Study
Contents
Language
Spanish-language courses can be found in Santiago, Iquique and several cities in the south. Most have both short- and long-term courses, plus one-on-one instruction. Experiment Chile (02-461-6118; www.experiment.cl in Spanish) organizes recommended language-learning/volunteer programs.
Lonely Planet's Latin American Spanish Phrasebook is helpful for beginners.
Outdoor activities
With Chilean headquarters at Coyhaique, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS; 1-800-710-6657; www.nols.edu; 284 Lincoln St, Lander, WY 82520, USA) offers a 75-day 'Semester in Patagonia' program, emphasizing mountain wilderness skills, sea kayaking and natural history courses, with university credit available. More courses are on offer - both longer and shorter - including a five-week mountaineering course in the Campo de Hielo Norte (northern icefield).
Wine tasting
Santiago's Vinoteca (02-343-3607; www.lavinoteca.cl in Spanish; Manuel Montt 1452, Providencia) organizes short wine courses for groups of up to 10 people on a regular basis as well as on request. The cost per person is about US$21.
Classes
There is a bewildering array of snobby-sounding names to denote differing levels of comfort on long-distance buses. Pullman or clásico has around 46 ordinary reclining seats, two on each side of the aisle; executivo and semi-cama usually mean around 38 seats, providing extra legroom and calf rests; while the more luxurious salón cama sleepers seat only 24 passengers, with only three seats per row and additional legroom. Super-exclusive infrequent premium services enjoy seats that flatten with fold- down leg rests to resemble a flat bed. If you have any doubt about the type of service offered, ask for a seating diagram.
Normally departing at night, the salón cama and premium bus services cost upwards of 50% more than ordinary buses, but you'll be thankful on long-haul trips. Regular buses are also comfortable, especially in comparison to the chicken buses of neighboring Peru and Bolivia. Smoking is prohibited on buses throughout the country.
