Chile - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 366

Introduction
Chileans will tell you that when God created the world, he had a little bit
of everything left over, and put pieces of desert, rivers, lakes and glaciers
together to make Chile. From the world's driest desert - the Atacama - in
the north to the volcanic peaks and verdant landscapes of the Lake District,
down to the icy wilderness of Patagonia, this is perhaps the most
geographically diverse and fascinating country in Latin America. Snaking
between the snowcapped Andes and the Pacific Ocean, it's a fantastic
playground for lovers of the outdoors, and for adrenaline junkies, with
world-class skiing, surfing, white-water rafting, climbing and paragliding,
while the country's plentiful national parks and nature reserves also boast
an astounding array of plant and animal life.

Today, in spite of its troubled past,
Chile is among the most politically and
economically stable of all Latin American
countries, and the memory of the tainted
Pinochet dictatorship is gradually fading.
For the most part, it is westernized and
affluent, and its excellent bus network
makes it an easy country to navigate.
Cosmopolitan Santiago is a very
manageable starting point, with plentiful
excellent bars, hostels and restaurants,
as well as easy access to superb ski
resorts and the vineyards of Middle Chile .
In the nearby coastal city of Valparaiso ,
ride the ascensores (funiculars), or relax
on the sandy beaches of neighbouring
Viña del Mar . Head further north to the
Norte Chico to knock back a pisco sour in
the sublime Elqui Valley , or gaze at the
stars in some of the world's clearest skies,

while further north still the Norte Grande
is where the strong breaks of the Pacific
Ocean meet the moonscape scenery of
the Atacama Desert. Visit gleaming
lagoons and steaming geysers in the
backpacker oasis of San Pedro de
Atacama , and get your fill of sun and
surf in the beach towns of Iquique
and Arica .
South from Santiago, the Lake District
- a region of lush forests and snow-
capped volcanoes - exudes opportunities
for rafting, cycling and mountaineering,
while the mysterious island of Chiloé has
beautiful wooden churches. Towering
granite pillars and blue-tinged glaciers
draw thousands of visitors to Chilean
Patagonia , and the excellent trekking
routes of Parque Nacional Torres del
Paine . Last, but definitely not least, for
serene beauty, ancient mystery and giant
Moai statues, head to the world's most
remote island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
CHRONOLOGY
1520 Ferdinand Magellan is the first European to sail
through what is now the Magellan Strait.
1536 Expedition from Peru to Chile by conquistador Diego
de Almagro and his four hundred men ends in death for
most of the party.
1541 Pedro de Valdivia, a lieutenant of Francisco Pizarro,
founds Santiago de Chile; a feudal system in which Spanish
landowners enslave the Indian population is established.
1808 Napoleon invades Spain and replaces Spanish King
Ferdinand VII with his own brother.

4

WHEN TO VISIT
If you want to experience the whole of
Chile in all its diversity you'll need to come
prepared for both extreme cold and
extreme heat. The Lake District ,
Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are
best explored from October through to
April, since the Chilean winter effectively
shuts down much of the south and
transport can be very limited. Norte
Grande , Norte Chico , Middle Chile and
the Pacific island territories, however,
can be accessed all year round.