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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
PRESSKIT ENGLISH
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
PRESSKIT ENGLISH
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
PRESSKIT ENGLISH
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.
10. 11.
14.
12.
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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.
08. 17.09. 18.
01.
04.
02.
05.
03.
06.
07. 16.
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
L A T I R A N A
L A g u N A C E J A R
vA L L E D E L A M u E R T E
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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
010203040506
PRESSKIT ENGLISH
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
s u R F I N g g O L F
s A N D B O A R D I N g s k I I N gT R E k k I N g M O u N TA I NB I k E
C Av I N g k AYA k I N g M O u N TA I N C L I M B I N g
F I s H I N g
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
WAT E R s p O R T s
D I v I N g H O R s E B A C k R I D I N g
PRESSKIT ENGLISH
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
C H A F T s H I s T O R I Cs I T E
M u s E u M C u LT u R A L
C E N T E R
A s T R O N O M I C A L O B s E R vAT I O N
C H u R C H
e t H n i C i t i e s
M A p u C H E
A I M A R A
ATA C A M E ñ O
q u E C H u A
R A pA N u I
A L A C A Lu F E
C O L L A
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8 7,3 1 %
7,0 1 %
3,0 4%
0,8 9 %
0,67 %
0,3 8 %
0,4 6 %
0,24%
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:
+56 · 2 · 429 08 30
PRESSKIT ENGLISH
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www.youtube.com/chiletravelchannel
www.flickr.com/groups/flickrchiletravel/
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