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PRESSKIT ENGLISH

Chile is a land of diversity and contrasts. Its

geography distinguishes it from other destina-

tions. It’s a tri-continental country, possessing

territories in America, Antarctica and Oceania.

Its territory runs 4,300 kilometers along a nar-

row strip between the Andes Mountain Range

and the Pacific Ocean.

It also offers a wonderfully varied mix of land-

scapes and climates that range from natural

wonders like the most arid desert in the world,

to glaciers and straits in the Pacific Ocean. There

are few experiences as rewarding as admiring

gigantic masses of ice, or contemplating one

of the clearest skies on the planet.

The country is divided into five geographic

and climatic zones. The north, marked by the

presence of the Atacama Desert; Santiago

and the Central Valley, characterized by its

Mediterranean climate; the southern zone of

lakes, rivers and volcanoes; the extreme south,

which includes the Chilean Patagonia and the

Antarctic territory; and, finally, the islands, with

highlights including Easter Island, Robinson

Crusoe, and Chiloé.

a woRld claSStouristdestination

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

INDExA. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHILE

1. INTRODUCTION

2. LOCATION

3. WHY CHILE?

4. WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CHILE

1. THE NORTH AND THE ATACAMA DESERT

2. EASTER ISLAND, ROBINSON CRUSOE AND CHILOÉ

3. SANTIAGO AND CENTRAL CHILE

4. LAKES, RIVERS, AND VOLCANOES

5. THE PATAGONIA

B. A DESCRIPTION OF THE “MACROZONES” OF CHILE

C. TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

1. SPORTS AND ADVENTURE

Exploring “Torres del Paine” National Park

Volcanoes and salt flats at “San Pedro de Atacama”

Fly fishing in rivers and fjords

2. NATURAL INSPIRATION

The colors of the flowering desert

Trips to the White Continent

Complete R & R next to Llanquihue Lake

3. WINES & FLAVORS

The pisco trail in the Valle del Elqui

The vineyards of Maipo by bicycle

Flavors of the Sea

4. CULTURE AND HERITAGE

The amazing culture of Easter Island

The colors of the “Tirana” Festival

Chile as a world astronomical power

D. WHAT IS “ TURISMO CHILE”

E. CONTACT US

5. HEALTH & WELLBEING

Ventisquero Puyuhuapi

Hot springs at Puritama

6. URBAN LIFE

Getting lost in the hills of Valparaiso

Puerto Natales and its culinary renaissance

Roaming the neighborhoods of the Chilean capital

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2. LOCATIONChile is located in the extreme southwest of

Latin America, parallel to the long mountai-

nous spine of the Andes. It extends from top

to bottom between 17º29’57’ and 56º32’ south

latitude, and shares borders with Peru to the

north, Bolivia to the northeast, the Pacific

Ocean to the west, Argentina to the east, and

fades into Cape Horn on the way to Antarctica

in the south.

Chile also has island territories in the Pacific

Ocean, such as the Juan Fernandez Archipelago,

the Islands of Sala y Gómez and the “Desventu-

radas” (meaning unfortunate in Spanish as they

are uninhabited), as well as the better known

Easter Island (geographically and culturally

considered Polynesian), bringing the country’s

total land mass to 756,096 square kilometers.

Besides the extensive desert territory and the

majestic Patagonia, the country also claims a

strip of the Antarctic continent, comprising

1,250,257.6 square kilometers, known as the

Chilean Antarctic Territory, bounded by 53rd

to the 90th west meridian, and stretching

down to the South Pole itself. Due to terri-

torial possessions being spread across these

three continental areas, Chile defines itself as

a “tricontinental” country.

The country’s capital is Santiago, situated

at 2,062 kilometers from the northernmost

regional capital (Arica) and 3,090 kilometers

from the southernmost regional capital (Punta

Arenas). The city was founded in 1541 by the

Spanish explorer Pedro de Valdivia and today

contains the densest urban conglomerate of the

country, with a little over 7 million inhabitants.

These defining extremes in longitude explain

the incredible variety of climates found within

Chile. While in the north an arid climate pre-

vails, with annual averages of 20 degrees Celsius

(sometimes with huge differences between

daily highs that can reach 30 degrees Celsius

and nightly lows bordering the freezing point)

and little to no rain, the central portion of the

country clearly has a Mediterranean climate,

with four identifiably separate seasons, except

in the highest of altitudes in the Andes. Towards

the south the climate becomes very wet, and

in the southernmost extremes some areas can

be classified as having a cold steppe climate,

allowing significant snowfall during the winter.

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The Chilean Antarctic territory is clearly polar,

while the island territories generally have a

subtropical climate. The main airport in Chile

is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport

in Santiago, which has direct connections to all

the capitals of South America, along with ma-

jor cities in North America, Europe, Australia,

and Asia, with the national airline called LAN

being the most active company offering flights

to international destinations. Sky Airlines is a

company which offers domestic routes within

Chile and some routes in South America.

All flights originating from outside the country

arrive first at the Arturo Merino Benítez Inter-

national Airport of Santiago, and from there

flights can be taken to various points across the

country. Domestic flights include the following

destinations: Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Cala-

ma, Copiapó, La Serena, Concepción, Temuco,

Valdivia, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Balmaceda y

Punta Arenas.

Entertainment and cultural options have pro-

gressively diversified what Chile has to offer to

tourists, such as a number of festivals throug-

hout the year, which blend old traditions with

avant garde arts and masterpieces. A cuisine

that starts with fresh seafood as its base is a

unique feature that is present in hundreds of

restaurants from north to south.

This culinary affair is amplified by a wide variety

of wines originating in the country’s northern

valleys, central area, and increasingly (within

the last 5 years or so) from small vineyards in

the south. Varietals range from the whites

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay in the valleys

of Limarí, Casablanca, Leyda, and Bio Bio along

with the red grapes Carmenère, Cabernet Sau-

vignon and Syrah from the valleys of Maipo,

Colchagua, Maule, and Curicó.

1. INTRODUCTIONThe government of Chile is a multiparty de-

mocracy whose president is elected directly

by a majority of the voters in a first or second

voting round. Presidential terms last for 4 years,

and presidents cannot be reelected to a second

consecutive term.

The main export industries in Chile are mining

(especially copper), forestry and wood products,

wine, fishing, fruits, and fresh flowers. Chile

has signed 56 different types of treaties (19 free

trade agreements, 28 economic association

agreements, 7 economic complementation

agreements, and 2 partial agreements) with

nations such as the United States, Japan, Chi-

na, or economic blocs like Mercosur and the

European Union.

The true origin of the word “Chile” is unknown,

however, it is believed the term is derived from

the quechua o aymara “chili,” which means

“confine” or “end of the world”…or possibly an

imitation of a bird call, “chilay, chilay.” Another

version of the word’s origin comes from the

Incas, since it is said that when the Spanish

explorer Diego de Almagro started his overland

expedition south (from Peru), the Incas told

him he was going to “Tchili,” meaning “cold” or

“snow.” The last 2 versions date to the 18th cen-

tury: one is from Abate Molina, author of a book

called “A Listing of the Geographic, Natural, and

Civil History of Chile,” which claims that the

word comes from term “Trih” or “Chih,” which

was what the indigenous used as a name for

a bird with yellow specks; the second version

coming from the writer Diego de Rosales, who

affirmed that “Chile” was the name of an Indian

chief from the Aconcagua Valley. The majority

of the population of Chile is “mestizo,” or mi-

xed blood, thanks to the union of indigenous

peoples with Spanish colonists, and, later on,

due to European immigration from Germany,

England, Ireland, Italy, and Croatia, amongst

others. Despite the fact that Chile was the last

country to be conquered by Europeans, indige-

nous peoples today only represent 4.6% of the

Chilean population. The primary group resides

in the region of the Araucanía: the Mapuche

(“people of the earth”), with a little more than

600,000 members, make up 87% of the total

native population. Other smaller native groups

exist, such as the Aymara in the north, the

Chonos and Huilliches, known worldwide for

their hospitality on the island of Chiloé, and

the Yamanes and Alacalufes in the Patagonia

and “Tierra del Fuego.” As for Easter Island, its

indigenous population numbers approxima-

tely 3,800, and they are considered ethnically

Polynesian. Its members speak Rapa Nui, their

native tongue, as well as Spanish.

In terms of national religious beliefs, 70% of the

country considers itself Catholic, 15% Protestant

or Evangelical, 1% Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the

rest are statistically insignificant. Literacy rates

in Chile are high, at 96%. The economic growth

and prosperity of the 1990s helped produce a

flourishing middle class, and the poverty index

stands at about 17%.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHILE

G E N E R A L

Official Name

Capital

Population

Total Surface

Density

Official Language

Religion

Coin

Literacy Rate

Politic Regime

Territorial Division

República de Chile

17.248.450 inhabitants (june 2011)

22,62 hab/km2

86% christian / catholic

96%

15 regions, subdivided into 52 provinces.

