1) Landscapes
Due to Chile’s length, this country offers a large variety of landscapes that will blow your mind with their unique and dramatic beauty that goes beyond the iconic Torres del Paine National Park and the Atacama Desert.
From north to south you would start this stunning journey among arid deserts, massive salt flats, oasis, altiplano lakes and Mars-like lands that will lead you to discover paradise beaches (with cold water though) and mystical valleys with the best stargazing in the world, reason why ALMA (The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) the world’s most powerful observatory for studying the universe at the long-wavelength millimeter and submillimeter range of light was built here and sponsored by countries in North America, Europe and East Asia.
After the dry regions you will start encountering active volcanos, turquoise lakes, pointy mountains, rain forests and of course, colder and wetter weather until you get to the bottom where it gets drier, colder and so windy! Where you will find grasslands, fjords, and beautiful national parks with their microclimate like Torres del Paine National Park that welcomes thousands of hikers every year.
2. Culture
From North to South the cultural differences can become so big that you could even feel you are in different countries! Unlike in the rest of Chile, In the North festivals like La Tirana are celebrated. People perform traditional dances and wear colorful dresses and masks (sometimes a bit scary). Then, going South you will meet some “Huasos” a Chilean countryman generally found in Chile’s Central Valley. If you go to Chiloe, you will make friends with “Chilotes”. They are known for being super friendly and welcoming. Also, Chilotan architecture is unique and it is mainly restricted to Chiloe Island. You will also meet Mapuches in the South of Chile. The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile. So many other places with different cultures like Easter Island, and Patagonia. You will need a few months to know them all! But if you want to see a lot of cultures everywhere come in September! When the Independence day is celebrated!
3. Wine
Chile is worldwide known for its earthquakes, beautiful landscapes and good wine. You will find a large variety of wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Pinot noir, Syrah, Sangiovese, Barbera, Malbec, and Carignan. Being Cabernet Sauvignon the king and most favorite of the locals. If you are a wine drinker, then you have to visit the vineyards in the Colchagua Valley!
4. People
South American’s, in general, are known for being super friendly. People usually like tourists and they are helpful when you try to speak Spanish. The people from the south of Chile are known for being welcoming and generous. It is really easy to become friends with Chileans, once you are considered a friend, soon you will meet their entire families and friends.
5. Adventure
Chile is worldwide known as an Outdoors Paradise, being chosen the best adventure travel destination in South America for 3 years in a row at the World Travel Awards (2015-2017). Sports like mountaineering, hiking, kayaking, fly fishing, rock climbing, cycling, paragliding, rafting, horse riding, surf, kitesurfing and skiing among others can be practiced here. Amazing ski fields are opened during winter, bringing thousands of tourists every year. Pichilemu, the surfer’s paradise of South America motivates many tourists to visit the area too. Climbers go crazy when they visit the fabulous granite walls of Cochamó and if you are a pro, you can try to climb the magnificent Torres del Paine in Patagonia! Another great options include hiking, kayaking or horse riding. And, last but not least, great wind conditions for paragliding in Iquique makes the perfect combo for adventurers and experience seekers.
6. Uniqueness
Firstly, we have to remember that Chile is the longest country in the world (4,270 km). Its long and narrow chilli-like shape (and no, this is not the reason why we are called Chile) makes it different from the other countries in the world. The Andes mountain range acts as a natural boundary between countries and it is the longest above-water mountain range in the world.
Well, because of the length of Chile, you will find from deserts to rain forests and one unique thing about the Atacama Desert (located in the Antofagasta Region) is that flowers bloom every year during springtime. The Chileans call it “The Bloomed Desert”. This spectacular event attracts thousands of tourists every year. Another incredible thing about this area is stargazing! The Atacama Desert is an astronomers paradise hosts of great observatories like ALMA (we talked about it above) that tourists can visit too!
If you come to Chile at the right time, you can witness Solar Eclipses. There was one in July this year (2019) and there will be another one in December 2020! Hundreds of photographer traveled from all around the world to shoot this rare event. You still have time to book your flights for the next one!
If you feel like spoiling yourself in your upcoming trip to Chile (we are assuming you just booked your flights) we would love to be your hosts and share with you the best of the chilean culture and destinations!
Comentarios recientes