spotlight:  chile

Chile is located on South America's Pacific coastline, and stretches 2700 miles in length and is 110 miles wide.  It is a beautiful country with distinctly different regions, from the driest desert in the world located in the northern part of the country to world class wineries in the central valleys and volcanoes, lakes and spectacular wilderness in the south.  The climate is as diverse as the land - experience blistering heat in the Atacama Desert, chilling winds in the Patagonia region, sunny days on the beaches of the Pacific coast and a Mediterranean climate in the central valleys.

For more information on Chile, check out these websites:
Travel Chile - Santiago Tourist - Chilean Ski - Chilean Wine
GEOGRAPHIC ZONES
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is the second most popular tourist attraction in Chile, just behind Easter Island.  It is the highest and driest desert in the world - 100 times more arid than Death Valley. 

Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) sits in the Atacama Desert, and is one of the most visited areas of the desert.  Over many centuries, winds and floods have turned the sand and stone into a landscape that mimics the moon. 

The North is also known for its copper mining, salt flats, hot springs and numerous astronomical observatories. Crystal clear skies and 300 cloudless days annually has made the area a hotbed for astro-tourism.  One third of the planets telescopes are located here.

Atacama Desert and Northern itineraries are great for adventure travelers, astronomy, archeology and photography buffs and nature lovers. 
Santiago, Valparaiso and Central Valleys
Santiago, Chile's largest city and capital has more than 6 million residents, approximately 40% of the total population.  Located in the center of the country, Santiago is the gateway for international flights and flights north and south. 

Santiago is  2-3 hours from the Pacific coast beaches of Vina del Mar and the port city of Valparaiso, Chile's principal seaport.  Valparaiso is known for it's colorful houses that sit on the steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific.   Santiago is only 45 minutes from world class skiing in the Andes, which have become  training grounds for both European and North American Olympic teams.
Chile's central valleys boast some of the world's best wineries.  Now one of the world's largest exporters of wine, Chile is known for its Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère,  Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Lakes and Volcanoes
About 250 miles south of Santiago sits Chile's Lake District.  Many Germans emigrated to the area between 1846 -1914 and the scenery is likened to Switzerland with its many lakes, rivers and mountains.  Puerto Montt is located in the German Euorpean Zone and is known for its salmon and microbrews.

These inland lakes are attractive to those who like to swim, sunbathe, kayak and sail.  High quality fly fishing is available October - May.

Chile is home to over 2000 volcanoes, most being dormant or extinct.  50+ volcanoes are located in the Lakes District region.  While eruptions are rare, they do happen, some as recent as 2015.
Patagonia 
Over half of Chile's Patagonia is protected wilderness and a natural backdrop for trekking, mountain biking, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking and rafting.
Puerto Natales is the gateway to the Torres del Paine National Park - rugged and beautiful mountains which sit in the southern portion of Patagonia. 
Punta Arenas is the starting point for sailings through the Chilean fjords and the Beagle Channel.
Easter Island
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui to its to the local indigenous population, sits 2300 miles off the coast of Chile, about half way to Tahiti.  It is one of the most remote inhabited islands.

The first inhabitants of the island are believed to have been from  Polynesia.  Today the economy is sustained by tourism.  The primary draw are the moais, massive stone monuments, which are over 800 years old. The stone statues average 13 feet high and weigh 13 tons.  It is still a mystery as to how so many were built and how they were moved to the island.