Santiago de Chile

756.096 Square km

Spanish

Chilean Peso

Democratic, presidential. Elections every 4 years

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C L I M A T E JA N F E B M A R A P R M AY J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N OV D E C

The north and the Atacama Desert

Santiago and the Central Zone

Lakes, Rivers and Volcanoes

Patagonia and the

extreme south

Rapa Nui

note: At night, the temperatures

in the Atacama Desert drop

sharply (2 - 4°C or 35 - 39°F )

Snow

average temperature

26-+

Rain

Cloudy

Sunny

10·14

50·59

15·20

60·68

21·25

69·77 78-+

T R A N S P O R T A T I O NA N D D I S T A N C E S

san pedro de Atacama

C a l a m a

11 3 k m

2 H R s

puerto Natales Torres del paine Antarctica

P u n ta

a r e n a s

2 5 4 k m 3 91 k m 9 9 0 k m

3 H R s 6 H R s

2 H 3 0 M I N

Calama Isla de pascua valparaíso Colchagua pucón puerto varas punta Arenas

s a n t i a g o

1 5 7 5 k m 3 8 0 0 k m 1 2 0 k m 1 7 7 k m 78 9 k m 1 01 6 k m 3 0 9 0 k m

2 H 1 0 M I N

24 H R s

5 H 4 0 M I N

1 H 3 0 M I N 2 H 3 0 M I N

1 H 2 0 M I N

9 H R s

1 H 4 5 M I N

1 5 H R s

3 H 3 0 M I N

3. WHY CHILE?“Chile, o una loca geografía” (“Chile, Or Some

Crazy Geography”) by Chilean author Benjamín

Subercaseaux, from 1940, is perhaps one of the

books that has best defined Chile. Extending

more than 4,329 kilometers in a long strip

confined between the Pacific Ocean and the

Andes Mountains, its silhouette form is like a

mosaic of natural wonders. It’s no wonder then

that there are 363,000 square kilometers of

desert, over 4,200 kilometers of coastline, the

longest and youngest mountain chain on the

planet (with average heights of around 4,000

meters, or about 13,000 feet above sea level),

14 million hectares of national parkland and

22,000 square kilometers of ice, all combined

into different regions that, according to legend,

“God made to sum up of all creation.”

The country is divided into five geographic

and climactic zones. While the north is known

for the Atacama Desert (the world’s driest),

the central portion, in the Andes Mountains,

boasts the majority of the best ski resorts in the

country. In the south, skiing and snowboarding

aren’t the only activities- whitewater rafting

and hiking are also popular, and the countryside

becomes dense and awe-inspiring. Finally, in the

southernmost areas, including the Patagonia

and the Chilean Antarctic, nature, along with

fields of glaciers and thousand year old ice,

blend to form breath taking scenery, which

can be explored by boats and even cruise ships.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the country’s nu-

merous islands, like the mythological Chiloé, or

the island known for the story of a shipwrecked

adventurer, Robinson Crusoe, or the mystical

Rapa Nui (Easter Island), arguably one of the

world’s most intriguing treasures.

But other characteristics have left their mark

on Chile’s recent history. Upon arriving at

Santiago’s international airport, the work of

Chile’s modern labor force becomes apparent.

The complete attention given to infrastructu-

re, and the general network of highways and

buildings, mean ease of movement across the

country, making travelling simple, secure, and

comfortable. By itself, Chile has satellite and

Internet connectivity throughout its territory,

including abundant wireless Internet hotspots,

with thousands of kilometers of fiber optic ca-

bles, which ensure a speedy and reliable connection with the world.

Another interesting feature of Chile is the stability of the nation’s

democratic system. As one of the countries with the fewest inte-

rruptions in its republican history in Latin America, its consistent

growth is based on political agreements concerning the needs of

modernization and national development, resulting in practical

terms in many commercial and social agreements that confirm

its status as a vigorous and flourishing country. For this very

reason, Chile is seen has having a high level of internal security,

and is often labeled one of the most secure countries in South

America, where the most frequent worry is how to best spend

time exploring its vast territory.

On a final note, entertainment and culture are essential parts of

the indomitable Chilean spirit, noticeable thanks to a calendar

full of holidays and parties throughout the year, mixing tradition

and modernity in the arts, along with bohemian elements that

unite national and international influences, in other words, the

options are limitless. And for the lovers of luxury, the oceans offer

an ample and diverse range of delicacies that are found from north

to south, blessing the country with unique delights. All of this,

along with its bountiful valleys that produce award-winning va-

rietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Sauvignon Blanc

(and others), have given rise to a saying: Chile can express itself

not only with crazy geography, but with unforgettable flavors.

F E S T I V A L S

C°

F°

W H E N W H A T W H E R E

Chiloé

Temuco

January New Year´s Chile

January Huaso Festival Olmué

February Traditional Chiloé Festival

February Wine Harvest Festival Valle del Elqui

March Wine Harvest Festival Curicó

April Rancagua Champion Rancagua

June San Pedro and San Pablo Atacama

Septiembre Independence Day Chile

December Cultural Carnivals Valparaíso

January Santiago a Mil Festival Santiago

February Tapati Rapa Nui Isla de Pascua

March Wine Harvest Festival Santa Cruz

June We Txipantu ( Mapuche New Year)

December Andacollo Virgin Andacollo

January Esquila (shearing) Festival Patagonia

February Viña del Mar Festival Viña del Mar

March

April

Wine Harvest Festival Talca

Wine Harvest Festival Santiago

July La Tirana Festival La Tirana

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The waters to west of Chiloé and to

the south, in the “Golfo Corcovado,”

are the only known location in the

world where blue whales congregate

to feed. More than 150 species have

been identified.

On Easter Island more than 7 kilome-

ters of subterranean lava tunnels have

been mapped out, making them one

of the most extensive cave systems on

Earth.

The Straits of Magellan are the only

place outside of the waters of Antarc-

tica where humpbacked whales gath-

er to feed.

The Chilean Patagonia has a surface

covering over 240,000 square kilome-

ters, but the population density never

exceeds 1 inhabitant per square kilom-

eter and 50% is designated a Wild Pro-

tected Area.

Santiago was recently chosen as one

of the best destinations to visit by the

New York Times.

The “Campos de Hielo,” or Ice Fields,

located in the Patagonia are the third

largest continental ice fields in terms

of area; alter those found in Antarctica

and Greenland.

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Chile has five cultural sites that have

been named World Heritage Sites by

UNESCO, nine geographic areas that

are Biosphere Reserves, and twelve of-

ficial wetlands according to the RAM-

SAR scale.

The world’s most arid desert runs

through a 1,000 kilometer long strip

of land between the Andes Mountains

and the Pacific Ocean, spreading out

over an area of 363,000 square kilom-

eters.

Chiloé was selected as one of the best

places to visit in the world by Lonely

Planet. It has sixteen World Heritage

churches, recognized as archeologi-

cal masterpieces, many of them con-

structed without nails.

Chile has more than 1,200 kilometers

of viticulture valleys stretching from

north to south in 14 different viticul-

ture areas, which produce more than

10 million hectoliters of wine per year.

Chile is the safest and most stable

country in Latin America, according

to the “Global Peace Index,” an annual

study conducted by the NGO Vision of

Humanity .

9.8 million people around the world

drink a glass of Chilean wine every.

day.

Chile is the only wine-producing

country in the world unaffected by

the Filoxera pest, which destroyed

many grape varietals in other parts of

the world. Carmenère, a grape once

thought extinct, is still found in Chile

and is now considered its signature

grape.

From a biological and botanical point

of view, Chile is one of the most fas-

cinating places on the planet. About

50% of its plant life and 20% of its ani-

mal life is unique to the country.

Mummification was first performed in

Chile. The ancient indigenous group

called the Chinchorro, in the northern

part of the country, started mummify-

ing its dead sometime between 7,000

and 2,000 years before the Egyptians.

More than 99% of all harvested pota-

toes in the world originate in Chile.

The country is also the number one

global exporter of grapes, number

two for salmon, trout, avocado, and

plums, and number three for kiwis,

raspberries, and blackberries.

The northern portion of the country

holds claim to the clearest skies in

the Southern Hemisphere for view-

ing stars. Some of the world’s most

important astronomical observatories

are here, like “Paranal,” “la Silla,” and

the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or

project “ALMA.”

Three percent of the surface of Chile

is covered by more than 1,750 glaciers.

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Things You Didn’t Know About Chile

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THE NORTH & THE ATACAMA DESERT

ISLANDS RAPA NUI, ROBINSON CRUSOE Y CHILOé

SANTIAGO & THE CENTRAL ZONE

LAkES, R IvERS & vOLCANOES

PATAGONIA & THE ExTREME SOUTH

0102030405

MACRO ZONES

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

1. THE NORTH & THE ATACAMA DESERTThe Atacama Desert covers the administrative regions of Arica and Pari-

nacota (Capital: Arica), Tarapacá (Capital: Iquique), Antofagasta (Capital:

Antofagasta, and known for the town of San Pedro de Atacama), Ata-

cama (Capital: Copiapó), and lastly, the region of Coquimbo (Capital: La

Serena).

But when you go beyond political regions you can see how fascinating,

mysterious, and overwhelming the north of Chile is. The trip from the

desert coast up to the “Altiplano” (high altitude plains), is breath taking

and requires boundless energy, thanks to the endless salt flats, geysers,

deep green oasis, extensive beaches, volcanoes, and of course the im-

posing Andes Mountains themselves.

Here lies the Atacama Desert, the driest on the planet, and a striking

contrast with the fertile valleys of Azapa or Elqui off to the south, the

oasis in Pica, or Lauca and Pan de Azúcar National Parks.

Other must-see destinations include the desert dunes, the town of La

Tirana, famous for an annual festival that is one of the most colorful in

the north, the endless beaches of Pan de Azúcar, the beautiful village

of San Pedro de Atacama, and, almost bordering the central area of the

country, the National Forest Reserves of Fray Jorge and Valle del Limarí,

which are important because of their biodiversity.

