CHILE

Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's largest and the most densely populated conurbation, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose total population is 7 million. The city is entirely located in the country's central valley.

A beautiful town sitting on the banks of River Calle-Calle, Valdivia was founded in 1552 and now has a population of over 120,000. The overwhelming beauty of the river makes sightseeing of the islands, the ancient forts and surroundings an experience few can resist.

Vina del Mar, or just Vina is Chile’s Riviera, with casinos, restaurants, night clubs, discos, swimming beach and other resort facilities. Only 75 miles by car, it is Santiago's playground and can be very crowded in summertime.

The first part of the Paine Circuit starts up the Rio Paine Valley

Santiago is an architectural collage of old Spanish colonial charm, European elegance, and North American suburbia. Founded in 1541, it is nowadays one of the most modern cities in the continent, serving as the gateway to the Central Valley and connecting point for trips around the country

Punta Arenas, on the western shore of the Straits of Magellan is the world's southernmost city. Just across Tierra del Fuego, this is a busy city and the kick off point for boat tours of the straits and a lot of great scenery. It can get cold here in the winter, for it's very close to Antarctica.

Putre is an ancient Altiplano village of wood etched portals dating back to the 17th century, near the border with Peru, approximately 90 miles from Arica, that offers a real Altiplano experience. From Putre it is easy to visit the natural wonders of the Surire Salt Flat and the Chungara Lake.

San Pedro de Atacama, an hour from the Calama Airport, is an oasis located at an altitude of 8,000 feet in the heart of the Atacama Desert. Once the center of the Atacamanian civilization, the village today resembles a cross between a mining and a frontier town with its narrow streets, adobe houses and eerie atmosphere

Temuco is former capital for the Mapuches Indians, who were never actually beaten by the settlers. They ruled most of the south of Chile and spent their time smoking, drinking, and playing… hockey. There is also a large indoor flea and nearby, and Llaima Volcano for snow skiing.

Santa Cruz is undeniably the hub of what is quickly becoming the Napa or Sonoma Valley of Chile, with a well-designed Wine Route, high-end wineries, and a new four-star hotel.

A national park in the far south of Chile, Torres del Paine is where you will find some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world. Most noted are the group of mountains known as the Cuernos (Horns) whose dramatic rise into the clear southern skies is truly breathtaking.

In the Lake District, Peulla is the eastern port of Lake Todos Los Santos. The emerald green waters that surround it are almost as exciting as the launch rides across it.

Puerto Montt, located at the end of continental Chile is the gateway to Puerto Varas and the scenic lakes of the south, it is also a busy port and center for the agriculture and timber trades. Great area to go fly fishing and a great place for those who love the outdoors.

The biggest point from the view of the tourist is that it is the entrance to the Torres del Paine, magnificent and complex granite peaks in a microclimate that attract tourists from around the world. Located in the far south, you can toast with a scotch on the rocks, with ice over 20,000 years old.

Also called Rapa Nui, Easter Island, is 14 miles long by 7 miles wide and 2,332 miles off the coast. Known for its Moais (stone statues), it is a must for people into ancient mysteries. Some Moais weigh up to 50 tons and are over 25 feet high. Also ancient shrines, some 240 in all, dot the island.

World renowned for its musical weeks (Semanas Musicales) held every year in February, Fruitillar is also a summer resort. A center of German immigration founded in 1856 it boasts of the having the most southern living palm tree in the world. Worth seeing are the Settler's Museum and the German Cemetery.

Former nitrates mining center, Iquique still keeps the nostalgic mood of that times in many of the old buildings that have been preserved. It was also the site of one of the largest naval battles in history. It features a duty free shopping area and beautiful white sand beaches for total relaxation.

La Serena is Chile’s third oldest city after Valparaiso and Santiago. Built in Spanish colonial and neo-classical styles, it is a beautiful city of long beaches, manicured gardens, broad avenues and remarkable museums. Nearby Elqui Valley is a bucolic setting of quaint villages, vineyards, orchards, and papaya and cherimoya plantations tucked between the Andean mountains.

The symmetrical, glacier-clad Osorno volcano forms a renowned landmark that towers over Todos los Santos and Llanquihué lakes. Osorno was constructed over a roughly 250,000-year-old eroded stratovolcano, La Picada, that has a mostly buried 6-km-wide caldera.

In the Lake District, Pucon is set in the southeast shore of Lake Villarrica. Villarrica Volcano provides not only a dramatic backdrop behind the town but also slopes for skiing in the winter. Fishing here in the summer is superb and there is gambling for the more adventurous.

Portillo, is South America's main ski resort. Here for skiing and snowboarding there are virtually no lift lines or crowded slopes, leaving more time to enjoy the ski slopes. Of course, the breathtaking beauty of its Andean surroundings contribute to a ski vacation of a lifetime.

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A sleepy, dusty, agricultural town, 280 miles south of Santiago, birthplace of Bernardo O'Higgins, liberator of Chile, Chillan has one of Chile's largest tourist flea markets where you can buy all kinds of tourist stuff and yet go skiing in a area with hot mineral baths and sauna

In the Lake District, Peulla is the eastern port of Lake Todos Los Santos. The emerald green waters that surround it are almost as exciting as the launch rides across it. After stopping at Ensenada, Petrohue Falls and Petrohue Village the daily ferry takes you across All Saints Lake to Peulla.

A great vacation city in the Lake District, just a short ride north from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, The City of Roses, has casinos, restaurants and hotels. It stands besides Chile's largest lake, Lake Llanquihue. Across the lake two magnificent volcanoes complete the scenery.

Río Petrohué runs from Lago Todos los Santos to the Seno de Reloncaví. It's a favored place for river rafters and fishermen.

One of the largest cities in Chile, with about 300,000 people, Concepction is basicaly a commercial center. Located on the huge Bio Bio River, it is only a short drive to the seaport of Talcahuano. It also features one of the larger Universities in Chile, the University of Concepcion .

One of the newest cities in Chile, founded in 1929 to encourage settlement in this sparsely settled region far to the south, Coyhaique today has 40,000 inhabitants. It also features a pentagon shaped town square, a large agricultural college and the nearby Natural Reserve for nature lover/hiker

Chile's northernmost city features excellent beaches and hotels, historical sites from the War of the Pacific, and nearby archeological sites in the Azapa Valley, including enigmatic geoglyphs and the fascinating Azapa Museum, where you can view mummies dating from 18,000BC.

An old city, Antofagasta is area of the world's largest open pit copper mine. With nice warm beaches, it is good for surfing and Marlin fishing in the surrounding ocean. Also, there you can find the famous rock formation out at sea in the shape of a gigantic arch called Portada.

Second largest town on Chiloe island it is located on the coast side facing the continent. Castro was founded in 1567. Its unique and delicious local cuisine features Curanto which is seafood and pork cooked in the ground with hot stones.The second largest town on Chiloe island it located on the coast side facing the continent.

elcho, with its crystal clear water is located in south Chile. It is paradise for those who love the outdoors, with a wonderful native flora and unique wildlife created to meet the needs of those who like the peace and rest that comes from being in contact with pristine nature and enjoys fishing.