Introducing Chile
Spindly Chile stretches 4300km – over half the continent – from the driest desert in the world (near San Pedro de Atacama) to massive glacial fields. Filling up the in-between are volcanoes, geysers, beaches, lakes, rivers, steppe and countless islands. Slenderness gives Chile the intimacy of a backyard (albeit one fenced between the Andes and the Pacific). What’s on offer? Everything. With easy infrastructure, spectacular sights and hospitable hosts, the hardest part is choosing an itinerary. Consider the sweeping desert solitude, craggy summits and the lush forests of the fjords. Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and the isolated Isla Robinson Crusoe offer extracontinental exploits.
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But don’t forget that Chile is as much about character as it is setting. Its far-flung location fires the imagination and has been known to make poets out of barmen, dreamers out of presidents and friends out of strangers. A few wrong turns and detours and you too will be part of this tightly woven family who barbecues on Sunday. Don’t forget to bring an extra bottle of red to the long, lazy dinners that await.
Travel Alert: The town of Chaitén, in the Los Lagos region of southern Chile, is under threat from the ongoing volcanic activity of the nearby Chaitén volcano. Any travellers visiting the Los Lagos region should exercise caution and monitor news reports. Check Safe Travel for current government warnings, or the BBC for news on the situation.
Last updated: Jan 18, 2011
Tips & articles
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World’s best slow travel
24 October 2011
Vacations are always too short, even if we have the luxury of more than a few weeks a year. So...
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Beginner’s guide to South America
29 August 2011
South America has long captivated travellers with its plethora of natural and cultural wonders. Take a quick inventory of continental...
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Chilean Patagonia: wildlife spotting in the Torres del Paine National Park
18 July 2011
Surrounded by a natural arena of sunset-tinged and snow-capped peaks, it’s impossible to imagine a more wild and spectacular location...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Latin America four month budget and voluntary work advice
by EfectoMariposa 14 September 2011
Hi - I am planning a 4 month career break starting November through until early March. I have seen a few posts about this but it seems,…
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RE: Argentina, Chile, Peru
by cmoesc 14 September 2011
Thank you for the tips!!! @trekker502: For time...Iguazu-BA, BA-El Bolson, El Bolson-Santiago are all more or less one day trips right...…
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RE: Advice Needed - Honeymoon
by vnrose 14 September 2011
How are you traveling between the Argentine side of the falls to Santiago? Maybe take a day off Santiago and add it to Salta area unless…
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Chile
Browse more cities in ChileFeatured property
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Casa Kreyenberg
Valparaíso
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Chile
Things to do
- All things to do (1,153)
- Activities (208)
- Entertainment (181)
- Restaurants (371)
- Shopping (94)
- Sights (249)
- Tours (50)
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Our Top Picks For Chile
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1 Valparaíso
Hills bright with teetering colored houses, serious seafood and kicking port nightlife
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2 Easter Island
Enigmatic moai draw in adventurers to explore this eerie speck of land on horseback or foot
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3 Santiago
Chile's hedonistic heart has the hottest restaurants, the busiest bars and the longest nights
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4 San Pedro de Atacama
An adobe oasis surrounded by geysers, sand dunes, salt flats and lost Andean villages
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5 Pucón
Suit up for high-octane outdoor adventures, smoldering volcanoes and Mapuche etnoturismo
Fast Facts about Chile
- Pisco produced annually
50 million liters
- Head of state
President Sebastian Piñera
- Famous for
Tierra del Fuego, Pablo Neruda, Isabel Allende, pisco, wine, General Pinochet, Patagonia
- Did you know...
that Chile is the world's fifth largest exporter of wine?
- She said it
You can tell the deepest truths with the lies of fiction - Isabel Allende
- Highest point
Ojos del Salado (6893m)
- Population
16,601,700 (4.6% of which is indigenous)
- Number of moai on Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
887
- The oldest known Chinchorro mummy...
dates back to c 5050 BC (some 2000 years before Egypt started mummifying its dead)
- Number of vicuña remaining in Chile
25,000
Our favourite Chile Blogs (beta)
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Trip Planning: tapping into the Diaspora
Blog: Solo Traveler - 25 January 2012
Tapping the local community who are from your destination country is an incredible way to research a trip. Here's how I do it.
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The Best of South America Part 1: Travellers Share Their Tips
Blog: Never Ending Voyage - 24 January 2012
This week we launched our free ebook South America Highlights where we share 28 of our favourite places from our year on the continent.
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Let’s Go Backpacking in Patagonia
Blog: GoBackpacking - 5 January 2012
I’m excited to announce that I will be traveling to Patagonia on March 3, 2012 in partnership with G Adventures! Departing from Buenos Aires, the 15-day End of the Earth trip encompasses the best of Patagonia, in both Chile and Argentina. Hiking in the mountains of Patagonia, and standing in awe of its glaciers, has been [...]
