E311 Chile – A country of stark contrasts

Chile is a country of stark contrasts.

Tucked between the mighty Andes and the Pacific Ocean; this country is blessed with a stunning and diverse topography, from the driest desert in the world in the North, to the rain- soaked South; from gurgling geysers to pristine lakes and majestic glaciers.

Mainland Chile stretches 4300km from the Peruvian border to Cape Horn, the Southernmost tip of the world and the Holy Grail for travelers who want the bragging right of having been to the end of the world.

Its most notable tourist destinations include the El Tatio geysers, close to the San Pedro de Atacama oasis, an UNESCO’s World Heritage site, where all the structures are built in adobe. Other interesting points around San Pedro are the salt flats, with their pink flamingoes, and Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), with its surreal lunar landscape, with craggy dunes reminiscent of a sci-fi movie.

Today Iquique is a favorite winter destination for Chileans; in the 19th century it was a bustling town, thanks to the saltpeter mines found around it. A few ruins are still being preserved for tourists to visit and imagine the life of the “pampinos” who toiled in those mines to produce the raw material for fertilizer and gun powder.

Near the center of the country is La Serena, an area known for its beaches and for Pisco, a brandy distilled from fermented grape juice, and the national drink of Chile.
The South of Chile is dotted with snow-capped volcanoes, pristine lakes, majestic glaciers, the awe- inspiring towering granite peaks Torres del Paine, a masterpiece created by nature. The area is surrounded by steppe with grazing guanacos. When you are close to the Magellan Strait, don’t miss the chance to go see the penguins, or to visit the solid marble caves Cavernas de Marmol, whizzing over the glacier lake to admire the swirling blues and greens of the cave walls.

Chiloe is known for its houses on stilts snuggling along the coastline, wooden churches built by the Jesuits, and for its “Curanto”, a dish prepared by mixing seafood, meat, vegetables, potatoes, in a hole dug in the ground and lined with leaves and cooked by a bonfire set over the hole.

Far out in the Pacific ocean is Chile’s Easter Island, or Rapanui, where you can see the mystical stone carvings called Moai, extinct volcano craters, or just relax on the white sand beaches, or go diving or snorkeling in the crystal clear water.