Chile has incredibly diverse landscapes, from the driest desert in the world to the sprawling glaciers and everything in between! So what can you expect from a country that stretches 4,300km through South America? Expect lively volcanoes, pristine beaches, natural lakes, traditional villages, lively cities and delicious food.
Explore Chile’s capital city of Santiago
Santiago sits in a circle of snow-capped mountains. Its fine art, vibrant scenery and bustling streets are some of the trademarks of this gorgeous city along with fantastic restaurants and a night-life that will have you coming back for more each year. The Palacio de Moneda is the place to visit if you want to see the presidential offices. The neoclassical buildings were designed by a famous artist of his time called Joaquin Toesca in the later part of the 18th century. A monument stands opposite the plaza honouring a man named Salvador Allende who refused to leave the buildings after a presidential coup took place and part of the building was destroyed. Wander the peaceful Parque Metropolitano, enjoy the annual Festival de Jazz de Providencia, Lollapalooza Music Festival and browse the Inca and Maya art on display at the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino.
Tour the Torres del Paine National Park
The Torres Del Paine national park is a grand and magnificent major park that encompasses mountains, lakes, glaciers and several areas filled with expansive rivers. It is located in southern Chile. The Codillera Del Paine is the main attraction of this park and consists of a beautiful mountain range. The best looking summits in this range of mountains are called the three towers of Paine. These three peaks are made up of giant towers of granite that have been shaped by the incredible forces of glacial ice. The Patagonian ice fields are under threat from global and are a must-see!
Discover mysterious Easter Island for yourself
Easter Island is one of the top destinations to visit in the world! It is an area that was annexed in 1888 as part of Chile. It is the home of 887 large Moai statues that have been the subject of much debate over the years. These statues were built by early Rapanui people and most of the island is shielded by the famous Rapa Nui National park meaning it can never be touched or built upon. The island also boasts that it is the remotest island on the entire globe. The Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. This is one of five UNESCO sites within Chile. The other 4 are the Churches of Chiloé, the Seaport City of Valparaíso, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works and the Sewell Mining Town.
Climb mighty Cerro San Cristobal
Cerro San Cristobal is a massive hill in the northern part of Santiago and rises just over 880m and around 300m above Santiago itself allowing for some of the most spectacular views of the entire city of Santiago. Its summit is the second highest point in the city and is named after a family that goes by the name San Cristobal. There is also a statue of the Virgin Mary sitting on top of the hill which is said to be watching over the inhabitants of the city.
Admire the Cerro Chalten Mountain
Cerro Chalten is a huge mountain that is located near the El Chalten Village in Patagonia between the border of Chile and Argentina. The name Chalten means ‘smoking mountain’ and is due to the heavy clouds that can cling to the tops of the mountains and many natives of the area still consider the mountain to be highly sacred to them and the rest of the world. Many who look upon the mountain as an awe inspiring monument to beauty itself and many travellers from various countries around the world come to visit just to clap eyes on the huge and majestic mountain.
Trek and hike the Conguillio National Park
The Conguillio national park is situated in the Andes, in the La Araucania region of Chile. There are many attractions in this park including the Lliama volcano and the Sierra Nevada along with wild landscapes that have been cut out of the land due to lava flows throughout the region. The scenic beauty of the park is increased by that of extensive forests, lagoons, and the park was also used as a filming location for the walking with dinosaurs among other things.
Scuba dive the Huascar site
Huascar is a historical memorial ship that was decommissioned in 1934. It was the oldest and most prestigious vessel in the Chilean Navy. After the restoration took place, the ship became a floating museum for the entire country of Chile and the thousands of visitors to enjoy. The ship also displays other objects and relics recovered from various other naval warehouses from around the country. It includes a prayer room, a portrait gallery along with a shrine that portrays the three commanders that had their lives taken from them on deck.
