Overview to Chile: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Chile is a proud country with a big heart and strong sense of identity. A geographical anonymity that stretches almost the complete length of South America, the diverse terrain and associated activities tend to fill visitors with insatiable excitement even before they arrive.
In terms of landscape, Chile really does have it all: desert to the north, glaciers to the south, crystal clear beaches to the west, looming mountains to the east and lagoons and mineral-formed volcanoes in between.
Most backpackers begin their Chilean trip in the urban maze of Santiago, whose hive-like flea markets and lively nightlife make it very hard to dislike. Santiago is also mercifully close to Chile’s wine-making region, so a glass or two of fruity Chilean red is never far off.
From Santiago, there’s skiing in the nearby Andes and the flamingo-populated lakes and salt flats of the altiplano, as well as the idyllic shoreline of Bahia Inglesa on the way... Pretty much whichever direction you head spells adventure!
Alternatively, to the south there’s some great trekking around the volcano-dotted landscape of the Lake District, plus a myriad of churches on the Chile archipelago. At the extreme end of the scale, freezing Patagonia at the bottom of the country is essentially the world’s end.
From fjords to volcanoes and lagoons to deserts, the long, thin strip of land that makes up Chile is a veritable delight to all who visit. It may take some time, but a trip around Chile is one of the most exhilarating and elemental a backpacker is ever likely to make.
