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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.
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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.
Chile's intoxicating wilderness is complemented by its sophisticated cities, developed infrastructure, a gripping history and a fast-evolving culture. All of which combines to make travel here reassuringly easy, always inspiring, often surprising and never, ever disappointing.
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.
Make it happen
Check out our complete range of shop.lonelyplanet.com/Primary/Product/Destination_Guides/Country/Americas/PRD_PRD_2122/Chile++Easter+Island+Travel+Guide.jsp?affil=lpdest-mih" target="blank"> Chile guides
Ready to go? If you’re after the highlights, consider our recommended tours:
- take a gastronomic tour through the wine regions of Chile and Argentina
- get active in Patagonia
- explore Easter Island
- fly to Chile Cheap flights to Chile
Last updated: Nov 23, 2009
Tips & articles
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Insider tips: Chile
17 September 2009
Safe, efficient and friendly, Chile is perhaps the easiest South American country for travelers. Still,...
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Top ten South American reads: a literary trip
30 July 2009
Fiction was invented the day Jonas arrived home and told his wife that he was three days late because...
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Fly me to the moon: Planet Earth’s best unearthly landscapes
20 July 2009
How’s this for a space oddity? Forty years have passed since the historic Apollo moon landing,...
Chile
Our Top Picks For Chile
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1 Portillo
The jet-set’s ski resort of choice
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2 Valparaíso
Enchanting port city with a chaotic charm all of its own
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3 Talca
Fine wines and spectacular trekking country
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4 Santiago
Gourmet restaurants and buzzing nightlife
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5 Easter Island
Tiny speck of land that delights with spellbinding archaeological treasures
Fast Facts about Chile
- Pisco produced annually
50 million liters
- GDP
$64.2 billion
- Inflation (2005)
2.4%
- Growth rate (2005)
6%
- Unemployment rate
8%
- Percentage of population below poverty line
19%
- Population
16 million
- Population growth rate
0.97%
- Adult literacy
96.2%
- Percentage of world copper production
35% (45% of national exports)
Related Groups
Our favourite Chile Blogs (beta)
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Café Le Garage in Barrio Brasil, Santiago
Blog: Bearshapedsphere - 23 November 2009
In just a minute, I'll dish on cafés in Barrio Brasil, Santiago. But first, let me explain the title.
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The Best Hostels in Latin America
Blog: Itinerant Londoner - 14 November 2009
Travelling for a year, constantly on the move, rarely staying more than three or four days in one place, where I end up staying makes a huge difference to my my stress levels. End up in a nice hostel, with things like comfy beds, warm showers, free breakfasts, a good location and a nice atmosphere [...]
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Santiago, Chile: Finding a Happy Place
Blog: The Silent I - 14 November 2009
February 11, 2004 We left Easter Island on February 10 and started back to California via Santiago Chile. We arrived late in the afternoon, and Alex decided to have the worst temper tantrum of his life in the luggage claim...
