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Ancud |
A small town on the northwestern tip of the big island of Chiloe, town steeped in its maritime heritage from its museums to its unique seafood cuisine.
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Antofagasta |
An old city, Antofagasta is the most important sea port in the north of Chile, located in the world's richest copper mining area and is the site of the world's largest open pit copper mine. With nice warm beaches, it is good for surfing and Marlin fishing in the surrounding ocean. Also, there you can find the famous rock formation out at sea in the shape of a gigantic arch called Portada.
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Arica |
The city of eternal spring, only 30 miles south of the Peruvian border, Arica is known for delightful restaurants and comfortable, modern hotels. The city also has a lively night life with the gambling casino open all year round. This city also features some of the nicest beaches in Chile. In addition it was the center of a number of pre-Colombian Indian cultures and in its museums can be found mummies that pre-date the Egyptians by 2,000 years.
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Calama |
Great for sightseeing, Calama is close to El Tatio Geysers, the geoliths of the Atacama Desert, and just lots of fun stuff to explore. In the middle of an incredibly beautiful desert, Calama is so dry the locals attach their postage stamps with staples rather than lick them!
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Castro |
Second largest town on Chiloe island it located on the coast side facing the continent. Castro was founded in 1567. Its unique and delicious local cuisine features Curanto which is seafood and pork cooked in the ground with hot stones. That may sound a little strange but the taste is great.
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Chillan |
A sleepy, dusty agricultural town about 280 miles south of Santiago on the Panamericana like everything else. Its claim to fame is Las Termas, a mineral bath and ski resort about 40 miles away. It is the birthplace of Bernardo O'Higgins, liberator of Chile and good buddy of San Martin, where there is a very nice park there in his honor. Chillan has one of Chile's largest tourist flea markets where you can buy all manner of tourist stuff at not so bad prices. The ski area deserves special comment. It is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Chillan and has hot mineral baths, saunas and other ways to relax. They are great to have handy because its ski slopes can certainly give you a workout. There is a large hotel there with all the ski type stuff, bar, restaurants and of course beds.
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Chiloe |
The "Grand Island of Chiloe" is a land of myths and magic -- of emerald rolling hills shrouded in mist and picturesque bays lined with brightly painted fishing boats. Residents here live in palafitos, rickety and charming shingled houses with corrugated roofs that rise above the water on stilts. The rectangular shape of Chiloé and the tiny islands on the eastern shore that complete the archipelago render it South America's second-largest island, bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Gulf of Ancud on the east. Chiloé's main cities are Ancud, north, Castro on the island's eastern shore, and Quellón at the southern tip. Visitors can take a recommended short ferry ride to Isla Quinchao. Chiloé also boasts the Parque Nacional de Chiloé on the western shore.
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Concepcion |
One of the largest cities in Chile, with about 300,000 people, Concepction is basicaly a commercial center. Located on the huge Bio Bio River, it is only a short drive to the seaport of Talcahuano. It also features one of the larger Universities in Chile, the University of Concepcion.
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Coyhaique |
Coyhaique, one of the newest cities in Chile, it was founded in 1929 to encourage settlement in this sparsely settled region far to the south, has today 40,000 inhabitants. It also features a town square shaped like a pentagon, a large agricultural college and the nearby Coyhaique Natural Reserve awaits the nature lover/hiker. It is also getting a good reputation as a launching point for the fresh water fisherman.
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Curico |
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Easter Island |
Called Isla de Pascua in Chile and Rapa Nui or Te Pito te Henua (world's belly button) by natives, this 14 miles long by 7 miles wide island is actually about the only city not on the Panamericana (about 2,332 miles off the coast). Known for its Moais (stone statues), it is a must for people into ancient mysteries. Some of these Moais weigh up to 50 tons and are over 25 feet high. Also ancient shrines, some 240 in all, dot the island. It is about a 3 to 5 day do. Don't expect a lot of discos and movie houses, but its natural beauty more than makes up for their absence. There are frequent flights from Santiago that take about 4 or 5 hours.
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Frutillar |
World renowned for its musical weeks (Semanas Musicales) held every year in February, Fruitillar is also a summer resort. A center of German immigration founded in 1856 it boasts of the having the most southern living palm tree in the world. Worth seeing are the Settler's Museum and the German Cemetery.
