Resting halfway between Santiago and Valparaiso in Chile, the Casablanca Valley is known for its amazing wines, breathtaking scenery, and variety of adventure sports. The valley is known as one of Chile's best regions for Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, and most of the (huge number of) wineries provide top-notch restaurants, enabling visitors to indulge in delicious wine-pairing menus. The landscape boasts massive snow-capped purple mountains, expanses of sprawling vineyards, and picturesque cycling and hiking trails through the forests. Visitors can paraglide over the region, or take a guided tour to the stunning, snowy Reservoir El Yeso in the Andes. Those looking for a little city buzz can head to the theatres, markets and nightlife of nearby Santiago, while those looking for something a little different can explore the beaches, galleries and fishing villages of Valparaiso.
Located in Chile west of South America’s Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert is a desolate wonderland of dramatic scenery and captivating attractions. Its remote landscapes range from the pale beauty of salt flats dotted with the ostentatious pinks of flamingos and the surreal, steamy landscape of the Tatio geysers at sunrise, to the bizarre rock formations of Moon Valley and the ancient archaeological sites of Tulor and Quitor Pukara. The region’s culture is unique and welcoming, and an abundance of small villages continue to practise timeless traditions among the often extreme, although highly photogenic, terrain. One of the favourite activities in the area is stargazing, as the desert is has the clearest skies in the entire southern hemisphere. The Atacama is also home to one of the most famous astronomical observatories in the northern half of Chile, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array.
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.
A region of glittering cobalt waters, snow-capped volcanic peaks and dense alpine forests, the Lake District is renowned for its exceptional scenic beauty. This attribute – along with its rich indigenous cultures, excellent cuisine, and prolific outdoor and adventure activities – has made it a popular holiday destination with local and foreign tourists alike. Most visitors pass through the towns of Temuco or Puerto Montt to access the area, but its true gems are the numerous national parks with their spectacular vistas. Additional highlight attractions are the towns of Pucón and Puerto Varas, where you can engage in a plethora of extreme sports, dine at a profusion of excellent restaurants, or soak in the healing thermal springs peppering the surrounds.
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.