San Pedro de Atacama is a town known as a springboard for excursions

to different landmarks in the area, such as the Valley of the Moon, the

Atacama Salt flats, high altitude lakes, the Tatio Geysers, and other

points of interest. For those interested in archeology, the town offers

the Padre Gustavo Le Paige Archeological Museum, which features nu-

merous and significant pre-Hispanic relics and even mummies.

The north of Chile has the ideal climate and beaches for surfing, para

gliding, or simply enjoying the sight of marine wildlife, such as the

Humboldt Penguin, dolphins, walruses, and other ocean creatures, all

of which are observable in the Punta Choros National Reserve, in the

region of Coquimbo.

The climate in this part of Chile has preserved, for thousands of years,

the Mummies of Chinchorro (the oldest of the world), where you can

also find, in pristine conditions, petro glyphs and geoglyphs, with the

most famous known as the “Giant of Atacama.”

MACRO ZONES

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s A N p E D R O D E ATA C A M A

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Chile is blessed with the Southern Hemisphere’s clearest skies, and

they’re ideal for professional and amateur astronomers alike; visitors

will encounter everything from observatories dedicated to tourists to

hotels that offer telescopes for their guests.

This island, of volcanic origin, is politically part of the Region of Val-

paraíso, and comprises 180 square kilometers at a distance of 3,256 kil-

ometers from the mainland coast and 5 hours by air from Santiago. It

has traditionally been called “Rapa Nui” or “Te Pito Te Henua” (the World’s

Navel) by its native inhabitants. It is considered the world’s most remote

inhabited island, set in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and discovered

rather by accident by the Dutchman Jacob Roggeween in 1772 on Easter

Sunday, which explains its name in Western cultures. In 1888, Policarpo

Toro claimed possession of the island on behalf of the Chilean govern-

ment. Today approximately 5,000 people live there.

On Easter Island you can find totally inactive volcanoes, caves, and beau-

tiful scenery in general, and what undoubtedly keeps attracting thou-

sands of tourists annually, the gigantic sculptures called the “moai.”

This Polynesian territory contains more than 600 moais, ranging in

height from 5 to 12 meters, which the islanders once built to worship

their ancestors. They are spread out on platforms known as “Ahus,” many

of which are damaged or have been destroyed due to ancient island

conflicts among the different clans or thanks to the course of nature

itself. Today many consider the island the largest open air museum in

the world, which is why Rapa Nui National Park was named an UNESCO

World Heritage Site.

The lava caves end as cliffs, which anyone can explore. The most popular

are “Ana Te Pahu” and “Ana o Keke,” with the latter also known as the

Cave of the Virgins, since it was the place where the Rapa Nui women

were once enclosed in order to be purified before getting married.

The crater of the Rano Kau volcano is unparalleled experience, as is a

tour of the ancient ceremonial town of Orongo, and very much worth

the trip.

Beyond the archeological factor and nature itself, the “living culture” is

what today is more present than ever and continues to attract attention.

There are myths, legends, and traditions vividly transmitted even today:

dances, music, the language, festivals, and food. Every February the is-

landers hold the traditional festival called Tapati, in which inter-team

competition revives ancient traditions and shares part of the island cul-

ture with the tourists that arrive during that time.

“Rapa Nui” invites visitors to roam the island on horseback, bicycle, or

excursions on foot. For surfing enthusiasts, the island provides one of

the best environments for that sport, as well as crystalline waters that

are perfect for scuba lovers. It is said to be one of the planet’s best places

for underwater wildlife observation.

2. ISLANDS RAPA NUI, ROBINSON CRUSOE & CHILOé

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RAPA NUI ISLAND

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The island of Robinson Crusoe is one part of the Juan Fernandez Ar-

chipelago, and lies at 667 kilometers off of the coast of San Antonio in

the 5th region (the region of Valparaíso). The only town, named San

Juan Bautista, has a mere 600 residents that are extremely hospitable

and welcoming to tourists. It has a humid subtropical climate; humid

enough to allow it to have an annual average temperature of 15 degrees

Celsius.

The island was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977

based especially on its unique flora and fauna. About 70% of all of these

species are plants, while around 25% are fish. There are 218 species of

native plants, 136 are exclusive to the island. The national park has a

surface area of 9,571 hectares and also includes the islands of Santa Clara

and Alejandro Selkirk.

Its natural features include impressive hills, cliffs, marine caves, and a

crystal blue sea that’s perfect for scuba diving. The interesting thing

about this place, and its plant life, is that they are all species that are

estimated to be over 2 million years old, which was transported by air,

water, or birds from places like New Zealand, Hawaii, the Patagonia,

and the Andes Mountains. Once on the island, they evolved directly into

their current form, converting the island in a hidden paradise.

Among it wildlife, the two haired sea lion stands out, which is alone on

the island, along with the Juan Fernandez lobster, which inhabits the

rocky bottoms of the sea and is the main source of sustenance for those

who live on Robinson Crusoe.

It’s also worth mentioning the importance of the history that surrounds

the island ever since it welcomed its most famous resident during the

18th Century: Alejandro Selkirk, who after an argument with the captain

of his ship was abandoned and left to his own devices on the island and

managed to survive alone for more than four years. Once he was rescued

and returned to England, his story was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe

to write his most famous novel, Robinson Crusoe.

Winter brings abundant rains, especially between May and September,

so the best time of the year for visiting Juan Fernandez is generally from

November until April.

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ROBINSON CRUSOE ISLAND

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In 2011 Lonely Planet selected Chiloé as one of the world’s most interest-

ing places for vacationing. The island’s geography is made up of fields,

forests, and the sea, with a unique culture reflected in its architecture,

food, mythology, and the warm welcome of its residents, who them-

selves are descended from a mix of the Spanish settlers and the Huilliche

people.

Chiloé sits at precisely 1186 kilometers (about 712 miles) from Santiago

and 90 kilometers (54 miles) southwest of Puerto Montt. The ferry voy-

age is about 30 minutes crossing the Chacao Channel, which separates

the mainland from the northern coast of the Big Island of Chiloé, one of

about 30 islands comprising the archipelago of the same name.

The “palafitos,” the local term for the colorful houses constructed on

“stilts,” or posts in the water, are one of the island’s biggest attractions,

as well as its wooden churches, all built in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Although there are over 80 fine examples of this unusual architectural

style, only 16 were chosen by UNESCO as deserving of Cultural Heritage

Monument status.

Ancud, Castro and Quellón are the island’s main towns, and as is to be

expected they all offer fine fish and seafood dishes in their restaurants

(prepared in the local style of course), extensive artisan fairs that feature

products like locally-grown wool, and a number of festivals steeped in

local tradition, which are especially common in the summer.

Chiloé is known for being a very rainy place, and that’s part of the is-

land’s enchantment; with very changeable skies and nearly impenetra-

ble forests, the latter being especially prominent on the western side of

the island. That’s where you’ll find Chiloé National Park, which is a pre-

serve for the Valdivian forest (named for its similarity with forests near

the mainland town of Valdivia to the north), thousand year old larch

trees and peat bogs. If you’re looking for them, there are established

camping areas and hiking trails too.

Towards the southern end of the island there is a private natural park

called Tantauco, featuring 118 thousand hectares (nearly 291,500 acres)

for preservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable tourism, right

in the middle of eternally green forests, cypress trees that are well over

100 years old and giant peat bogs. “Caleta Inio” is the name of the small

town where local residents live, many of which live off of the “pelillo”

harvest; a type of algae that is often sold for a handsome price. Tantauco

has a guest house with six rooms and, for the true campers, 24 sites

that are totally isolated from each other for the best possible care of the

landscape.

The area known as Puñihuil, 27 kilometers (about 16 miles) south of An-

cud, features a new sustainable tourism project focused on the care of

the local fauna. This is the only place where you can find a penguin col-

ony made up of two different species, both the Humboldt Penguin and

the Magellan Penguin. The area also boasts, along with the nearby “Gol-

fo Corcovado,” the largest concentration of blue whales in the Southern

Hemisphere, with over 100 individual whales having been identified.

CHILOE ISLAND

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Santiago, the country’s capital and the capital of the Metropolitan Re-

gion, covers a surface area of 15,403 square kilometers, which makes it

the smallest political region of the country but at the same time the

most populated, with over 6 million inhabitants, possessing (according

to the last census in 2002) 40,1% of the nation’s population. It’s also the

only region of the country that is landlocked and without access to the

Pacific Ocean.

Santiago is a diverse, modern, and cosmopolitan city. Its privileged lo-

cation within the area let you spend the morning at one of several ski

resorts found up in the heights of the Andes, while coming down in the

afternoon to enjoy the beaches that the central portion of the country

offers. But if you want to discover the wonders of this urban conglom-

erate, a good place to start would be one of its more than 100 theat-

ers, multiple movie screens, the acclaimed Municipal Theater (complete

with a healthy dose of opera, ballet, and concerts), the numerous shop-

ping outlets like the boulevard Alonso de Córdova (with the exclusive

stores Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, etc) or historic bohe-

mian neighborhoods, specializing in artisan crafts and wares, with the

Bellavista district as the flagship example.

