Chile Information

Arica is known by Chileans as “The city of the eternal spring” and is a charming oasis with an ideal year round climate located in the far north of Chile. The main square of this fresh and clean seaside town dates from 1570 when the town of San Marco de Arica was named. A walk to the top of the famous “Morro”, a 110m high rock jutting into the clear warm Pacific ocean, will give great views of the mountains, beaches and mixture of new and old buildings that make up the city center. Those of the historical mind will enjoy the military museum on the “Morro” dedicated to Chile’s victory in the Pacific War in 1880.
The beaches and the Pacific ocean of Arica are famed for their un-spoilt clarity and beauty and also offer water sports.

San Pedro de Atacama is both an oasis from the desert and also a gateway to discovering its magic. This quiet and peaceful pre-Incan town, set amidst the driest desert on the planet is one of northern Chile’s most popular destinations. The town is considered Chile’s most important archeological center and the presence of humans in the area can be traced back over 11,000 years.

The coastal city of Antofagasta, which also lends its name to the surrounding region, has adopted a slogan of “door to the desert, window to the sea”. The region of Antofagasta is very rich in Chilean history and is also home to the famous Atacama Desert and its many attractions. Though a gateway to tourist sites inland, Antofagasta City itself is a thriving port and industrial center offering many fascinating destination gems. Antofagasta is an important mining region and is home to Chuquicamata the world’s largest open cast mine, which can be visited.

Founded in 1544 by the Spanish in order to provide a sea link between Santiago and Lima, La Serena is the capital of the Coquimbo region and is Chile’s second oldest city. Located 500 km north of the capital Santiago, the city has retained its fascinating historical architecture, and this combined its beaches of soft sands and warm waters have made La Serena one of Chile’s fastest growing and most popular coastal resorts.

Santiago is Chile’s cultural, commercial, industrial and political center. A cosmopolitan city, with ample restaurants, bars, hotels, and shopping – with everything from tiny boutique and craft fairs to giant shopping malls. There are cultural attractions such as art galleries, museums, theaters, opera and ballet, lively nightlife, plus parks, tree-lined streets and distinct neighborhoods. Brand new high rises and large supermarkets adorn the streets next to the older colonial buildings. The new ultra-modern subway system makes traveling in the city easy and comfortable. No doubt Latin America’s most developed city, Santiago is a metropolitan hub located in the depths of Latin America.

Chile's Lake District is famous for its spectacular scenery of deep blue mountain lakes, snow-capped volcanoes, pristine forests, popular resorts, year-round sports, and traditional folklore, handicrafts and legends. The city of Temuco, 670 km south of Santiago, is a central point of departure for a number of tourist circuits. Its modern infrastructure, with contemporary architecture and commercial centers, make it the most important city of the central southern area of the country. Pucón is the focus of the Lake Districts' adventure tourism industry and is a growing Mecca for hikers, kayakers, white-water rafters, windsurfers and mountain bikers.

The city of Puerto Montt is the gateway to the enchantment of Southern Chile and the stepping off point to the Chilean Lake District and the ‘Emerald Island’ of Chiloe. Named after Manuel Montt, Chilean president when Puerto Montt was established in 1853, the port city is the capital of Region XX, Los Lagos. As such, it is the center of commercial fishing, agriculture, and tourism and is imbued with the culture and architecture of early German settlers. German immigrants settled the Lake District in the late 1800’s and the towns reflect their influence in the architecture of their buildings.

To the west and south of Puerto Montt is the island of Chiloe. It is like another world from Chile as it is physically separated from it by the Gulf of Corcovado. The culture on Chiloe developed for over 400 years in isolation from the influence of the mainland. It is fascinating and allows visitors to step back in time to a simpler way of life. The Humbolt Current, rich in marine life, flows along its western coast. The island is abundant in bird life and has its own unique ecosystem.

Puerto Varas is a charming city on the shores of Lake Llanquihue and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Spectacular views across the lake at majestic snow-capped volcanoes surrounded in native forest abound as well as countless options for exploring the surrounding countryside adorned with picture-perfect German-settled farms. Only 15 minutes from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas is popular because it is quieter than the busy port city to the south.

The Carretera Austral crosses one of the most uneven and rugged stretches of land in the world and is also one of the most amazing road trips you can make anywhere. This raw, awe inspiring region of fjords, rivers, valleys and impenetrable forests existed in almost total isolation until 1976, when the then leader of Chile, General Augusto Pinochet, gave the go-ahead for this engineering miracle. Stretching 1,240 km from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins, the last section of the road was only opened in the year 2000, giving an idea of how difficult the terrain is and how untouched by man parts of this Patagonian region are.

Declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1978, the Torres del Paine National Park (situated in the Magallanes 12th region in Chile) is internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful, unique and uncontaminated places on the planet. It’s a land of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, forests and incredible wildlife, all of which make it an exciting destination for wildlife observers and adventure sports enthusiasts alike. One of the principal attractions of the park is the Macizo (Massif) of Paine, formed predominately from granite and whose origin dates back millions of years. The most famous peaks of the park are called the ‘Cuernos’ (horns) and ‘Torres’ (towers) of Paine.

Founded in 1848, Punta Arenas is one of the most southerly cities in the world. It lies just over three thousand kilometers from the Chilean Capital Santiago, and is the capital of the Region de Magallenes y la Antarctica Chilena. Now this location is very much desired for by travelers from all over the world. Just being in the city, looking out across the Magellan straights to Tierra del Fuego fires the imagination to the frozen Antarctic that lay beyond the end of the world.

The name Tierra del Fuego has stirred the imaginations of many who dream of adventure in a far and distant land. In the “Land of Fire” you would expect just that, red hot molten rock spouting from volcanoes that erupt almost daily in a Jurassic looking landscape. The name given to this cold and remote island was actually coined by the great adventurer Magellan himself, who upon seeing huge fires on the mainland promptly gave it the name we know it by today. In fact, all Magellan had seen were huge bonfires lit by the natives to keep warm in this harsh land.