Top Seven Places to Visit in Chile
Despite the earthquake scares, Chile remains one of the most beautiful and versatile places on Earth. Its topographic versatility, though, can work against you if you want to go to too many places. Below is a list of the top seven places you shouldn’t leave Chile without visiting.
Valparaiso
As the name suggests, this Chilean spot is very close to paradise. It’s definitely one of the most unique cities in Chile, and one which Chileans themselves have overlooked. Its charm didn’t escape the UNESCO though as it was named a Heritage Site in 2003.
What can you expect here? Prepare to be wowed by Valpo’s steep hills, a contrasting flat center, very old and rather “crumbly” mansions, and a colorful tapestry of rooftops if you’re viewing it from above.
People say Valparaiso has two sides: one is a gritty city with stray dogs, and the other, a more charming town carved from the hills, turning a resentful eye on the mundane things below it. If you would like to experience Chile in a lungful, you should definitely begin your journey from this city.
Pucon
If you like great scenery as much as you like outdoor sports, Pucon is a necessary stop when you’re in Chile. There’s the volcano, the lake, and the easy access to any extreme sport available. You’ll never run out of things to love while you’re in this town. While some travelers are a bit put off by Pucon’s popularity (some equate popularity to “tourist trap”, you see), popular guest stops do have its perks.
Aside from the number of activities you can take part in while you’re here, you can also expect nothing less than top-of-the-line service from its most prominent hotels. This is also a haven for travelers looking to stuff themselves with only the best Mexican vegan food. Is that falafel you smell? Yes, Middle Eastern restaurants also line the streets. We suggest you bring a little extra because you would want to try a lot of things while you’re here.
San Pedro de Atacama
This is easily the most popular Chilean destination, thanks to its scenery which remains breathtaking despite the tourist boom. The trip to the highland is always a good one, although the picturesque San Pedro de Atacama your parents may remember 20 years ago is inevitably a thing of the past. San Pedro de Atacama has changed, adjusting to the influx of visitors all-year-round.
Today, the adobe town is marked with guest house, net cafes, restaurants and travel agencies. You probably won’t mind the commercialization though because what remains is the picture-perfect church, the tree-lined plaza, and the fact that it is still the melting pot of Chilean culture. Most travelers come here to unwind. This is one of the most perfect spots in Chile to have a hearty breakfast and a cappuccino after a full-night’s sleep.
La Serena
This is Chile’s second-oldest city, so you can expect a lot of rustic architecture as you trek the neighborhoods. It’s more popular for its long, golden coastline, though. Less populated than the other beaches of Chile, most travelers who long for solitude go here.
Among the most popular attractions here include neocolonial villages in the countryside and pisco vineyards. There is also an astronomical observatory here. Whether you’re interested in the scientific aspect of the stars’ positions, or you’re looking up because you think it’s romantic, you’ll find the clear skies of the region very favorable.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
If you’re looking for solace, Rapa Nui or the Easter Island will give you that much needed space. While it’s a pretty small speck of land on the map, it has a lot to offer. For one, it has one of the most mysterious statues anywhere in the world. Probably next to the Stonehenge, the iconic moai of Rapa Nui would leave historians and archeologists a lot to ponder on.
While Rapa Nui is much-publicized as an open-air museum, there’s a lot more to the island that a haven for the culture vultures. Those who seek adventure will be very happy here, as well. It’s one of the best places to go scuba diving, horseback riding, and hiking. The Ana Kena is a good place for you to just laze around and lie in the sand. The Motu Nui is an excellent place for scuba diving.
Of course, if you’re here for the maoi, you mustn’t leave the island without going to Rano Raraku.
Strait of Magellan
If you want a view of both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, then the only place you should go to is the southernmost tip of South America. This is the Strait of Magellan, also called the Straits of Magellan. While the waters here are rather turbulent, it’s also the best place for you to go whale watching. If exploring the wildlife underwater is too much adventure for you, you can always sign up for whale watching from a boat as long as the skies are clear.
Watching boats come ashore from one of its many lighthouses is also quite an experience. You should also check out the neighboring attractions in the Patagonian region. Cape Horn and Torres del Paine are very close to the strait.
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is aptly labeled the “southernmost place in the world”. When you go here, you can expect nothing less than the best sceneries. It’s a graceful, narrow archipelago that lies across the Magellan Strait. You’ll see snowcapped mountains here as well as breathtaking rivers, lakes, and thick forests. It’s definitely a haven for the nature lover.
While you’re here, you might want to visit the National Park. It is the only national park in the world with its own coastal line. Here, you’ll see nature at its rawest form. The wildlife is spectacular, as what anyone could expect from a subantartic forest.
You should also ride the Ferrocarril Austral Fuegino. This is also called the “end of the world” train. Never mind the ominous nickname, though. Back when the world was believed to be flat, people believed that anything “south” was going to the “ends of the world”. A roundtrip through this train would take two hours. These two hours could be your best as the steam train and old-fashioned coaches show you the best of the archipelago.
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