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About
Chile:
Chile is the Walt Disney Land of outdoor adventure. It is
a country where you could ski/snowboard in the Andes Mountains
and swim in the Pacific Ocean in the same day. Chile has often
been compared to Norway, New Zealand and Alaska. There are
a lot of natural similarities but one main difference is that
you can visit Chile for a fraction of the price. Unknown to
most, Chile has the largest European ancestry in South America
as 95% of the 15,000,000 plus inhabitants are of European
descent. More than 5,000,000 Chileans live in the capital
city, Santiago.
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Santiago is a magnificent city
and occupies one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the
world. The snow-capped Andes are less than an hour away
to the east and the Pacific Ocean is 1.5 hours to the west.
Even though Santiago is a large city it has a small town
feel. There are always quiet neighborhoods to be found and
it is very easy to leave Santiago in order to explore the
surrounding countryside.
Vina del Mar and Valparaiso
have the second largest population in Chile with 500,000
plus inhabitants. Valparaiso is Chile’s most bohemic
city with homes and mansions clinging to the hillsides that
surround this port city. Vina del Mar is Valparaiso’s
next-door neighbor and is Chile’s most popular beach
resort. Vina is know as the Garden City with beautiful homes
and manicured lawns.
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Chile
is probably best known for its wines, natural wonders, economic
stability, Pablo Neruda, outdoor adventures, Viña del
Mar and Santiago. |
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Chilean
wines are arguably the best in South America and Santiago
is right in the middle of the Central Valley that is home
to the Vineyards. The Central Valley is to Chile that which
Napa Valley is to the USA. While you hear a lot about the
wines do not overlook the abundance of fresh seafood that
Chile produces. The sushi is exquisite! |
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While there is no shortage of controversy about the Pinochet
years and his dictatorship, which started in 1973 when then
president Allende apparently committed suicide during a
military coup, Chile is without a doubt an economic model
for other Latin American countries. Chile prides itself
on the lack of corruption that exists.
Chile’s most famous and eccentric author is Pablo
Neruda who won the Nobel Prize. He wrote the Heights of
Macchu Pichu, Canto General, Passions and Memoirs. Gabriela
Mistral also won the Nobel Prize. Even though she has not
won a Nobel Prize, Isabel Allende is also world-renowned
having written House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows
and Eva Luna.
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Travel within
Chile is easy, comfortable and affordable. For shorter journeys
the buses are modern and comfortable. To explore a bit further
the flights are also reasonably priced. This makes all of
Chile’s natural wonders accessible to you. Torres del
Paine National Park in Patagonia is probably the most famous
but don’t forget that in the north Chile boasts the
world’s driest desert, set below volcanoes and salt
flats. In between the north and the south is located one of
the world’s most beautiful landscapes, Chile’s
Lake District. This magical place consists of shimmering lakes,
perfectly shaped and active snow capped volcanoes, natural
thermal baths and glacial valleys. |
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Outdoor sports abound
all the while being surrounded by nature's beauty. Fly-fishing
for trout and salmon is top notch. Chile’s geography offers
countless places to fish with over 4,000 kilometers of coastline,
numerous rivers, lakes and lagoons. People come from all over
the world to ski at Chile’s first class resorts. It is
the best place for skiing/snowboarding in the southern hemisphere.
Most resorts are above tree line in the high Andes or on volcanoes.
Some notable resorts are Portillo, Valle Nevado, Las Termas
de Chillan and Volcano Villarica. If you just want to go trekking
or summit a volcano look no further than Chile. Chile’s
abundance of national parks and volcanoes offer countless trekking
and mountaineering opportunities. |
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If
you are more into water sports Chile offers surfing, white
water rafting and kayaking. Golf is also readily available.
Santiago may not be as famous as Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro
but this clean and modern city never fails to impress. Plus
its proximity to everything makes Santiago the ideal place
to be in Chile. Santiago has a privileged climate and is sunny
most days of the year. It also has an animated nightlife and
a variety of stylish restaurants. Activity is guaranteed while
here. |
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If you like the ocean there is not a better place to be than
Vina del Mar where you can enjoy the Pacific Ocean. This area
enjoys a rugged coastline similar to the west coast of California
in the USA or the west coast of the South Island in New Zealand.
There are also lots of little coastal towns to enjoy, such
as Renaca, Concon, Quintero and Maitencillo. The seafood and
shellfish are as fresh and delicious as anywhere in the world.
Here you may enjoy a busy nightlife and the casino right on
the beach! |
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