Its attractions are lunar landscapes, hot geysers, salt flats and the and the way of life at high altitude. Alternatively, from Antofagasta you can take the espectacular coast road to the Far North and the ports of Iquique, near which a several archaeological sites, thermal springs and abandoned nitrate mines, and Arica, the last main town before Peru.The road route into Bolivia from Arica passes through the magnificent Parque Nacional Lauca,with its wealth of Adean bird and animal life, high lakes and remote volcanoes.

SOUTH OF SANTIAGO

The longitudinal highway runs south through the Central Valley passing a number of cities which are worth a stop; Rancagua, Talca,Chillán, Concepción (the countrys second city), and others. There are national parks which deserve a visit in both the Andean foothills and the coastal range of mountains.

THE LAKE DISTRICT

Here, the most popular lakes are Villarica and Llanquihue, but there are many others with much less development. Protected areas of great beauty and first-class oportunities for adventure sports and fishing abound. Temuco, at the northem end of this region, is also the centre of the Mapuche culture. Valdivia, near the coast, is worth a detour for the trip to the river to see the ruined Spanish forts that protected this outpost of the empire.The southern gateway to the Lake District is Puerto Montt, also the starting point for the long haul south. From Puerto Montt you can cross to Argentina by road and ferries on Lago todos los Santos and neighbouring Lagos Frías and Nahuel Huapi on the way to Bariloche.

SOUTH OF PUERTO MONTT

The island of Chiloé, a short bus and ferry  ride from Puerto Rico Montt, has a distinctive cultura and a green landscape which is the result of more than enough rain. On the mainland, running south from Puerto Montt, the Camino Austral has oponed up an area of forests, lakes and rivers, linking small communities of settlers. the biggest town is Coyhaique and there is a regular excursion by sea to the stunning glacier at the Laguna San Rafael. A four-day sea voyage takes you to Puerto Natales in Chilean Patagonia, near Chile`s most dramatic national park, the Torres del Paine. Hiking around the vertical mountains with their forested slopes, past lakes ad glaciers, in the presence of a multitude of southern Andean wildlife is an unforgettable experience (but to alow for the unpredictability or the weather). If you prefer not to centure this far south by ship, there are regular flights to the main city of Chilean Patagonia, Punta Arenas, and there is no problem crossing from Argentina by road or by ferry from Tierra del Fuego. The contrast between this southernmost part of the country with the dry, desert north could not be greater.

The best times to visit vary according to geographical location. For Santiago and the heartland, any time between Oct to Apr is good, but the most pleasant seasons are spring (Mar-Apr). The heat of the north is less intense from Jun to Sep. In the south dec to Mar, summer, is the best time. In the far south this is the only realistic time to travel because at other times ferry schedules are restricted and in mid-winter many transport services do not run at all. Also bear in mind that the summer in the Lake District and funther south is the busiest season, with hotels and buses full, lost backpakers on the road and advance booking often essential. In this holiday season busines visitors may find making appointments difficult, but otherwise any time of year is good for working in Santiago.