Other interesting options include the historic downtown area, where

you can visit the presidential palace “La Moneda,” originally named so

for being used as the official mint during the colonial era. Below street

level, there’s the “Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda,” opened in 2006,

which offers free access to visual and audio heritage exhibits that are

both domestic and international in character, featuring both permanent

and seasonal exhibitions (http://www.ccplm.cl/). In the same part of

town, points of interest include the “Plaza de Armas,” the Museum of

Pre-Columbian Art (http://www.precolombino.cl/), or the Cathedral of

Santiago, good spots to visit before having lunch in the Central Mar-

ket and enjoying the variety of seafood and fish hauled in fresh from

the Chilean sea. Afterwards, the afternoon is a perfect time to head off

to the National Museum of Fine Arts, (www. mnba.cl), a French styled

structure that was inaugurated for celebrating the Chilean centennial in

1810, and then finishing off the day by visiting one of the homes of Nobel

Laureate Pablo Neruda, or the Metropolitan Park, the largest urban park

in Chile and one of the biggest in the world (measuring 722 hectares),

where you can snap great photos of Santiago from the heights or visit

the city’s zoo.

One of the most traditional viticulture (wine-producing) areas in Chile

is the Valley of Maipo, where there are currently about 20 vineyards, and

as one of the most established wine regions in the country, many offer

tastings. When it comes to enjoying food, Santiago is not lacking in its

selection of bars, pubs, and restaurants, which range from international

dishes, to “criolla” food (a mix of Spanish and indigenous traditions),

to the latest trends from the phenomenon of molecular gastronomy.

Santiago is a city bordering on 7 million residents, a reflection of its in-

creasing modernity and national progress during the last 20 years, and

as such the selection is a varied as the needs of those who live there. On

the way to the mountains, about 40 minutes away in the vicinity, there

are four world-class ski resorts: Valle Nevado, La Parva, Farellones, and

El Colorado. Portillo, as well, is considered one of the top destinations

for skiing in South America, and is located 150 kilometers from the capi-

tal, on the route towards the town of Los Andes, with an environment

endowed with the beauty of a lake called Laguna del Inca. The extensive

Andes Mountain Chain provides fantastic ski runs, in terms of quality,

diversity, and/or complexity. For the bold among us, when a slope is

missing a chairlift, you can always take a helicopter and drop down on

virgin powder by Heliski. On the other hand, for snowboarders and free-

style skiers, El Colorado and Valle Nevado have great “Snowparks,” full

of jumps, ramps, pipes, and rails. All of these ski resorts have first class

facilities, some even boast open air pools, spas, and gyms, guaranteeing

a good time for both families and couples and, of course, winter sports

fans.

Finally, when heading to the northwest of Santiago, on to the coast, you

run into the bohemian port town of Valparaíso and its twin city by the

bay, Viña del Mar. It takes barely 2 hours to get there from Santiago, af-

ter crossing the renowned viticulture valley of Casablanca. Like a zigzag-

ging labyrinth, 44 hills crown one of the oldest cities in Chile. With sev-

eral areas declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, a quick ride up and

down the city’s hundred year old cable car elevators (often used by locals

to get back up to their homes) is a must. There are also boutique hotels

which keep their doors open every year on the hills called Cerro Alegre or

Cerro Concepción, offering an excellent choice for overnight stays. Other

must sees are the Catholic and “dissident” cemeteries, the Prat Pier and

strolls along the bay, the different swaying lookouts wedged between

the hills, the wide range of culinary options-ranging from avant garde

to century old bars-and, of course, one of Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda’s

favorite houses, where he wrote “I love Valparaíso, for all those things

you keep within and yet radiate, my bride of the sea.”

Viña del Mar is a mere 10 minutes from Valparaíso, an ancient haven

for the more well off members of Chilean society, its aristocratic ori-

gin helps it maintain an unmatched beauty and elegance. Its long and

wide beaches, its cared-for coastline, and outstanding array of hotels

and food make it one of the favorite destinations for visitors from San-

tiago. One of the city’s symbols is its casino, started in the 1930’s, and its

tradition is only comparable to its level of quality, since it’s considered

one of the world’s most complete and modern. An essential trait of the

“Garden City” is the International Music Festival every year in “Viña,” cel-

ebrated every February, and that has, during the last 50 years, served as

a platform for international and folkloric competition for five magical,

music-filled nights during the Chilean summer.

3. SANTIAGO & THE CENTRAL vALLEYS

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The area of lakes, rivers, and volcanoes represent the gateway to the

Patagonia and the extreme south. This area covers 4 of Chile’s political

“regions” Bio Bio, la Araucanía, de los Ríos, and de los Lagos, with the

capital of each being Concepción (Chile’s second largest city), Temuco,

Valdivia, and Puerto Montt, respectively. The extensiveness of this area

makes each city and its surroundings have their own attractions. In

Concepción, for example, besides getting to know one of the south’s em-

blematic cities, you can visit Lota, an old coal mining town 9 kilometers

away, a good place to learn about the labor history of Chile, by visiting

the 14 hectares of Isidora Cousiño Park. The next stop is “Chiflón del Dia-

blo” (“The Devil’s Wind), the world’s only naturally ventilated mine that

is found under the sea. You can visit the mine’s museum or go directly in

to the mine through one of the tourist circuits.

One thing you can’t miss any time of the year is the resort “Termas

de Chillán,” situated at 82 kilometers towards the mountains depart-

ing from the town of the same name (Chillán). Just before reaching the

“Termas” (hot springs) resort, you run into the Valley of “Las Trancas,”

with gorgeous views, native trees, waterfalls, and “fumaroles,” or nat-

ural openings in the earth that emit gases from the volcano Chillán.

Everything turns white in winter, and mere minutes from here you find

“Nevados de Chillán,” the next door neighbor ski resort of “Termas de

Chillán,” which features 28 designated runs for all types of winter sports,

while in summer options vary from trying out Chile’s first mountain

casino to thermal spas to the zip line, a popular favorite.

The next point to highlight is Temuco, the city with the highest concen-

tration of the indigenous mapuche population in the country (including

the surrounding communities), a proud indigenous tribe that put up

fierce resistance to both Incan and Spanish invasions. Temuco is an hour

and 20 minutes from Santiago by plane, and 7 by car.

Don’t miss the towns of Villarrica, Pucón, or Curarrehue, 90 kilometers

away from Temuco. Enjoy the southern charm of Villarrica Lake, the

bustling night life in Pucón o Curarrehue; learn about the “rucas” in

the Mapuche community of Kilaleufú, a type of house that stands as a

monument to indigenous architecture and is ideal for making contact

with the ancient culture. For those interested, the Dreams Casino is in

Temuco, complete with a 5 star hotel, bar, spa, and more than 500 gam-

ing machines, plus the hot Springs of Coñaripe ( 150 km from Temuco),

where unspoiled nature and medicinal waters will revive your spirits

among crystal blue river waters. Other possibilities include adventure

sports, where the Huilo Huilo nature preserve allows you to experience

and savor the heights by canopy, hiking, or horse riding, or more.

Farther south you find the capital of the region of the rivers (“de los

Ríos”), Valdivia. Two hours by plane and 10 hours driving from Santiago,

the union of traditions of Mapuche origin, the Spanish influence, and

the important German colony thrive together, characterizing the archi-

tecture and idiosyncrasies of the city. Valdivia has a watershed with

more than 250 kilometers of navigable rivers, which allows travel by

boat and, in some parts, the use of kayaks, which yield a different view

of the city. The city also has a casino, with over 33,000 square kilometers

and the 5 star Pedro de Valdivia hotel, which give its guests practically

limitless choices.

Lastly, the extreme end of this zone is home to the capital of the Lakes

Region, Puerto Montt, with 2 other nearby sights to see, Puerto Varas to

the north and the mythic island of Chiloé to the south.

In Puerto Montt leisure activities revolve around adventure sports, like

navigating between islands (by day you can go to the islands of Puluqui,

Quenu, or Tabón), fishing for sport or excursions in the national parks.

Heading south you’ll cross the Channel of Chacao, an unforgettable ex-

perience and the entrance to the legendary island of Chiloé, full of myths

and tall tales. Ironically, just half an hour north is where Puerto Varas

lies, known as one of the cities with the strongest German influence

in the country. During even a short visit you’ll notice the German style

architecture, plus the traditional German pastries like küchens, choco-

lates, cakes, or homemade marmalades.

The volcano Osorno serves as a nice backdrop, standing at a height of

over 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), and is visible from the town of Osorno

down to Chiloé. Likely because of its incredible beauty, Puerto Varas is

one of the most important tourist towns in Chile, with surrounding

villages displaying a strong German influence that also has a certain

beauty, such as Frutillar or Puerto Octay. If you want to jaunt over to

the beach, a visit to Ensenada or Petrohué is at hand, or for a bi-national

adventure, tries the “Cruce de Lagos” tour, which commences in Puerto

Varas itself and comes to an end in Bariloche, Argentina.

4. LAkES, RIvERS, AND vOLCANOES

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The Patagonia comprises the political regions of Aysén (Capital: Coy-

haique) and Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic (Capital: Punta Are-

nas). If you combine both of them, they cover more than 240,000 square

kilometers, including the Antarctic territory. The unusual thing in this

case is that in all of this territory, there are only 223,000 people, which

gives you an idea of the amount of land untouched by the human pres-

ence.

This area, the southernmost of Chile, goes from Puerto Montt to Antarc-

tica. The scenery holds indescribable beauty, mixing thousand year old

and virgin forests, islands, fjords, snowfields, and glaciers.

The “Carretera Austral” (Southern Highway) starts here, an unpaved road

that snakes along the coastal fjords and passes dense forests, ancient

glaciers, and an intense and crooked mountainous countryside. It’s a

road with little traffic and the feeling of total adventure, often as the

only human present in the midst of such an imposing natural environ-

ment, it makes you realize the smallness of humanity, especially in front

of the majestic wildlife found here.

