North to South – Holidays to Chile

The thinnest of all South American countries (never more than 150 miles wide) has an abundance of activities to offer, so Holidays to Chile and Easter Island have always been popular to foreigners. Chile drops from North to South on the West side of the continent and at its southern tip is aptly named the end of the world. Patagonia split across Chile and Argentina is a beautiful areas with a varied landscape with wildlife galore and lakes, glaciers and grass lands. It is a great area for trekking and is dominated by the Pucon volcano.

Top Tips for Holidays to Chile

Chile is a rugged mountain laden country with a thin strip of lower lying land right next to the Pacific sea. It is along way from tip to tip, so be prepared to travel by bus or plane to get to the different areas. Below are some of the kind of holidays available to travellers:

Trekking in the Andes

Known as the longest chain of mountains in South America, the Andes run down the spine of South America for 4,500 miles. Ecuador in the north is the starting pioint for this amazing mountain range and they cross many countries including Peru, Bolivia, Chile to Argentina right to the tip of the large landmass. The Andes include some of the world’s highest peaks with over 50 of them soaring to over 6,100 metres.

Trekking holidays to Chile include:

Torres del Paine are stunning to look at, but it is a classic trekking route for those in the know. It is certainly challenging and should not be taken lightly. You can camp on the way up and really get back to nature. This opportunity is in Southern Patagonia.
Trekking up the Fitzroy and Paine
Southern Patagonia treks in the cold wilderness at the end of the earth.
Hiking to see Chile’s deserts, lakes, volcanoes and glaciers on foot

Mountain Biking, Boat Trips and White Water Rafting

Mountain biking in Chile is quite specialist and there aren’t many tour operators offering this type of holiday to Chile, but if you are lucky enough to find one you are likely to cycle through the National parks one of which is home to the highest lake in the world and the massive salt lake Salar de Surire. Remember there is less oxygen up there so you will get out of breath easier.

A fjord cruise is a must and allows you to weave through the island archipelagos taking in the spectacular scenery.

Where there are mountains there are rivers and the river Futaleufu is a serious challenge to any white water enthusiast. Starting high in the Argentinian national park it flows west into Chile. The water is freezing and incredibly clear, trips start in different places depending on the groups level of skill, but all end up close to the coastal town of Chaiten.

Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert known to be the driest place in the world due to its location. It is a place of outstanding natural beauty. It is peaceful and a nature lovers paradise. There are a number of eco-lodges available for travellers and all offer a brilliant ecotourism holiday.

Santiago

Santiago is the capital of Chile and has survived many earthquakes since its inception. It is roughly in the middle of the country and lies on the Pacific coast. The city has grown to a population of over 5 million. It is a place of beauty as well as an industrial powerhouse. Many of the buildings have a European/Spanish feel to them and have been there since the conquistadors came and conquered. Santiago has many parks and public plazas, as well as a great choice of restaurants and bars. The beaches are spectacular and just a short drive away is the Portillo ski resort.  Also within driving distance are many vineyards and there are many wine tours including one to the famous Concha y Toro. For a top 10 list of things to do click here.

About Chile

The Pacific coastline of Chile is over 6000km long an it runs up the western side of the South American continent. It borders Argentina to the East and Peru/Bolivia to the North and North East. Chile claims nearly half a million square miles of Antarctica and the famous Easter Island. Southern Chile is rich in forests, lakes and grasslands whilst to the north it boasts the atacama desert the driest place on earth.

Chile has lots to offer the eco tourist and is recognised by many of the world large responsible travel organisations. IF you are looking for beautiful and varied scenery, some sports activities and wine tasting then this is the holiday for you.

Things to do and places to visit in Chile

Holidays to Chile – Review of Easter Island Tour

A holiday to Chile wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Easter Island, which to this day is still a magical place and has a aire of mystery surrounding its history. It is triangular in shape and is only 25km in its longest width. It has 3 extinct volcanos one in each corner of the island. Its named after the day that Europeans discovered it (Easter Sunday). To local natives it is known as Rapa Nui. It is completely isolated from anywhere in the middle of the Pacific ocean about 3700+km from the mainland of Chile. The island is a place of natural beauty and is in effect a living museum with 887 Moai statues in total carved in the quarry and moved to their final resting places. These sculptures which look like human heads, link Easter Island with pre-historic cultures, which provides an insight into the idea that it was a sacred place. Each statue is unique and range in size from 2 metres to a massive 20 metre statue.

There a limited flights from Santiago to Easter Island which makes the trip even more exclusive. You can stay in one of the limited hotels on the island and 3 days is ample time to expolre and take in the wonders that this small island has to offer.

A truely incredibly experience, you will never forget a visit to this amazing Island.