Elqui Valley is located in northern Chile and is one of the country’s premiere tourist regions. It is one of the continent’s best regions for stargazing and ‘astro-tourism’, with excellent observatory tours available that take in the impressively-designed Observatorio Mamalluca and Observatorio La Silla. The Elqui Valley is also famous for its production of pisco, a brandy-like liquor, and there are many pisquerias (distilleries) in the region between La Serena and Vicuna, where you can sample the popular local drink. The Elqui Valley also boasts the Gabriela Mistral Museum - the former home of the Nobel Prize-winning poet - and the Cerveceria Guayacan, an exceptionally popular craft brewery. Horseback tours of the valley are also highly recommended, as are the numerous campgrounds spread throughout this scenic region.
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.
Resting just 1.5 hours from the capital city of Santiago, Valparaiso (or Valpo as it has been affectionately dubbed by locals) is one of a string of coastal resort towns on Chile’s magnificent central coast. What sets Valparaiso apart from its neighbours is its charming collection of ramshackle, colourful houses spilling chaotically down its 45 steep 'cerros' (hillsides). While Valparaiso lacks white-sand beaches, it certainly makes up for it with its endlessly charming quirky character, its thriving street art scene, its fantastic funicular railway system and its spectacular seaside views. To see Valparaiso at its bohemian best, visit at the end of December during its week-long carnival festivities which typically ends in a jaw-dropping New Year’s Eve spectacle of fireworks.
Located in southwest Mendoza, along the beautiful Tunuyan River, the Uco Valley is renowned for its world-class Argentinian wine. Fringed by the magnificent Andean Mountain Range, this viticultural area is popular among tourists following the renowned Argentina Wine Route. The valley is considered one of the top wine regions in Argentina. The main reason visitors frequent this spectacular valley is to soak up the surrounding natural beauty and to sample an array of delicious wines in the foothills of the Andes. Popular varieties produced in Uco Valley include: Semillon, Malbec, Bonarda, Barbera as well as Merlot and Pinot Noir. Visitors can spend leisurely days with a glass of wine in hand, soaking up the incredibly breathtaking views.
Situated on Argentina’s stunning Rio de la Plata coast, Buenos Aires is a thriving portside capital defined by a rich history, vibrant culture, and strong European influence - thus nicknamed the Paris of South America. Countless museums covering a cornucopia of subjects; an active theatre culture; carnivorous buffets second to none; sensuous tango performances; a mosaic of architecture; and shops to fit all fancies – all these facets and more make up the seductive blend that is Buenos Aires. Some of the city’s highlights include the buzz of the La Bombonera Stadium; tango and milonga venues like the Bohemian La Catedral; and heritage architecture such as that at the Cementerio de la Recoleta, where visitors can wander through a ‘city’ of massive statues and marble mausoleums. Don’t miss the International Festival of Independent Cinema and the vibrant annual Pride Parade.