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Iquique |
Once the center of the mining of nitrates (used in explosives and fertilizer), Iquique still maintains the nostalgic mood of that bygone era in many of the older buildings that have been preserved. It was also the site of one of the largest naval battles in history. It features a duty free shopping area and beautiful white sand beaches for those who just want to relax. Just off the coast the sportsman will find excellent salt water fishing. Iquique is located about 218 miles, south of Arica.
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La Serena |
This is one of the fastest growing tourist areas in Chile. It is known for the beauty of its colonial and neo colonial architecture. It also has one of the largest handicraft markets in the area where you can find the unique Indian pottery of the Diaguitas Indians, woolens and articles made of the beautiful Guayacan wood. It also has great beaches and modern hotels.
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Osorno |
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Peulla |
In the Lake District, Peulla is the eastern port of Lake Todos Los Santos. The emerald green waters that surround it are almost as exciting as the launch rides across it. After stopping at Ensenada, Petrohue Falls and Petrohue Village the daily ferry takes you across All Saints Lake to Peulla. You can either stay at the very comfortable hotel or go through Perez Rosales pass to Casa Pangue in Argentina and continue to San Carlos Bariloche. Peulla is a great place for honeymoons or getting away from it all.
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Peulla |
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Pisco Elqui |
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Portillo |
Portillo, Chile, located about 62 miles northeast of Santiago, is South America's premier snow ski resort. Here for skiing and snowboarding there are virtually no lift lines or crowded slopes, leaving more time to enjoy the ski slopes. Of course, the breath taking beauty of its Andean surroundings contribute to a ski vacation of a lifetime.
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Pucon |
In the Lake District, Pucon is set in the southeast shore of Lake Villarrica. Villarrica Volcano provides not only a dramatic backdrop behind the town but also slopes for skiing in the winter. Fishing here in the summer is superb and there is gambling for the more adventurous.
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Puerto Chacabuco |
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Puerto Montt |
Located at the end of continental Chile Puerto Montt offers everything: a gateway to Puerto Varas and the scenic lakes of the south; launching site for the fabulous boat tours that take tourists to the southern channels region it is also a busy port and center for the agriculture and timber trades. You know those gigantic trout you hear about, well fisherman come to this area for great fly fishing. It is about 620 miles south of Santiago. This is a truly great place for those that love the outdoors.
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Puerto Natales |
The biggest point from the view of the tourist is that it is the entrance to the Torres del Paine, magnificent and complex granite peaks in a microclimate that attract tourists from around the world. Located in the far south, from here you can take one of those famous boat rides to the area's glaciers where you can toast with a scotch on the rocks, with ice over 20,000 years old. The area offers the rugged scenic vistas Chile is known for.
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Puerto Octay |
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Puerto Varas |
A great vacation city in the Lake District, just a short ride north from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas has casinos, restaurants and hotels. Called the city of roses, it stands beside Chile's largest lake, Lake Llanquihue. Across the lake, scenery is provided by two magnificent volcanoes. If you are to see just one city in Chile this is it.
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Punta Arenas |
Punta Arenas, capital of the southern area of Chile, sits on the western shore of the Straits of Magellan. It is the world's southernmost city. Just across the big island of Tierra del Fuego this is a busy city of around 100,000 caters to the oil, sheep and coal industry. This is the kick off point for boat tours of the straits and a lot of great scenery. It can get cold here in winter, for it's very close to Antarctica.
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Putre |
Putre is an ancient Altiplano village of wood etched portals dating back to the 17th century. Located near the border with Peru, approximately 90 miles from Arica, it offers a real Altiplano experience. From Putre it is easy to visit the natural wonders of the Surire Salt Flat and the Chungara Lake.
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Puyuhuapi |
Puyuhuapi is a small seaport in the south located between Puerto Montt and Coyhaique. It offers just basic tourist services but among them are 2 very comfortable hosterias run by German immigrants. To relax the tourist, nearby thermal spas are just the right thing.
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Rancagua |
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Robinson Crusoe island |
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San Pedro de Atacama |
Atacama says it all, dry hot and your basic desert. It is at 8000 feet and has only 900 inhabitants but surprisingly has good accommodations and even taxis for hire. However, near here are some incredible and mysterious monoliths and petroliths and a bunch of other liths, "Chariot of the Gods" type stuff. Also not to be missed is the Archeological Museum founded by a priest, Father Gustavo Le Paige. The story of how he built it single handed is impressive enough until you actually visit it and see the wonders there, from mummies to pre Inca artifacts it is a real lesson of the distant past of the area.