Fjords can be viewed if you look closely, and you’ll notice how polished

and sculpted they are from the last glacial era, complete with canals and

hundreds of islands immersed in dense vegetation. Along with other

types of wildlife, you’ll find sea lions, dolphins, and marine birds such as

the Imperial or Red Crow, plus Magellan Penguins, and more. Few navi-

gable regions of the world can compare to the fjords of Chile; passengers

on cruise ships enjoy scenic views without any other boats obstruct-

ing the view. Farther south, the Serrano, Balmaceda, and Grey glaciers,

along with the channels near “Tierra del Fuego” and the Beagle Canal,

offer unparalleled views.

In the extreme south, the “Pampa” (plains) dominates the landscape on

both sides of the Andes, which fade away at the extreme southern tip of

the Americas, coming to an end near the Torres del Paine National Park,

which was declared a National Park in 1959 and a UNESCO Biosphere Re-

serve in 1979. This amazing destination is internationally known as one

of the most beautiful, unique, and pollution-free places on the planet.

Its primary attractions are the impressive relief, lakes, and wildlife,

which make it the optimal site for ecotourism and adventure sports.

Some example of this wildlife are pumas, hundreds of different kinds of

birds, guanacos (mammals similar to llamas), condors, huemules (Chile’s

national animal that’s similar to a deer), and foxes. Nature here is also

generous with waterfalls, colorful lakes, glaciers, whitewater rivers that

are ideal for fishing and the ever-imposing “Campo de Hielo Sur” (South-

ern Ice Field). The national park has 242,242 protected hectares that are

visited annually by more than 100,000 tourists.

Punta Arenas lies on the northern Banks of the Strait of Magellan; it’s a

dynamic city that serves as the springboard for many cruise ship routes

and even for flights visiting the “Tierra del Fuego” or making the trek to

Antarctica. On the other side of the strait, you’ll find “Tierra del Fuego”

(Land of Fire), a huge island accessible by boat or single prop planes

where you’ll arrive to Porvenir, the main town on the island. Tierra del

Fuego was first spotted in 1520 by Hernando de Magallanes, when it was

still inhabited by the Selk’nam, the island’s indigenous tribes.

Visiting Antarctica, the southernmost point on Earth, is the experience

of a lifetime. The pristine and intensely pure snow blurs in with the fierce

sky blue, and you would be excused if you confused the two. Despite the

severe cold, a rich ecosystem here thrives, which includes walruses, sea

lions, penguins, whales, orcas (killer whales), and lots of different birds.

With the outline of a finger that points north, the famous Cape Horn

is the most dangerous pass for the ships that journey through these

waters. The Antarctic Peninsula harbors the scientific bases of 9 coun-

tries, where the enormous biological and mineral resources of the white

continent are studied. You can stop and tour the investigative centers

on the Chilean bases, located on Presidente Frei and Rey Jorge Islands.

5. THE PATAGONIA & THE ExTREME SOUTH

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E xPERIENCE

SPORTS & ADvENTURE

NATURAL INSPIRAT ION

FOOD & WINE

CULTURE & HERITAGE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

LE ISURE L IFESTYLE

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One of the defining characteristics that make

Chile stand out on the map is its shape: a long

and narrow stretch of land squeezed between

the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains.

Thanks to its longitude and the ocean and

mountain influence, it unites an incredible

variety of climates and scenery, including

beaches, mountains, deserts, forests, steppes,

valleys, lakes, rivers, volcanoes, fjords, and ice

fields, which make the country an adventure

and open air sports destination not to be

missed.

There are numerous choices from north to

south, with the option to try activities with

different degrees of difficulty for all tastes and

budgets. In the “Macrozona” of the north you

can try your hand at activities like sand board-

ing and driving 4x4 vehicles on the gigantic

dunes, hiking in the high altitude plains and

mountain climbing up to the tall peaks of the

Andes, with Ojos del Salado, the highest ac-

tive volcano in the world. The coast is known

for surfing, windsurfing, and scuba diving.

The Santiago Macrozona and surrounding

areas have the largest skiable surface in the

Southern Hemisphere, known for quality

powder snow and modern infrastructure. The

main ski resorts (Valle Nevado, Farellones, El

Colorado, and La Parva) are 50 minutes from

the Chilean capital, all of which have prime

facilities in terms of hotels, restaurants,

equipment rental and ski and snowboarding

schools.

Towards the south, the Lakes and Volcanoes

Macrozona has even more winter sports and

snow activities, with the added benefit of be-

ing able to ski in native forests or the on the

outskirts of active volcanoes, and then later

on relaxing in hot springs and spa resorts.

There are plenty of rivers and lakes for kayak-

ing, rafting, windsurfing, and sailing.

The Patagonia is recognized worldwide as

a land of adventure and outdoor activities.

It’s quite common to see cyclists taking on

the 1,200 kilometers of the “Carretera Aus-

tral” (Southern Highway), sports fishermen

struggling with enormous trout and salmon

in rivers like the Puelo, Simpson, and Baker,

mountaineers scaling dangerous peaks like

San Valentín (the highest in the Patagonia),

or hiking lovers who, with backpack on hand,

roam the trails of parks like those in Torres del

Paine or Dientes de Navarino (on the “Tierra

del Fuego” island), the southernmost hiking

trail in the world.

EXPLORING TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

One of the great draws of Torres del Paine Na-

tional Park are the towering “horns” that give

their name in Spanish to the park and are a

favorite for many mountain climbers.

Its trademark black rock is the result of tec-

tonic forces and the glaciers that have sculpt-

ed them. The area has a network of trails for

travelling by foot, each with varying levels of

difficulty.

One of the most well-known is the W, a trip

that takes about 10 days and passes, amongst

other features, the valley of the Grey Glacier.

To ride a bike through the park there are

mountain bike trails with gorgeous panoram-

ic views, crystalline colored lakes and steep

drops among the rocks. Another possible ac-

tivity is kayaking the Serrano River and ex-

ploring virgin valleys while surrounded by im-

mense foliage and even glaciers. Among the

range of excursion options is taking a stroll

on the beach towards Grey Lake and observing

the giant ice floes or also navigating up to the

front of Grey Glacier.

SPORTS ADvENTURESVOLCANOES AND SALT FLATS IN SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

The Atacama Salt Flats are the largest saline

deposit and the fifth largest in the world, be-

ing over 100 kilometers long and 80 kilometers

wide. Its rough white surface hides extensive

brackish waters.

This crust has opened in some spots to give

way to small lakes where flamingos and other

interesting species have been able to adapt to

the altitude. There’s no shortage of things to

do, one option is riding bikes on a route that

goes from downtown San Pedro 8 kilometers

to the small Cejar Lake, where the water is so

salty that human bodies always float. Another

possible field trip is to visit The Flamingos

National Reserve during the last hour of day-

light. The pinkish evening light that falls on

the white salt flats and the brown surround-

ing volcanic walls is an experience you cannot

miss. San Pedro de Atacama has more than 375

attractions, and one alternative for seasoned

travelers is to climb one of the volcanoes that

are part of the Andes Mountain chain.

“El Láscar” volcano, at 5,600 meters (17,000

feet) above sea level, is the most active in the

area, and perhaps for that reason, the most at-

tractive. It’s set at a distance of 70 kilometers

to the southeast of San Pedro and guarantees

a unique experience-observing live volcanic

activity from the edge of a crater.

The Licancabur Volcano is only 60 km east of

San Pedro. It stands at almost 6,000 meters

(19,000 feet) above sea level, with a lake and

archeological remains at the top. This climb

requires at least two full days and sufficient

acclimating in order to attempt a trek to the

top.

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

FLY FISHING AMONG THE RIVERS AND FJORDS

The amazing rivers, lakes, and fjords of the

Lakes Region and the Patagonia Region offer

never ending opportunities for fly fishing.

Due to the low population density and the

extensive amount of land, these regions gift

tourists with the optimal conditions for fish-

ing giant trout, with an incomparable wild

background and total solitude to boot.

As Chile is one of the most geographically di-

verse nations on Earth, the natural environ-

ment of the regions that are apt for fishing is

equally diverse. The seasons for sports fishing

lasts from November to May. There are dozens

of all-inclusive lodges from Puerto Montt to

Tierra del Fuego. The majority of these tourist

facilities have some type of boats for navigat-

ing shallow rivers, horses, and even helicop-

ters to get the hardest points to access, which

also allows visitors to move to other places,

depending on the weather conditions.

A new feature for the area are the luxury

yachts that are primarily for fly fishing, and

can ride among the fjords of Chile. For those

who decide to merely accompany these avid

sportsmen or women to the end of the world,

there are other recreational opportunities like

hiking or heliski.

s P o r t s & a D V e n t u r e s

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M O T O R CYC L I N g A E R I A L s p O R T sR A F T I N gB I k I N g C A N O p Y R I D E s

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NATURAL INSPIRATION

The 4,300 kilometer length of Chile helps to

establish incredible climactic diversity, with

desert, Mediterranean, temperate, tundra,

and sub polar zones, and within each some

variation depending on the distance to the

coast or mountains. This doesn’t even include

the subtropical climate of Easter Island and

the Juan Fernandez Archipelago or the polar

climate of the Chilean Antarctic Territory.

The range of climates and the morphology of

Chile have given the country a unique per-

sonality, putting in one country a plethora of

environments and natural attractions. From a

biological and botanical point of view, Chile

is one of the world’s most fascinating places,

with 50% of the plant life and 20% of the ani-

mal life being exclusive to the country.

