Welcome/ About Page

  

A View of Torres del Paine - Image: Navimag Ferries, Patagonia.

Dear reader, thank you for visiting Chile News and Travel. This blog brings you a unique combination of news—from Chile and around the world—and practical travel information focused on Chile’s most captivating destinations. Whether you're planning a visit or simply want to stay informed, we aim to keep you updated, inspired, and well-prepared. 

We’re based in Punta Arenas, on the shores of the Strait of Magellan in Chilean Patagonia—a place as remote as it is beautiful. Feel free to reach out through the Contact Form on the Home page or leave a comment at the end of any post.

 ____________________

 

Tourist information about our country

Chile is often rightly described as a 'long, narrow strip of land' situated in the extreme southwest of South America. It covers an area of 756,102 km2 within its South American territory, which includes the islands of Polynesia (Salas y Gomez and Easter Island). Additionally, Chile claims a territory of 1,250,257 km2 in the Antarctic continent.

 

Geography, Climates

Its geography extends from 17º29'57'' South latitude to the South Pole, offering a variety of climates and landscapes. It includes the immensity of the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world, where the largest astronomical observatories are located due to the clarity of its skies. There's also the enigmatic Easter Island (Rapa Nui), the Andes, a natural border between Chile and Argentina, boasting great peaks and large winter sports centers that attract athletes from around the world. Moreover, there's the beautiful Los Lagos region, the tourist destinations of Patagonia with all their wonders, and the infamous Cape Horn, the southern tip of the Americas and the meeting point of two oceans.

Chile's climatic diversity ranges from the subtropical weather of Easter Island to the frigid conditions of the Antarctic Province. As a result, tourism in the southernmost region mainly takes place during the spring and summer months.

The North of Chile

Astrotourism in Northern Chile

Northern Chile is a vast region with a diverse landscape that offers tourists a unique experience. The region is renowned for its deserts, mountains, and valleys, providing a plethora of activities such as hiking, stargazing, and exploring ancient ruins. While San Pedro de Atacama stands out as a popular tourist destination, there are numerous other hidden gems to explore off the beaten path, including Parque Nacional Lauca, Monumento Arqueológico Valle del Encanto, La Serena, and many others.

   

Beaches

Although the waters are not as warm as in other similar latitudes due to the Humboldt Current, Chile also has many beautiful beaches and summer resorts. Among the most famous beaches are those of Viña del Mar, also known as "La Ciudad Jardín" ("The Garden City of Chile"), Algarrobo, La Serena and Coquimbo cities, further north Bahía Inglesa, Antofagasta, Iquique and Arica. Along the Chilean coast there are also world-class beaches for the practice of surfing.

Central Chile

Central Chile is a diverse and fascinating region that offers a wide range of attractions and activities:

• Santiago, the capital, is a cultural center with many museums, events, theaters, restaurants, and bars. There are also large ski resorts and beautiful parks.

• Valparaíso, the "Jewel of the Pacific," is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with colorfully painted houses, rolling coastal hills, steep stairways, and a fascinating history as one of South America's most important ports.

• Viña del Mar, a modern city known for its beautiful beaches and sunny climate, is an ideal family destination.

• In the Andean Highlands, Central Chile is home to charming small towns offering picturesque landscapes and traditional customs. 

• Central Chile is also renowned for its vineyards and wine production, making it an ideal destination for wine lovers and foodies.

• For outdoor enthusiasts, the region offers many opportunities, from visiting national parks or the world's largest swimming pool at the San Alfonso del Mar resort to surfing and exploring the scenic coastline between Cobquecura and Pelluhue.

Southern Region of the Country

Southern Chile offers a wide variety of attractions and activities. The region is known for its stunning scenery, including snow-capped mountains, winding rivers and beautiful lakes, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and adventure travelers. Popular activities in the area include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking and fly fishing.

 

In the south, large forests, rivers and lakes form a system that is the heart of an ever-increasing ecotourism activity. This is a region rich in hot springs, thermal baths and large winter resorts such as "Nevados de Chillan", "Valle Corralco Ski Center", the beautiful areas of "Petrohué", Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo, also famous for its lush waterfalls.  

And when we talk about special interest tourism, we cannot forget to mention the Chiloé Archipelago, islands full of myths, legends, rich folklore and gastronomy, whose inhabitants live mainly from fishing and agriculture, but surrounded by a beautiful environment, lush vegetation and on the mainland a wild geography, many lakes, rivers and dense forests under the aegis of Wildlife Protected Areas.

 

Patagonia, the far south of the world

A painting based on the landscapes of  Chilean Patagonia

Patagonia is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, including the wonderful regions of Los Lagos, Aysen and Magallanes y Antartica Chilena. The North and South Ice Fields, in addition to their majesty, make Patagonia one of the largest freshwater reserves in the world after Antarctica.

Here you will be able to visit many stunning places, just to mention one, the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (Torres del Paine National Park), chosen as "The Eighth Wonder of the World" by the travel portal Virtualtourist.com, of the TripAdvisor Media Group, among more than 300 tourist sites around the world, with more than 5 million votes through the Internet.

Punta Arenas is also the gateway to Puerto Williams, the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province and the southernmost city in the world. 

Easter Island  

Rapa Nui, row of Moai

Easter Island, (real name Rapa Nui), a remote extension of Chile in Oceania, is another of the favorite tourist destinations of national and international visitors. From mainland Chile, regular flights and cruises arrive to the island to soak up this ancient Polynesian culture and its beautiful environment. 

Archaeologists and historians have tried to find answers to the many mysteries surrounding the arrival of its first inhabitants and the lost civilization that was able to create and move the Moai, stone statues weighing hundreds of tons, without any known help.

Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire Island), located south of the Strait of Magellan, is known worldwide for its glaciers and excellent conditions that offers for the practice of sport fishing in its numerous lakes and rivers, all this amidst beautiful landscapes and virgin nature, almost untouched by human hand. The main cities are Porvenir in Chile and Rio Grande and Ushuaia in the Argentine part of the island.

Antarctic Tourism

Antarctic tourism is steadily growing, fueled by companies offering air and sea operations to the White Continent. Just two hours by plane from Punta Arenas, Antarctica is a destination where Chile maintains a strong presence through cooperation, exploration, and research.

Chilean tourism industry   

Santiago de Chile, history and modernity

Chile’s mainland and islands feature stunning national parks and natural monuments, both private and public, often included in tourist packages. Alongside its breathtaking scenery, Chile is a modern country with appealing commercial centers and advancements in various fields.

The tourism industry has seen significant growth since the mid-1990s, becoming one of the primary sources of income for many regions in the country.

Thank you once again for your interest. For more information and updates about Chile, we invite you to explore our blog.

Raul Silva M.

Chile Travel and News