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Santa Cruz |
Three hours south of Santiago, Santa Cruz is undeniably the hub of what is quickly becoming the Napa or Sonoma Valley of Chile, with a well-designed Wine Route, high-end wineries, and a new four-star hotel. Once here, do not miss the Museo de Colchagua. The diverse collection includes historical artifacts, from pre-Hispanic throughout the Americas, to local indian artifacts, to Spanish conquest-era helmets and artillery, to immigrant household items and farm machinery, and more. The museum is the private collection of Carlos Cardoen, who also owns the Hotel Santa Cruz.
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Santiago |
Chile's capital city is Santiago with 5 million people, a modern, clean, cheap and efficient Metro, opera, modern hotels and restaurants. It is quite cosmopolitan with shopping malls that would rival any in the world and trendy areas with great dining and trendy shops. You can count on the Chilean hospitality that almost more than makes up for language problems you may have. Santiago is the business center with the government offices, stock exchange and for transportation features a large and modern International Airport at Pudahuel, about 15 miles from Santiago. Santiago has some great tourist things like San Cristobal hill that has spectacular city views. It is an easy city to get around in and has more buses per capita than anywhere, and they are all yellow. Cabs are cheap but they are not yellow, well the tops usually are, and the metro (subway) is clean and very efficient and only charges about 45 cents to go wherever you want.
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Talca |
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Temuco |
In the Lake District, 398 miles south from Santiago, Temuco was the capital for the Mapuches Indians, who were never actually beaten by the settlers. They ruled most of the south of Chile and spent their time smoking, drinking, and playing hockey...yes hockey. They let their women do all the hard work. That was then, now it is the fastest growing city in Chile and largely business. As to sightseeing, Nielol hill and the National Park should not be missed. In Temuco you'll find Huasos (cowboys, Chile style) at work. There is also a large indoor flea market where you can find that special treasure. Nearby, Llaima Volcano offers snow skiing.
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Torres del Paine |
Actually a national park in the far south of Chile, it is accessed from Punta Arenas by road or From Puerto Natales (which is much closer). Once you actually enter, you will find a park road that acts as a self guided tour . It can boast of some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world. Most noted are the group of mountains known as the Cuernos (Horns) whose dramatic rise into the clear southern skies is truly breathtaking.
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Valdivia |
A beautiful town sitting on the banks of the Calle-Calle River, Valdivia was founded in 1552 and now has a population of over 120,000. The overwhelming beauty of the river makes sightseeing of the islands, the ancient forts and surroundings an experience few can resist. Before leaving be certain to try the crab dishes washed down with a crisp local white wine. For the sportsman, go east toward the mountains you will find the world's best fly fishing.
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Valle Nevado |
Valle Nevado is Chile's premier, ski resort. Its location, only 37 ,miles from Santiago, means international travelers from all parts of the Globe have easy access to some of the finest skiing in the World. Over 66 miles of trails and 41 ski lifts offer the skiers, from beginner to expert, a quality and variety of skiing only matched by its largest Alpine competitors.
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Valparaiso |
This is the working sister city to Vina del Mar. They actually border on each other, more or less. It is about 74 miles west of Santiago. This is the site of the Naval College, and the largest sea port for Chile. Its older streets and buildings speak to you strongly of the days when there was no Panama Canal and almost every ship that came around The Horn stopped and left a little of itself and its crew here. Being situated 1/2 on the plane and 1/2 on the surrounding hills its cable cars and dwellings perched on the bluffs offer a unique look to the city. Excellent restaurants, old sailor bars, Viennese coffee shops...this might be your city.
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Vicuna |
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Vina del Mar |
Sister city to the largest Chilean seaport, Valparaiso, which actually borders "Vina" as the Chileans call it is Chile's "Riviera", with casinos, restaurants, night clubs, discos swimming beach and other resort facilities. Only 74 miles by car, it is Santiago's playground and can be very crowded in the Chile's summer months (October to May). In Vina you must dress smart, otherwise you will feel like the ugly duckling so leave your Wrangler blue jeans cutoffs at home.
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Yelcho |
The crystal clear water of the Yelcho Lake is located in south Chile, 31 miles from Chaitén, in the Palena Province of the X Region. It is paradise for those who love the outdoors, with a wonderful native flora and unique wildlife. The Yelcho in the Patagonia tourist complex is located on the lakeshore. It was created to meet the needs of those who like the peace and rest that comes from being in contact with pristine nature and enjoys fishing.
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