There are 9 geographical areas considered

Biosphere Reserves, 12 RAMSAR category wet-

lands (important on an international level due

to ecological, botanical, zoology, and hydro-

logical factors) and 19% of the nation’s terri-

tory is protected in the form of natural parks

or reserves.

The Atacama Desert, in the north, is consid-

ered the most arid desert in the world. De-

spite the dryness, life springs forth in oasis,

valleys, even forest, and, every so often, huge

stretches of the desert burst forth in an array

of colorful flowers. The north of the country

also is endowed with the clearest skies for star

gazing, salt flats, hot springs, geysers, volca-

noes, sand dunes, solitary beaches and an un-

ending diversity of animal life.

As the distance from the equator increases,

the climate and vegetation progressively

change, giving way to fertile valleys well-suit-

ed to agriculture, as well as the production of

Chile’s renowned wines. In the south, dozens

of lakes, rivers, forests, and volcanoes blend

together, where thousand year old trees make

their presence known, like larch trees and the

Paraná pine.

In the Patagonia, in the extreme south, there

are still places that have never been touched

by human footsteps. The Chilean Patagonia

is spread over 240,000 square kilometers, the

population doesn’t exceed one person per

square kilometer, and 50% of the territory is a

Wild, Protected Area.

The land never fails to surprise from end to

end, with fjords and channels, mountains, gla-

ciers (the ice fields are the third largest exten-

sions of continental ice after Antarctica and

Greenland), rivers, lakes, forests, steppe, and

of course the wildlife, with humpback and

blue whale watching a treat that is not to be

missed.

One of the main traits of Chilean geography

is the sheer number of islands, with approxi-

mately 4,000 stretched out along the length of

the country. Three in particular can be singled

out for their unique culture and biodiversity.

Resting at hundreds of kilometers from the

mainland in the middle of the Pacific Ocean,

the Juan Fernandez Archipelago can be found,

along with Easter Island, culturally belonging

to Polynesia. In the south, where the conti-

nent breaks into pieces, the Archipelago of

Chiloé also holds it own.

DESERT COLOR

The flowered desert is a unique climactic phe-

nomenon that occurs in the Atacama Desert

where diverse displays of wildflowers appear

between the months of September and No-

vember.

An environment that normally seems to be de-

void of plant or animal life is suddenly invaded

by native species that color the dry sands with

intense violets, pinks, and yellows.

The beauty behind this natural event that

transforms the normal dryness in this area

into a giant multicolored garden gets lots of

attention thanks to the rarity of this mix of

geographies and images that are highly un-

common together.

This phenomenon is especially noticeable

along the coast of the Atacama Region, about

800 kilometers north of Santiago, from south

of the town of Vallenar to just north of the city

of Copiapó. When regional rainfall is above

average during the winter, more than 200

species, the majority native, take advantage

of the extra water and flourish in the spring,

managing to attract thousands of travelers

and fanatics. The strong rains and unusual

snowfalls that affected the area this year are

an omen of a brightly flowered desert, a de-

light for photographers.

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

JOURNEY TO THE WHITE CONTINENT

The Antarctic cruise ship season gets under-

way in November, when optimal conditions

are present for navigating the planet’s ex-

treme southern seas.

The scenery is unique and unparalleled, with

an amazing variety of wildlife for observing,

filming, and snapping photos, and the animals

never fail to amaze for their ability to thrive in

such a challenging and hostile environment.

Antarctic Dream and Antártica XXI are polar

region specialists, navigating and exploring

the most spectacular points of interest among

the Southern Shetland Islands and the Ant-

arctic Peninsula, offering three types of pro-

grams, such as “The Classic,” which includes

11 days and 10 nights, the exclusive “Polar Ant-

arctic Circle,” comprising 14 days and 13 nights,

and the new “Fly & Sail” for 8 days and 7 nights,

which includes air transportation to or from

Punta Arenas, and a stop in Ushuaia. There is

also an abundance of activities to do, like kay-

aking, which will allow you to see thousand

year old icebergs up close or camp on the Ant-

arctic coast and then go mountain climbing

and hiking among the glaciers.

Every voyage is synonymous with exploration.

From the comfort of every corner of the ship or

while doing one of these excursions, you’ll get

a glimpse of whales, penguins, and of course

the gorgeous white scenery that shows off all

of the glory of this spectacular continent.

s A LT F L AT v O LC A N O E s B I R D WAT C H I N g B O TA N I C A LpA R k

LO O kO u T/p H O T O s I T E

A s T R O N O M Y B E A C HC R u I s E s H I pT E R M I N A L

N AT I O N A LpA R k

N AT u R A LM O N u M E N T

F LO R A A N D FA u N A / N AT u R E

R E s E R v E

g E Y s E R g L A C I A R

n at u r a l i n s P i r at i o n

COMFORT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE LLANQUIHUE

Llanquihue Lake sits at some 17 kilometers to

the north of the city of Puerto Montt, and is

surrounded by picturesque towns likes Puer-

to Varas, Frutillar, Ensenada, and Puerto Oc-

tay. It’s Chile’s second largest lake, providing

a wide range of scenery and activities for any

taste. Whitewater rafting in the area rivers,

hiking the trails of national parks, ascending

the outskirts of Osorno Volcano and trying

your luck at the casino in downtown Puerto

Varas are all on the table.

This area was settled in the 19th century by

German immigrants, who brought their style

and have put their touch in the architecture,

pastries, meats (especially pork), and artisan

beers. Puerto Varas is known as the “City of

Roses,” thanks to the incredible numbers of

this type of flower that decorate its streets.

Boutique hotels, fine handicraft shops, and

gourmet chocolates are on the menu.

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

FOOD & WINE

The morphology, or geographical develop-

ment of Central Chile, nestled between the

Andes Mountains and the Pacific Coast, along

with the four defined seasons, the fertile val-

leys, and special factors like the noticeable dif-

ference between day and night temperatures,

have helped wine production flourish since

the arrival of Spanish Conquistadors.

In the late 1980’s, wine production here began

to use more modern technology and vine-

yards started specializing in the production of

wines that could compete on a world stage. In

just a few short years, Chile has become one

of the world’s top wine exporters and a fantas-

tic producer of premium wines, enhanced by

specialized methods.

Every valley holds its own unique morphologi-

cal and climactic conditions, which nourish

and prime the wines that are crafted there.

For example, the acclaimed Valley of Colcha-

gua is the best producer of red wine varietals

like Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Syr-

ah. In the Valley of Casablanca you’ll find the

best examples of good white wines, including

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

In Chile there are ten wine “routes” according

to their denomination of origin: Aconcagua,

Cachapoal, Casablanca, Colchagua, Curicó,

Elqui, Limarí, Itata, Maipo y Maule, all of which

allow excursions and tours to learn about the

history, the production process for each vari-

etal, and the chance to sample exquisite food

and wine pairings known as a “maridaje”.

Chilean cuisine is a rich mix of old traditions

and ingredients used by the original natives,

with European preparation methods and ten-

dencies, essentially Spanish, which stand out

for their simplicity and purity.

The Pacific Coast is one of Chile’s greatest as-

sets, for the impressive variety of both fish and

seafood. There are traditional recipes that vary

from north to south, with seafood steamed

over hot stones on the ground.

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

Winery tours are already established phenom-

ena, but a new tourism tendency has been

gaining followers lately: tourism that revolves

around the “pisqueras,” or pisco production fa-

cilities, which lets you study the history and

production process of pisco. As the place with

the greatest concentration of grape planta-

tions for making this spirit, the Valley of Elqui

is a prime area for doing a tour.

The tour itself can take up a full day. The con-

trasts found in this Andean valley are striking,

because in the midst of the area’s incredible

dryness, very green grapevines penetrate the

Andean mountain ranges.

Starting the trip in the morning is recom-

mended, and usually this means departing

from La Serena to a stop in Vicuña, 62 kil-

ometers inland. This is the first mandatory

stop, made to visit the Capel Facilities Tourist

Center, one of the town’s primary attractions.

This place has an entire museum dedicated

to pisco, with sample of the very first bottles

crafted by the company. The building contin-

ues to function as a distillery, which permits

observation of how exactly the liquor is pro-

duced in mass quantities.

THE PISCO TRAIL IN THE VALLEY OF ELQUI

F o o D & W i n e

v I N E YA R D s M A R k E T / FA I R

T R A D I T I O N A L C u I s I N E

“La Bicicleta Verde” (The Green Bicycle) has

been around for three years, and since that

time has been enabling foreign tourists visit-

ing Santiago to roam the streets of the city

and nearby vineyards by bicycle, offering a

more environmentally friendly way to explore

the area.

Bike & Wine Tour is the perfect choice for visit-

ing the wine cellars of three of the vineyards

in Alto Maipo. Tastings are done directly from

the barrels of the last winery to be visited,

with the added bonus of the wine being or-

ganic. The official tour includes transporta-

tion to and from the valley, lunch, the moun-

tain bikes, helmets, and wine samples.

The trip starts in Santiago by bus and goes

directly to the Valley of Maipo by way of Pa-

dre Hurtado Road. Upon arrival, the mountain

bike trip runs goes through the premises of

the Huelquén, La Montaña, and Perez Cruz

vineyards. Visitors are granted a private bi-

lingual guide, who informs tourists about

the different excursions. Finally, the field trip

comes to an end with a tasting session of the

most important wines and a picnic style lunch

offering traditional Chilean fare

The Pacific Coast is one of Chile’s greatest

assets, which in terms of its cuisine means

there’s a never-ending array of seafood op-

tions, like the conger eel, hake fish, and sea

bass, which are prepared in many different

ways, plus more unusual treats like Juan Fer-

nandez Island lobster, or the “Pisci” fish from

Easter Island, with unique and unmatched

flavors.

