The South American country Chile provides landscapes of a wide range: the Atacama Desert in the north, fjords and glaciers in the south and lakes, forests and volcanoes near Puerto Montt. In some of the most beautiful parks you can experience gentle or even more demanding hiking tours. If you are in for an adventure, you can do a trekking tour for a couple of days in Torres del Paine National Park or ascend the highest mountain in South America – the Aconcagua.
The Spanish colonialists are responsible for the country´s language and the fact that today 95 % of the people are of European descent.
Due to the oblong extent of the country, you find various climate zones. In the southern parts, the climate is rather wet. Rains are not unfamiliar during the whole year. Because of the Humboldt Current, it is rather cold. In the summer (our winter), temperatures reach 11°C, whereas in the winter (our summer) temperatures around 4°C are common. In the central region you find an almost Mediterranean climate. The temperatures in winter reach mild 11°C, and in summer up to 28°C. The Atacama Desert on the Peruvian border in the north is one of the driest regions worldwide. Here, the temperatures are higher than in the rest of the country. Out in the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island politically belongs to Chile. The island has subtropical climate with occasional heavy rainfalls. The temperature remains between 18°C and 28°C throughout the year.
Ideal for a vacation to Chile are the local summer months from October to April. This applies at least for journeys to the cooler south of the country – to Patagonia. High season for travelling are the months December and January. The Atacama Desert and the Easter Island can be visited all year round.
We catched some destinations you have to see when in Chile from the Chile section of the well known European travel agency Intakt-Reisen:
- The capital Santiago
- Patagonia including Torres del Paine
- the harbor city Puerto Montt
- Atacama desert
- Aconcagua – the highest South American peak
- Easter Island
Santiago: The capital with more than 6 million inhabitants is a very vivid city. It is situated in a valley of the Rio Mapocho. Sites to see are the pedestrian shopping zone “Paseo Ahumada”, the Mercado Central (central market) and the “Plaza de Armas”, a square in the center of the city. To the east of the capital, on the Maipio plain, you find the best wine cellars in Chile.
Patagonia: This region is situated next to its namesake in Argentina, in the southern part of Chile. One of the highlights of Patagonia is the Torres del Paine National Park, where bizarre granite pillars loom to the sky more than 2,000 m high – almost vertical! Within the park, you can see the “Salto Grande” waterfall near Lake Nordenskjöld on the Paine River, the famous Grey Glacier, dark forests and lakes of emerald colour. Take a cruise to visit the penguins from the harbor of Puerto Natales.
Puerto Montt: Approximately 1,100 km south of the capital, this harbour city was founded by German immigrants in 1853. The town serves as starting point for excursions to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park with the marvelous crater of the Osorno volcano and beautiful Lake of All Saints.
Atacama: The desert consists of impressive salt lakes, geysers and volcanoes. Here you can find wild living lamas, alpacas and flamingoes.
Aconcagua: Ascend the highest mountain in South America, the Aconcagua (6,959 m) in a three-weeks-expedition to the top.
Easter Island: The native people are of Polynesian descent. The island is famous for its hundreds of stone statues, the “Moai”, some of them more than 20 m high. One of the most mysterious places on earth!
