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Introducing Chile
It just doesn't cut it to call Chile a land of contrasts - this is a land of extremes. It's a preposterously skinny tendril of a country creeping 4300km around the foot of South America: while Arica basks in tropical heat at its tip, Punta Arenas shivers at its icy tail just short of Antarctica. Nowhere else can you stand in the world's driest desert (near San Pedro de Atacama), gaze at snowcapped peaks then turn your head to see cool Pacific rollers creaming inland. Follow Chile's jagged Andean backbone of towering mountains south and you'll pass through the ancient forests of Parque Nacional Chiloé, the rich vineyards of Talca, past shimmering lakes and immense plains, to stumble upon the exquisite labyrinth of fjords, islands and milky-blue glaciers that make up Southern Patagonia at the end of the Americas.
Opportunities for outdoor fun abound. Fancy climbing an active volcano? There are 50 to choose from. Prefer running white-water rapids or paddling through ice-carved fjords? You'll be spoilt for choice. Come looking for adventure and you could hike, bike, ski, surf, swim, horseback ride and even paraglide your way from desert to ice fields. But you don't need to sweat it to enjoy the best of Chile. You can soak in hot springs until your skin wrinkles, ogle at glaciers crumbling into the sea, stargaze alongside top international observatories, ponder the ancient mysteries of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) or soak up the urban buzz of Santiago or Valparaíso.
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Latest headlines for Chile
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Downturn hits Chile's tall tower plans
22 June 2009 11:29AM
In Chile, what was intended to be the tallest building in the country is now an empty building site standing at 23 stories tall. And the workers who haven't already been laid off, are being made redundant next week.
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Sailors steal McDonald's statue
17 June 2009 8:25PM
Two Royal Navy sailors appear in court in Chile, South America, and are fined for stealing a life-size Ronald McDonald statue.
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Chilean singer Jara is exhumed
4 June 2009 8:47PM
Officials in Chile have exhumed the body of the popular singer, Victor Jara, who was killed shortly after the military coup in 1973.