Travelers who come to Chile in search of fresh

seafood have all 4,300 kilometers of beaches

and coast to find it in. Clams, oysters, sea ur-

chins, pearl oysters, and abalones are all on

the menu of the simplest restaurants to local

haute cuisine, with a rich fusion of old tra-

ditions, like the “Curanto de Chiloé,” seafood

that’s steamed over hot stones placed on the

ground.

Barbecued Patagonia Lamb is traditional

treat from the far south, and the meat is slow

cooked over the flames of an outdoor fire,

where the get-together that follows often

ends up getting different groups of travelers

to talk about their latest adventures. One of

the best things to pair the meat up with is

a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from the Valley

of Maipo; these wines have great body and a

complexity that perfectly balances out the fla-

vor of barbecued lamb.

THE VINEYARDS OF MAIPO BY BIKE FLAVORS OF THE SEA

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CULTURE & HERITAGE

Museums, culturally-important buildings,

antique churches, plazas, and parks, artisan

centers, and picturesque restaurants offering

traditional home style fare, all mix with the

daily hustle and bustle of the cities, and let

you discover not only the history but also the

identity of the people.

The native peoples, Spanish Conquistadors,

and European colonists (who mostly arrived

from the 19th century onward) have shaped

the cultural heritage of Chile. This blend of

cultures is reflected in the history, cuisine,

architecture, traditions, and identity of Chile.

Chile has a fascinating past from north to

south, with native peoples like the Chinchor-

ro, who were the first to mummify corpses

in the world with a complex system of death

rituals, or the Andean tribes that left their

mark in stone with their petro glyphs and

geoglyphs, or cultures like the Yámanas and

Kawéskar that lived by the Patagonian and

Tierra del Fuego channels, who braved the

chilly local climate naked, or of course the Ma-

puche (People of the Earth), who successfully

resisted the Spanish Conquistadors for over

350 years; all of these groups are direct ances-

tors who formed part of the mixed blood-line

between themselves and the Spanish, and cre-

ated the Chilean national identity.

The islands of Chile have developed their own

identity and culture. The Island of Chiloé, for

example, is known for its food and mythology.

The “palafitos,” colorful houses built on “stilts,”

or posts over water, are one of the big draws

on the island, as well as its churches, all of

which were constructed with wood between

the 18th and 19th centuries. There are a hun-

dred or so of them, but only 16 were declared

World Heritage Monuments by UNESCO.

Easter Island is undoubtedly one of human-

ity’s great treasures. The Rapa Nui society is

divided into distinct tribes and classes, first

emphasizing religiosity by worshipping their

ancestors (represented by the Moai statues),

and then adoring a bird man. Today the spirit

of this unique and fascinating culture lives in

the traditions of the island’s inhabitants.

Chile has 5 cultural sites that considered World

Heritage Monuments: the churches of Chiloé,

Easter Island, Humberstone, Sewell, and Val-

paraíso. The last one is the city known as the

cultural capital of the country, due to the fre-

quent artistic and music festivals and because

of the hundreds of writers, painters, and de-

signers gathered there, who have fallen in

love with the city’s hills, full of small, winding

streets, steep stairs, old cable car elevators,

overlooks, and colorful houses.

Humberstone and Sewell are a testimony to

the importance of mining in this country. The

first was a small city constructed in 1862 for

nitrate mining. Sewell was founded in 1915

by North American businessmen for copper

companies. It arose right in the middle of the

Andean mountains and is known as the “City

of the Stairs.”

The more than 600 known Moais (Polynesian

island statues) that were carved by the an-

cient Rapa Nui are spread out throughout the

island. The majority of them were sculpted on

the quarries of the volcano Rano Raraku.

You can view the giant statues (some meas-

ure over 8 meters tall) by heading up the trails

the join this part of the national park. From

the same spot there’s an incredible panoramic

view towards the ocean and the Tongariki

ceremonial site. The island has some of the

world´s clearest waters, and anyone who

wants to take a dip in them by scuba diving

will enjoy visibility that ranges from 30 to 60

meters deep. The underwater marine topog-

raphy is impressive, and full of caves, cliffs,

arches, and coral reef fields.

The marine life includes more than 130 species

of fish. Apart from the fact that it’s an impor-

tant archeological site (declared by UNESCO

as a World Heritage site in 1995), a big draw

is the culture and its traditions, which have

been well maintained and are celebrated an-

nually in a February ceremony known as Ta-

pati.

THE FASCINATING EASTER ISLAND CULTURE

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C u lt u r e & H e r i ta g e

A R C H A E O LO gY E T H N O -T O u R I s M F O L k LO R EW O R L DH E R I TA g E s I T E

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There’s no other country in the world that con-

tains as many projects of global importance re-

lated to astronomical observation than Chile.

On the plains of Chajnantor, just a few kilom-

eters from San Pedro de Atacama, there are 66

giant parabolic antennas that are 12 meters in

diameter, all of which are part of the ALMA

project, (meaning Atacama Large Millimeter

Array) a set of telescopes used for viewing the

largest astronomical images in the world.

The cities of Coquimbo and La Serena, located

about 470 kilometers to the north of Santiago,

are a hub of tourism, thanks to being set on

the coast and enjoying a warm climate that

consistently attracts thousands of visitors. La

Serena is the gateway to astronomical tour-

ism, all within an area uniting observatories

for star gazing, all under the cleanest and

clearest skies in the Southern Hemisphere.

CHILE AS A WORLD ASTRONOMICAL POWER

Valparaíso is Chile’s primary port, and from any

one of its steeply-inclined streets you’ll enjoy a

privileged view of the bay that bears the same

name and the Pacific Ocean. Its architectural

wonders, built on the sides of steep hills, man-

aged to earn the city the status of a Human

Cultural Heritage Site from UNESCO in 2003.

Several of these old buildings are elegant bou-

tique hotels today that, along with restau-

rants that offer foods from around the world

have revitalized the alleys and streets of this

city. The city’s touristic and cultural offerings,

avant garde in design, are the perfect location

for spending a weekend delighting the senses.

One of the main points of interest is the hun-

dred year old cable car elevators that go up and

down the 44 hills that comprise Valparaíso.

From “Cerro Alegre” (Happy Hill) you can head

your way down to the Sotomayor Plaza in one

of these historic elevators. Hemmed in by a

blue building used by the Naval Command, the

Prat Pier, a Customs office, and the railroad

station, this is the heart of the city. On top

of “Cerro Bellavista” (Beautiful View Hill) you’ll

encounter “La Sebastiana,” one of the three

houses once owned by Nobel Laureate Pablo

Neruda.

Another option is to go by foot, up and down

the countless sets of stairs to catch a glimpse

of the street murals or by paying a visit to the

Open Sky Museum.

A CULTURAL HERITAGE VISIT TO VALPARAÍSO

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

HEALTH & WELLNESS

In Chile there’s a huge variety of scenery and

natural attractions, and many of them have

yet to be altered or affected by humans. In the

middle of remote places, you can find mystic

valleys, hot springs, and spas and hotels exclu-

sively focused on your wellbeing and ready to

help you get some R & R.

Having more than 4,000 kilometers of moun-

tains and around 500 active volcanoes, a

shared feature found from the Atacama Desert

down to the Patagonia area is the hot springs,

ranging from rustic natural wells like Purita-

ma or Cahuelmó, to luxurious resort centers

like Jahuel, Malalcahuello, Chillán, Puyehue,

and Puyuhuapi.

The lakes and volcanoes “Macrozona” has the

densest concentration of hot springs in South

America, and they stand out especially thanks

to the natural beauty of native forests and

the healing properties of the waters. Plus, in

places like Chillán, Araucanía Andina, Pucón,

and Puyehue, you can relax and enjoy both hot

springs and winter sports and their respective

modern ski resorts.

Spirituality and mysticism make their mark in

Chile too. In the north, in the Valley of Elqui,

there are places dedicated to alternative me-

dicinal therapies and meditation, and even

with air conditioned rooms perfect for doing

some of the star gazing that the area is fa-

mous for. The valley is also known as an area

that attracts believers in UFOs.

The extreme south is one of the primary loca-

tions for enjoying every bit of what nature has

to offer. One of the best ways to admire the

scenery of the Patagonia, the Tierra del Fuego,

and Antarctica is onboard a cruise ship expe-

dition, that promises all of the usual creature

comforts of a conventional cruise ship, but

whose mission is to get up close and gaze

upon the beautiful fjords, wildlife, and enjoy

the enchantment of the forests and glaciers at

the end of the world.

The main tourist draws, like Santiago, Easter

Island, San Pedro de Atacama, and the Patago-

nia, all boast a thoroughly modern hotel in-

frastructure with spas, where you’ll notice the

use of natural products from the Earth itself,

such as for alternative therapies that use al-

gae, thermal mud (mud from the hot springs),

and even wine.

The facilities of a place known as Lawenkon

Spa are inside the biological reserve of Huilo

Huilo, which has everything that you can im-

agine at your disposal to relax, like an indoor

climate-controlled pool, hydro massages, Ja-

cuzzis, hydro “therapy” and a sauna. Huilo Hu-

ilo lies at a distance of about 860 kilometers

from Santiago y has roughly 100,000 hectares

of temperate, wet forest.

