Introducing Chile
Travel Alert: A strong earthquake hit the central Maule region of Chile at the end of February causing considerable damage to cities, towns and infrastructure in areas including Concepción, Valparaíso, Talca and the Juan Fernández islands. The quake also pushed large waves into the Chilean coast, disrupting and damaging coastal towns. An aftershock measuring 6.9 occurred south of Valparaíso on 11 March. Travellers to Chile should exercise caution and monitor news reports. Check Safe Travel for current government warnings, or the BBC for news on the situation.
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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.
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.
Make it happen
- Search and compare cheap flights to Chile
- Take a culinary adventure through the wine regions of Chile and Argentina
Last updated: Jul 16, 2010
Tips & articles
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Chilean literature
4 July 2010
Reading the local literature before you go is a good way to get a greater understanding of a destination....
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Best adventure travel ideas
22 June 2010
If you’re after an outdoor adventure, look no further. In this excerpt from Lonely Planet’s...
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Chile after the earthquake
15 April 2010
Our guest blogger, Eileen Smith, provides us with this update from Chile. The word for dustpan and shovel...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
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