5 Places You Must Visit When In Chile

Stretching from dry, dusty desert to ice-cold glaciers, this 4,270-kilometre (2,653-mile) long, thin country boasts plenty of outstandingly beautiful places. Becoming more and more attractive to travellers, this country has been on adventure travellers’ bucket lists for years. Discover the best destinations to visit.

* Torres del Paine National Park

The towering peaks of the Torres are the perfect reward after a tough hike. With jade-green glacial waters, you really couldn’t make its stunning beauty up. Photos make this natural masterpiece look incredible, but you really have to see its sheer size for yourself.

* San Pedro de Atacama

With views that are reminiscent of a scene out of a sci-fi film, this beautiful landscape can be found in the north of Chile. It’s a perfect holiday destination, where you can let the warmth of the thermal baths soothe you, awe at the spurting geysers and watch as some of the world’s most colourful sunsets develop into a celestial sky.

* Santiago

The country’s capital, Santiago, is centred perfectly between the Andes and the Pacific, offering weekends away in the mountains or by the coast. The city has has a rather dark history from the time of the Pinochet dictatorship, but now expresses itself through street art, tradition and culture. Why not time your visit to coincide with the September 18 Fiestas Patrias celebrations?

* Valparaiso

A stomping ground for the poet Pablo Neruda and visual artists alike, this coastal city gives Santiago a run for its money with brimming culture, eye-catching street art and an ever-increasing size. Admire the colourful houses that hang off each other artistically, and marvel at how they are all still intact after so many earthquakes.

* The Wine Valleys

Chile’s not short of vineyards, nor valleys where wine is made. In fact, most of the countryside surrounding Santiago is lined with blossoming vines, which are used to create some of the finest wines in the world. Why not try a tipple of Carménère, Syrah and Pinot Noir, accompanied by some fine Chilean cuisine cooked with local meat, fish and veg?