Within the reserve’s territory, there’s a place

called Baobab Hotel & Spa, a building that

looks (intentionally) almost exactly like a

tree, and the Montaña Mágica Lodge, a hotel

shaped like a volcano that the British daily The

Guardian considers to be one of the world’s

most attention-grabbing structures. A new-

comer is the Nawelpi Lodge, with 12 luxury

suites that are made of wood and stone, with

a view of the native forest and set near the

banks of the River Fuy.

TOTAL RELAXATION IN HUiLO HUiLO

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

THE HOT SPRINGS OF PURITAMA

HOT SPRINGS AT THE “VENTISQUERO DE PUYUHUAPI”

Thirty kilometers to the north of San Pedro

de Atacama is where you’ll find the “Termas

de Puritama” (Puritama Hot Springs), derived

from waters that come to the surface at 33.5

degrees latitude from a river that bears the

same name. The environment is rural, but

the sensation of taking a bath at 3,500 me-

ters (11,500 feet) above sea level in the middle

of nowhere is very unique experience in the

midst of the countryside of the Atacama De-

sert. Wooden runways connect the different

parts of the natural springs, and while you re-

lax in the thermal waters, guides will set up a

diverse and bountiful picnic that enhances the

high altitude experience; definitely a must see

in this oasis of the Chilean north.

Right in the midst of Chile’s amazing Patagon-

ian scenery, you’ll find the natural hot spring

pools “Termas de Puyuhuapi,” with a tempera-

ture between 35° and 44° Celsius (95° and 111°

F) and perfect for relaxing after a long day of

hiking to the Hanging Glaciers. The best part

of this is that during the summer season you

can soak up the warm waters while admiring

the clear night skies endowed with a seem-

ingly infinite array of stars.

The area of Puyuhuapi is surrounded by thou-

sand year old forests with an impressively

diverse range of native species, such as the

unique “coigüe” (Chilean Cherry) and the tepa

tree, which is found in roughly the southern

half of the country. The Queulat and Laguna

del Puma National Parks are ideal for forest

walks along quiet paths that boast the “nal-

cas”, Chilean rhubarb, and “chilco”, Chilean

fuchsia.

Hot Springs El Ventisquero de Puyuhuapi

H e a lt H & W e l l n e s s

H O T s p R I N g M E D I TAT I O NC E N T E R

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

LEISURE & LIFESTYLE

Santiago is in. It’s also growing in terms of

its cultural offerings, cuisine, nightlife, and

designer hotels, and has recently been high-

lighted in prominent media outlets and tour-

ism guides throughout the world.

“Best tourist destination to visit in 2011”.

The New York Times.

“Santiago, Chile is constantly renewed at the

pace of museums, tea salons, art galleries, and

a thousand leisure activities.”

Supplement Ocholeguas, El Mundo

“Santiago Chile has reinvented itself (…) Today

it wins points with its galleries, festivals, and

prestigious chefs. Take a trip to this new cos-

mopolitan star.”

Der Spiegel

“Santiago se mueve con una energía conta-

giosa y una creciente confianza”.

LonelyPlanet.

Even the British magazine Dazed and Con-

fused chose Santiago, together with Paris,

Rome, Moscow, Munich, Dubai, and Shangai

for its project called Satellite Voices, a web

site dedicated to sharing the latest events in

these mega cities: some of the world’s most

active.

Cultural centers, theaters, art galleries, librar-

ies, film and documentary festivals, massive

concert events like Lollapalooza-Santiago was

chosen as the first city outside of the US for

this multiday concert to take place-and the ac-

claimed Museum of Fashion, have all turned

Chile’s capital city into an important artistic

mecca in South America.

Santiago’s cuisine can’t go without mention-

ing either, with its huge selection of bars,

pubs, and gourmet restaurants, where the

main event is seafood and fish, meats, and

international delights, always paired with the

best local wines. Some districts and neighbor-

hoods known for food and a bohemian atmos-

phere that should be highlighted are Bellavis-

ta, Lastarria, República, Yungay, Brasil, Concha

y Toro, Italia, and the Nueva Costanera.

But the arts, haute cuisine, and nightlife don’t

stay just in Santiago. Valparaíso, with its dis-

tinctive design and architecture, complements

the affair with open air artistic festivals, bou-

tique hotels, gourmet restaurants, and dozens

of artist workshops, independent sculptors

and designers, and a healthy array of nightlife

GETTING LOST IN THE HILLS OF VALPARAÍSO

The emblematic Chilean port town offers a

lifestyle that remains on the cutting edge of

trends in all things related to food, design and

the development of boutique hotels. Going up

and down the hills in the open air is a true

cultural experience, and it’s something you

can feel in each and every nook and cranny.

Bars, cafeterias, museums, restaurants, and,

of course, the old cable car elevators, are all

part of the charm of this gorgeous port city

and its unspoiled view of the Pacific Ocean.

The city’s architectural creations, with eve-

rything built on hillsides, earned the city the

status of a Human World Heritage Monument

by UNESCO in 2003. But in order to enjoy

the city, you have to be willing to go up and

down steep stairs or enjoy the ride in one of

the hundred year old cable car elevators that

traverse parts of the 44 hills comprising the

“cultural capital of Chile”.

The literary works of Chilean Nobel Laureate

Pablo Neruda have staunch links to the sea.

The inspirational elements of his homes all

face towards infinite horizons in the direc-

tion of the sea. Valparaíso was a place with

great significance for him and some of the

establishments and sites that he frequently

visited during strolls through the port city still

remain.

The restaurant Menzel and antique shop El

Abuelo harbor more than just memories of

get- together and past reunions, but also are

part of a history that’s one of Valparaiso’s

strengths as a tourist destination.

options along the coastal hills.

This nocturnal bohemia also pervades cities

like Iquique, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, La Ser-

ena, Viña del Mar, Concepción, Valdivia, Temu-

co, and Puerto Natales. To top it off, the party

continues with plenty of modern casinos that

dot the landscape in or near the country’s

most important cities.

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

Today this small city in the middle of the wilds

of the Patagonia has turned into a true food

mecca that draws thousands of foreign tour-

ists to its streets. It’s a place where a stop to

visit on the way to Torres del Paine isn’t op-

tional.

The boutique hotels, which took advantage of

the building boom of the start of the 20th cen-

tury, are a testament to the regional expan-

sion and the gastronomic revolution currently

taking place in Puerto Natales

Many of the new “colonists” in Puerto Natales

are young entrepreneurs following their pas-

sion for good food. They mix the best ingredi-

ents from the sea, the land and its incredible

surroundings, and a high quality of life.

They make sure that each dish and each bev-

erage contain something that gives you the

sensation that you are truly enjoying what life

has to offer in a unique corner of the world.

The food says a lot about both the history and

the people of the city.

PUERTO NATALES AND ITS CULINARY RENAISSANCE

The best method for exploring a city is by

simply walking down its streets. Regardless

of municipal boundaries (in Chile each inde-

pendent city is called a “comuna”), Santiago

has many neighborhoods and areas that were

created in different ways by social interaction.

Some of these neighborhoods include high

value architectural styles (in historical terms

at least) and have become city icons.

The mere act of roaming their streets is like a

trip down memory lane. In “Barrio Italia” (the

“Italy District”), a traditional neighborhood in

the municipality of Providencia, for example,

there are no real multistory buildings, but in-

stead rows of antique facades from the early

20th century in the front walls of the houses

that have been converted into restaurants and

design shops.

In this area there are twenty something fur-

niture restoration shops where workers toil

away outside on the sidewalks, giving the

area a special touch. The neighborhood has a

selection of restaurants ranging from Italian

food to German, Indian, and even Russian,

plus small art galleries, bars, kiosks where you

can buy flowers and gourmet cafeterias.

Between “Parque Forestal” and General Ber-

nardo O’Higgins Avenue (known locally as “la

Alameda”) there’s a gem called “Barrio Lastar-

ria” (the Lastarria Neighborhood) and its main

street, José Victorino Lastarria, a small oasis

of tranquility in the middle of the busyness of

downtown Santiago. The recipe, however, is

the same: food and culture. The pride and joy

of this district is the Museum of Visual Arts,

with contemporary Chilean art collections

from the 1960’s onward. The murals of Chilean

painter Roberto Matta, next to the plaza Mu-

lato Gil, should not be missed.

ROAMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF SANTIAGO ON FOOT

l e i s u r e & l i F e s t Y l e

C A s I N O s H O p p I N gC E N T E R

N I g H TL I F E

When you approach a street called Merced,

you’ll notice the abundance of neoclassi-

cal style buildings, and the next mandatory

stop is a little corner ice cream shop called

“Emporio La Rosa,” and you can even try the

ice cream flavor that’s based on the flower

(“La Rosa,” The Rose) that inspired the shop’s

name.

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

WHAT IS TURISMO CHILE?

CONTACT US!

Turismo Chile is a nonprofit organization that

joins the forces of both the public and private

sectors to promote Chile as a tourist destina-

tion in the global markets. Its efforts consist

of streamlining these forces to improve the

cost benefit ratio, and promoting Chile in-

ternationally, while its management goal is

to achieve on one hand create an awareness

of Chile as a great tourist destination, along

with the commercialization of associated

tourism company. Its main mission, from the

first day of operations in 1994, is to position

Chile in global tourism circles as a stable, safe,

exciting, and attractive destination.

For more information, please visit out web

site:

www.chile.travel

Media center contact:

prensa@turismochile.travel

+56 · 2 · 429 08 30

PRESSKIT ENGLISH

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