Chile travel guide

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CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA - TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE
ARICA, CALAMA, PUCON & PUERTO MONTT

Chile travel guide

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Antofagasta - Algarrobo - Arica - Calama - Castro - Concepción - Concón - Coquimbo - Isla de Pascua (Easter Island)
 - Hanga Roa - Iquique - La Serena - Pichilemu - Pucón - Puerto Montt - Puerto Natales - Puerto Varas - Punta Arenas
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CHILE TRAVEL GUIDE:

Travel Guide to Chile:

5 Fun Facts to Know About Chile
A Hiking Guide to Easter Island
Chile: Land of Poets
Chile Travel: Visiting the Lake District from Puerto Varas
Chile Travel Destinations & Places To Visit in Chile
Concepcion Guide
Discover the beauty of San Pedro de Atacama
History and Growth of Santiago de Chile
History of Chile
Sightseeing in Punta Arenas - Chile
Revealing the Valleys of Chile
Swept Away In Santiago De Chile
The Mythology of Easter Island
Travel to Valparaiso, Chile

Chile: Land of Poets   by Denisse Romero

Chile - a land of poets and wine, a land of contrasting beauty, a land as romantic as some its famous citizens: Pablo Neruda, Gabriela Mistral, Isabel Allende. Considered the longest country in the world, this South American nation offers a diversity of landscapes and travel opportunities from the Andes mountains to the Pacific Ocean, from Easter Island to the Antarctic, from fine vineyards to world-class ski resorts.

Chile travel guide

Where to Go

Northern Chile is known for its desert and coastal towns. Some of the most popular beaches are located in this area. Iquique and Arica are tax-free zones booming with commercial and touristic activities. La Serena and Los Vilos offer remarkable natural surroundings with large beaches and popular resorts.

Central Chile is popular for its fine vineyards, colorful ports and world-class ski resorts. This region is also famous for being home to Viña del Mar (Sea Vineyard) and its renown international music festival which takes place in February each year. Viña del Mar is a wonderful destination for most tourists - the city offers beautiful mansions, luxurious hotels, parks and gardens, theater, and sporting facilities as well as many beaches. Valparaiso, the most important port in Chile, is one of the largest cities in the country. Valparaiso is full of picturesque landscapes including hills, quarters, creeks, beaches, and romantic streets. Santiago, the capital, is a commercial center surrounded by nature - the San Cristobal and Santa Lucia hills border the city. 

Santiago, Chile

A couple of kilometers from Santiago, you will find Cajon del Maipo, an eco-tourism center where you can enjoy adventure sports, mountains, hot springs, vineyards, and export-quality wines.

The South is famous for its fjords, glaciers and forests. In this region you will find interesting cities such as Valdivia, which is known for its early German settlers and traditions. Puerto Montt, made famous internationally by a popular song, is a bathing resort with beaches, hotels and restaurants that specialize in seafood and typical Chilean food. Further south you will find winter towns such as Cohaique, which is known for its museums and nature reserves, and Puerto Natales, which is known for its touristic infrastructure and its proximity to Torres del Paine National Park. Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities in the world, offers a world-class ski center and serves as a departure point for Antarctic expeditions.

Chilean islands include Easter Island, Robinson Crusoe, Chiloe and Tierra del Fuego. Easter Island, located approximately 3,700 km west of Chile, is also known as "Rapa Nui" in their native language or Isla de Pascua in Spanish. The island is famous for its large stone statues, Moai, which were carved by the island ancestors between 1100 and 1600 CE. Easter Island is also known for its Polynesian identity, beautiful coral beach, and adventurous diving.

Robinson Crusoe Island, located on the Pacific Ocean at the same latitude as Valparaiso, has a unique development of flora and fauna and beautiful touristic areas.

Easter Island, Chile

What to Eat

Chile is particularly known for its wine, seafood and empanadas (turnovers). Lots of restaurants will offer typical Chilean food which consists of empanadas de pino (beef turnovers with onion, raisins, egg, and olives), empanadas de queso (deep fried turnovers filled with cheese), cazuelas (rice and meat soups), porotos granados (stew made with beans and corn), and curanto (a typical dish made of seafood, beef, chicken, pork, potatoes, and cheese). 

American fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King, and other chains can also be found in the big cities.

Where to Study

Chile is a preferred study abroad destination. It is common for students from European or North American colleges and universities to take interdisciplinary studies in Spanish in one of its many reputed universities.

  • Universidad de Chile
  • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
  • Universidad de Concepcion
  • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
  • Universidad de Santiago de Chile
  • Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Visas & Documents

Although American citizens need a passport to visit Chile, no visa is necessary. Citizens of many countries must pay a "reciprocity fee" of varying amounts. This fee is equivalent to the amount that country requires for entry visas from Chilean citizens. The fee is for tourists entering by plane, and the one-time charge is good for the life of your passport. Further information can be provided by the Consulate of Chile in your country of residence.

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About the Author: Denisse Romero is the founder of www.macquil.com - A Study Abroad and Travel Portal 
Arica is a commune and a port city with a population of 185,269 in the Arica Province of northern Chile's Arica and Parinacota Region, located only 18 km (11 mi) south of the border with Peru. The city is the capital of both the Arica Province and the Arica and Parinacota Region. Known as the "city of the eternal spring", it was originally a part of Peru but it was lost after the Treaty of Ancon as part of the results of the War of the Pacific..... read more
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Calama is a city and commune in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It is the capital of El Loa Province, part of the Antofagasta Region. Calama is one of the driest cities in the world with average annual precipitation of just 5 mm (0.20 in). The River Loa, Chile's longest, flows through the city. Calama has a population of 143,000 (2005 census).  At an elevation of 2,260 m (7,400 ft), Calama is the gateway to the geological and archaeological wonders of Chile’s high central desert. Some of these places of interest include: the town of Chuquicamata, the village of San Pedro de Atacama, Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), the Licancabur volcano, R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum, Los Flamencos National Reserve, the Aguas Calientes salt flat, the Tuyajto lagoon, the El Tatio Geysers, the village of Chiu-Chiu...... read more
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Pucón (Mapudungun: "entrance of the cordillera") is a Chilean city and commune administered by the municipality of Pucón located in the Province of Cautín, Araucanía Region, 100 km to the southeast of Temuco and 780 km to the south of Santiago.

Pucón's unrivaled location by a lake and a volcano and quite stable weather (especially in the summer) make it a popular destination for tourists. It offers a variety of sports and adventure/recreational activities for tourists, including water skiing, snow skiing, backpacking, white water rafting and kayaking, horse back riding, natural hot springs, zip line rides, and guided ascents of Villarrica volcano...... read more

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Puerto Montt, made famous internationally by a popular song, is a bathing resort with beaches, hotels and restaurants that specialize in seafood and typical Chilean food.

Puerto Montt is a fast growing city in the south of Chile, just north of Chiloé Island. It boasts great views of the ocean and towering peaks of the andes, and is a centre for travellers heading further south along the carretera austral, or east to Argentina.  The area along the beach near the bus station is pleasant for a walk with things along the way to entertain you. Walking east you'll get great views, especially at sunset, from the hills there.  A good place to have some seafood is at the fishing community of Angelmó. Along with the seafood market there are some restaurants. There are also a lot of options for shopping Mapuche craftworks.

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