Chile Escapes

Chile is a long, narrow country stretching along South America’s western edge, with more than 6,000km of Pacific Ocean coastline. Santiago, its capital, sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains. The city’s palm-lined Plaza de Armas contains the neoclassical cathedral and the National History Museum. The massive Parque Metropolitano offers swimming pools, a botanical garden and zoo.

As the World was being created there were many unused elements left over on the Planet. The legend rumors that all these elements such as volcanoes, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, woods, glaciers, islands, landscapes and fertile valleys were distributed along a long and narrow stretch of land. The end result being Chile…

 

In between the Andes Mountains to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Chile ranges over a length of 4.300km boasting a dizzying variety of climates and landscapes including the Altiplano area and the world’s most arid desert – the Atacama Desert; the Mediterranean Central Valley with its vibrant capital; Santiago and famous Wine Valleys ,like the Colchagua region and others. Heading south, Chile’s treasure continues with the Lake District revealing majestic volcanoes, rivers and pristine forests as well as the fjords and ice fields of the Austral Road, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Furthermore and equally impressive Chile is defined by the Antarctica, Juan Fernandez Archipelago and the mysterious Rapa Nui.

 

Santiago is Chile’s capital as well as the location of the main international Airport: Aeropuerto Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez. Different airlines operate domestic flights to the main cities of the country. If you decide to enter Chile by road you will have to cross one of the borders that connect Chile with Bolivia, Peru or Argentina. You can also arrive by ocean, taking a cruise.

 

Just about everything! Since Chile is a narrow long strip of land it offers many different landscapes which means different climates, cultures and food! Don’t be surprised to be engulfed in the southern winds; facing a glacier on a Monday and trekking under the beaming hot sun on the driest desert on Earth on a Tuesday!

SANTIAGO

Routinely chosen as one of the best cities to visit, Santiago is a dynamic and contemporary metropolis located in the heart of Chile’s fertile central valley. Chile’s capital is a vibrant city full of character, with a thriving arts culture, trendy restaurant scene, and lively nightlife. Embraced on all sides by mountains – the mighty Andes to the east and the smaller coast range to the west – on a clear day Santiago boasts one of the most incredible city scenes in the world. Old-world colonial mansions and eclectic neighbourhoods transition seamlessly to the skyscrapers of “Sanhattan” in a captivating fusion of tradition and modernity. With world-class skiing, wine tasting, biking, and trekking right at its doorstep, Santiago is a city full of exhilarating possibilities.

 

LAKES DISTRICT (Region de Los Lagos)

Chile’s Lakes District, a short flight from Santiago is a gorgeous example of what Mother Nature can do, given the right ingredients. And here they are loads of lakes, winding roads, shady forests, snow-capped volcanoes, rivers, fjords waterfalls, hot springs and forests of trees known and unknown, including the monkey puzzle tree. Add to that the indigenous Mapuche group’s culture and food, as well as the German influence mainly seen in architecture, street names and the un-missable kuchen (fruit pies and crumbles), and you’ve got yourself a great adventure. The main city for starting off a Chilean Lakes District trip is Puerto Varas, on the shores of Lago Llanquihue, which is also one of the stars of the region, perfect for kayaking, or a multi-day circumnavigation by bike.

 

CHILEAN DESERT

The driest desert in the world captivates and is the scene of some of our most transformative journeys. Chile is home to what scientists consider to be the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert, a plateau that stretches across 600 miles (1,000 kms) of land from the Pacific coastline over the Andes mountains. The geography offers photographers and travelers alike jaw-dropping scenes and endless adventures. South of the Atacama, Chile’s desert lands are home to bohemian towns, pisco production and some of the worlds most renowned observatories (hello, stargazing).

 

AYSEN, PATAGONIA

The story of Aysen is one of perseverance. Life here is simple, but hard-fought, as gauchos (as local cowboys are called) persist in extreme weather and whipping winds, yet make a life out of the part of Chile that is the least densely populated, raising cows and sheep, some of which may be destined to become your dinner, in the form of roasted Patagonian lamb. Other settlers to the area make the most of high season, fishing and picking and preserving local foods, to enjoy year-round.

 

CHILEAN WINE COUNTRY

Between the jagged peaks of the Andes and the dramatic Pacific coastline lies some of the worlds most unique wine valleys. Chile is an agricultural paradise whose bounty of fruits and vegetables supplies the world’s marketplaces and whose wine graces tables on every continent. A Mediterranean climate and increasingly organic, sustainable farming practices contribute to creating high-quality wines which are the purest expression of their privileged terroir. While standard geography would suggest that Chile’s long, narrow shape should display the greatest changes in growing conditions from north to south.

 

SKI COUNTRY IN THE ANDES

The gorgeous peaks of the Andes – the second highest mountain range in the world – provide an incredible backdrop for your Chilean ski adventure. With several world-class ski resorts within a few hours of Santiago (some even sit on the slopes of active volcanoes!), Chile offers one-of-a-kind experiences for skiers and boarders of all skill levels. As Chile’s leading ski tour operator,

  • Skiing the Andes- Skiing in the Andes is on any adventurer’s bucket list. Austral winter is opposite from the northern hemisphere’s, meaning skiing year-round is possible too. We’re so addicted to powder that we’ve been hosting ski trips here in Chile for 15 years and we operate Chile’s only 100% all catski experience, Ski Arpa.
  • Cycling Trips – We’re a team that enjoys cycling as a past-time, which has led us to explore the back roads of South America. Through private lands, across rolling vineyards and along the pacific coast are some of our favorite ways to get outdoors.
  • Food & Wine tours – We believe that food and wine (and great company) really do feed the soul. And lucky for us, this part of the world offers some of the best. From an engaging dinner with a garage winemaker, cooking with a professional chef in his rustic kitchen, or touring boutique wineries with the owner – we connect you with locals who create an unforgettable experience. Explore ideas for custom private trips across Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.
  • Art & Culture – Experiences that dive into a destination’s art scene, historic architecture and artisans’ crafts are great ways to get different perspectives on a culture and its people.
  • Off-The-Grid – Getting off-the-grid is getting a lot of hype these days, yet it’s also harder than ever to find. Luckily, here in Chile, you can find some of the most stunning and remote nature on earth.
  • Bucket Listers – Bucket lists. Everyone’s got one. The southern cone is a land of extremes from which we could make an entire list alone. Sleeping under the stars under the world’s clearest skies, experiencing the horns of Torres del Paine up close and personal, a night of tango in Buenos Aires. Some may sound cliché, others a little more hidden, either way they are experiences of a lifetime.
  • Honeymoons & Anniversaries – Romantic getaways in South America are top of most adventurous couples’ travel lists. We get to know our traveling couples and create just the right private escape.
  • Outdoor Adventure & Indoor Luxury – Because sometimes you want to finish that adventurous hike with a five-star spa treatment, these trip inspirations are our some of our favorite ways to adventure hard and relax harder.
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