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• Visit Arica, with its good beaches and the famous San Marcos Cathedral. Nearby, wonder at the unique landscape of Altiplano with its vast volcanoes, salt marshes and lakes existing together upon a high plateau, and home to the indigenous Aymara Indians. Through the Atacama Desert, excursions can be made to the hot springs of Mamina and to the oasis of the Pica Valley.
• From the port of Antofagasta, visit Chuquicamata copper mine; the archaeological oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama; and the El Tatio geysers.
• Get some sea breezes at Coquimbo and Los Vilos. Wander fine streets lined with attractive Spanish colonial style architecture in La Serena, the provincial capital. The town is at the mouth of the Elqui River and excursions can be made from here to the rich fruit-growing region of the Elqui Valley.
• Explore the Central Region and the Islands, the most temperate and pastoral regions of the country, where the snow-capped peaks of the Andes provide a backdrop to rolling green fields, vineyards and orange groves. Valparaíso, the principal port, has many attractions.
• In Santiago, visit sights such as the Virgin Mary on the peak of the 860m (2,822ft) Cerro San Cristóbal (Saint Christopher’s Hill) and get great views of the city and the Andes. At the foot of the hill, in the Latin Quarter of Barrio Bellavista, nose round one of poet Pablo Neruda's houses – La Chascona (website: www.fundacionneruda.org).
• Sample Chile's wine at vineyards in the heartland of the country.
• Journey out to the Juan Fernández Islands (650km (403 miles) west of Valparaíso). Alexander Selkirk was shipwrecked here in the early 18th century, and Defoe based his novel Robinson Crusoe on Selkirk’s adventures.
• Fly to Easter Island, another Pacific Chilean possession, situated 3,800km (2,361 miles) west of the mainland. Puzzle over the famous, yet mysterious Moai, gigantic stone figures up to 9m (30ft) tall which can be found all over the island. Other sites to investigate include the volcano crater Rano Kao, the Oronco rock carvings, and the museum in the main town of Hanga Roa.
• Be amazed by the waterfalls at Laguna de La, in the Southern Region.
• Admire the Lake District, where Lake Villarica and the Trancura and Cincira rivers combine to create beautiful scenery, and an angler’s paradise. Don't miss Lake Todos los Santos either.
• Travel right to the southernmost end of the railway line or the Pan American Highway, where visitors can find the picturesque town of Puerto Montt and, nearby, the colourful small fishing port of Angelmo.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• From the port of Antofagasta, visit Chuquicamata copper mine; the archaeological oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama; and the El Tatio geysers.
• Get some sea breezes at Coquimbo and Los Vilos. Wander fine streets lined with attractive Spanish colonial style architecture in La Serena, the provincial capital. The town is at the mouth of the Elqui River and excursions can be made from here to the rich fruit-growing region of the Elqui Valley.
• Explore the Central Region and the Islands, the most temperate and pastoral regions of the country, where the snow-capped peaks of the Andes provide a backdrop to rolling green fields, vineyards and orange groves. Valparaíso, the principal port, has many attractions.
• In Santiago, visit sights such as the Virgin Mary on the peak of the 860m (2,822ft) Cerro San Cristóbal (Saint Christopher’s Hill) and get great views of the city and the Andes. At the foot of the hill, in the Latin Quarter of Barrio Bellavista, nose round one of poet Pablo Neruda's houses – La Chascona (website: www.fundacionneruda.org).
• Sample Chile's wine at vineyards in the heartland of the country.
• Journey out to the Juan Fernández Islands (650km (403 miles) west of Valparaíso). Alexander Selkirk was shipwrecked here in the early 18th century, and Defoe based his novel Robinson Crusoe on Selkirk’s adventures.
• Fly to Easter Island, another Pacific Chilean possession, situated 3,800km (2,361 miles) west of the mainland. Puzzle over the famous, yet mysterious Moai, gigantic stone figures up to 9m (30ft) tall which can be found all over the island. Other sites to investigate include the volcano crater Rano Kao, the Oronco rock carvings, and the museum in the main town of Hanga Roa.
• Be amazed by the waterfalls at Laguna de La, in the Southern Region.
• Admire the Lake District, where Lake Villarica and the Trancura and Cincira rivers combine to create beautiful scenery, and an angler’s paradise. Don't miss Lake Todos los Santos either.
• Travel right to the southernmost end of the railway line or the Pan American Highway, where visitors can find the picturesque town of Puerto Montt and, nearby, the colourful small fishing port of Angelmo.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.