Chile travel guide

35° 40′ 30″ S, 71° 32′ 35″ O

Chile

Chile stretches out in a ribbon-like fashion along the western coast of South America. From it's northern point in the mountainous national parcs of the Andes to the web of Fjords around Cape Horn it is brimming with natural beauty. The tectonic nature of Chile provides a richness of nature; from the plentiful coastline, home to a wide variety of breeds of penguin and sea lions; to the brackish salt water lakes, home of the flamingos; to the towering mountainous peaks where puma roam and condors soar. The crown jewel of which are the dusty hues of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth.

Here amongst all this beauty you will discover the majestic peaks of the Torres del Paine national parc. Trek in the shadows of these giants and feel yourself fade into insignificance. For adventure travellers, trekking in Patagonia is the obvious choice. The near vertical walls of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre attract thousands of trekkers and climbers each year and the classic "W" and "O" treks around this area are iconic.

If remote environments rich in nature and stunning landscapes are what you are after then Chile must be on your bucket list.

06:25 GMT -3

local time

Santiago

capital city

756,950

area in km²

Chilean Spanish

main language(s)

Highlights in Chile

Patagonia

At the southern tip of the Andes mountain range, covering vast swathes of Chile and Argentina, the windswept and remote region of Patagonia has been enticing those in search of adventure for over one hundred years. It is a land of extremes, where vertical spires of granite rise up out of the landscape and glaciers cascade down the hillsides spilling enormous blocks of ice into turquoise lagoons. The national parks of Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine are home to some of the most strikingly beautiful mountain scenery anywhere in the world. Have you have always wanted to travel to the end of the earth and see what was there? Let Kandoo Adventures show you.

Wildlife

Chilean wildlife is by far some of the most exotic in the world. The variety of landscapes and habitats ensures that wherever you go there will be an animal worth encountering...although this may not be said for a puma! Particularly in the remote environments that we visit, keep your eyes peeled as we step into the homes of some beautiful animals.

Santiago

Chile's electric capital is known for it's indigenous people, fine wines and unbeatable location. The dramatic Andean backdrop also provides a good ski location in the winter months, very close to the city. Meanwhile, the Maipo river creates a natural border to the south of the city, flowing from the beautiful Maipo Canyon, a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts.

Atacama Desert

This arid landscape is the driest non-polar desert in the world. With a total area of 105,000 km2, the desert plateau covers the northern third of Chile and is home to lots of different wildlife including flamingos, scorpions and Andean fox, the regions largest predator.