Resting in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and the Chilean Coast Range, Chile’s vibrant, cosmopolitan, the capital city of Santiago is famous for its beautiful parks, a wealth of historical attractions, and exciting arts and music scenes. The Cerro San Cristobal Park, the largest green space in the city, lies on a hill and is reached by a funicular ride. It offers visitors stunning sweeping views of the city, as well as a picturesque botanical garden and two huge swimming pools. The colonial Plaza de Armas, in the old town centre, is a delight to explore with its numerous Neoclassical buildings and museums, most notably the home-turned-museum of renowned poet Pablo Neruda. Visitors can also look forward to wonderful live shows, concerts and exhibitions.
Set close to the tip of Chile's southern Patagonia region, Punta Arenas is the southernmost continental city in the world. Situated on the Strait of Magellan, it is best known as a departure point for trips to Antarctica and other bioceanic travelling. The city's charms, history, tax-free shopping, good travellers' services and hospitality make it a popular destination in its own right. It has much to offer by way of history – visit the Mayorino Borgatello Salesian Museum, the Shepherds Monument 'Monumento al Ovejero', and the Patagonia Institute. Don't miss the Nao Victoria Museum, where visitors can view a full-size replica of the first ship to circumnavigate the world, Ferdinand Magellan's ship 'Victoria'.
Set at the extreme south of Chile, within the Alberto de Agostini National Park, Ainsworth Bay is surrounded by majestic glaciers and lush forests. A wonderful network of hiking and climbing trails leads along the edge of the bay to photogenic streams and enthralling waterfalls. Lucky visitors will spot elephant seals on the shore and a lively range of bird species in the jungle. This area is reached only by boat. A number of cruises are available, providing some excellent photography examples of this unique landscape, which has been nicknamed ‘the end of the earth’.
Located along the breathtaking Chilean Patagonia coast, Pia Glacier offers spectacular views of sparkling white, icy landscapes. Visitors can view the glacier, which compares in size to the country's capital, Santiago, via a guided cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. Lucky visitors can experience the sights and sounds of huge chunks of ice breaking and falling from the enormous structure. The surrounds, some of which can be hiked, are verdant and colourful, decorated with bright red ‘calafate’ berries, yellow lichens and bright green mosses.
The southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Cape Horn, is a breathtaking sight known for its danger. Notorious as a sailor’s graveyard, with icebergs, strong currents, and harsh winds, some 800 shipwrecks lie in the surrounding waters. While yacht race participants and solo sailors may find themselves negotiating the rough waters, organised expeditions (with the blessing of fair weather) round the Cape and stop off on Horn Island, for an experience that has been described as pure paradise. This is also a stopping point for some cruises on their way to Antarctica.
Widely regarded world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia is a strikingly beautiful destination on the southern coastline of Tierra del Fuego Island, backed by mountains and facing onto Beagle channel. The city’s elegant commercial centre offers a variety of cultural and entertainment activities, while its natural location means that adventure enthusiasts are spoilt for choice, with kayaking, skiing, hiking and sailing all on offer. For a more serene excursion, boat cruises are a popular way to view the glacier off Ushuaia’s coast.
Known for its spectacular beauty, Torres Del Paine National Park is a rich biosphere reserve in Chile’s Patagonian region. The park stretches over 242 000 hectares of magnificent landscape, featuring snow-capped mountains, ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, golden grasslands and several lakes that attract a variety of water birds. Three iconic granite pillars of the Torres del Paine tower over the landscape of emerald forests and the impossibly blue lake. Travellers may be able to spot the endemic guanaco llama, Andean condor, foxes, cougars, guanacos, Chilean Huemul, and around 15 birds of prey. Neighbouring Bernardo O'Higgins National Park to the west and the Los Glaciares National Park to the north, Torres Del Paine is the perfect place for extended trips in the Chilean wild.
As previously described
