Chile
The highest volcanoes in the world reach over 22,000 feet (6,700 m) in the Andes mountains. Chile’s Atacama Desert also has a record for the driest desert in the world. The west coast of the country runs along the Pacific Ocean and ends in Chilean Patagonia with fjords, islands and evermore severe weather.
Best Places to Travel in Chile
Running down the southern half of South America, Chile is a long and narrow country that hugs the Pacific Ocean on its western edge. In the Andes mountains sit the highest volcanoes in the world reaching over 22,000 feet (6,700 meters). The mountain range acts as a natural eastern border with Argentina.
In the northern part of Chile you can find the driest desert in the world – the Atacama Desert. A more lush environment begins in the Chilean Lake District starting near Temuco and continues south into Chilean Patagonia – home to fjords, islands, and evermore severe weather.
Divided by Drake Passage, southern Chile is just 620 miles (1,000 km) across the water to Antarctica.
Most of the Chilean population lives in the central region of Chile in and around Santiago, Valparaíso, and La Serena.
Continue reading below to learn more about Chile.
Getting Around South America
Torres del Paine National Park
Chilean Patagonia (Southern Chile)
Day Tours and Trekking in Chilean Patagonia
Torres del Paine is a national park in southern Chile in Chilean Patagonia. The national park is extremely popular for trekking and mountaineering. Camping is available in the park. The best time to visit the park is between October to April (South America’s spring and summer).
When we visited in 2012, we opted to take a day tour of the park. If you stay in Puerto Natales (about a one-hour drive from the national park), a tour van can pick you up for an enjoyable day tour experiencing the highlights of Torres del Paine National Park and the Milodon cave. Tours are in English and Spanish. It was a great day and so easy to have someone drive you around and show you all of the highlights of the park.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, the Torres del Paine W Trek (or W Circuit) is very popular. It generally takes about 5 days to do. The “O” Circuit goes in a complete loop around Paine Massif and can take about 8 days to complete.
Chiloé Island
Southern Chile – Archipelago
Native People: Chonos and the Huilliches
Magellan and Humboldt Penguin Colonies, UNESCO Wooden Churches, National & Private Reserve Parks in this Chilean Archipelago
At the southern edge of the Chilean mainland, before the land breaks up and becomes the fjords of Patagonia, sits the second largest island in Chile – Isla Grande de Chiloé. It’s a unique island filled with environmental delights and history of a slow blend of European influence and native traditions.
A large portion of the island consists of a national park and two private nature preserves. Consisting mostly of Valdivian temperate forest, Parque Nacional Chiloé (Chiloé National Park) is located on the west coast. Two extensive private natural reserve parks, Parque Tepuhueico and Parque Tantauco, are on the western and southern coasts respectively.
Another popular attraction is Islotes de Puñihuil Natural Monument – a shared breeding ground for Magellan and Humboldt penguins on the north coast of the island. From Ancud, take a day tour via bus and small boat to circle the island where the penguin colonies live.
Travelogue: Chiloé Island (Isla Grande de Chiloé) in Chile
Travelogue video about Chiloe Island (Isla Grande de Chiloe) in southern Chile complete with a penguin colony, national park, nature reserves, historic wooden churches and more.
Church of San Francisco – Chiloé Island, Chile
Enjoy this panorama video of the Church of San Francisco on Chiloé Island in Castro, Chile. The wooden churches on Chiloe were built in the 1600’s by local boat builders with inspiration from the Jesuit missionaries.
