America > Chile: Weather, Map, Costs and Travel Guide

With its magnificent countryside and recent troubled past, Chile is still an appealing country with various attractions.

The Capital, Santiago, is huge and highly polluted. Its centre is fairly limited but do visit the churches and parks, the colourful and picturesque central market and the Plaza de Armas, the pedestrian road Paseo Ahumada, the Moneda Palace, the Pre-Colombian Museum and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Go up the Cerro San Cristobal hill and visit the vineyards of the area.

Valparaiso is a place not to be missed. The surrounding cliffs dominated the cobbled streets and stairways lead down from the higher parts to the seafront giving you great scope for wandering around this picturesque and characteristic town. The museums and market here are also worth a detour.

Easter Island is obviously an unusual place that has to be visited. Situated 4,000 km from the shores of Chile; its mysteries are yet to be sufficiently explained. The mysterious origins of its Polynesian population and the construction of its awe-inspiring massive statues will leave you full of questions.

The Puyehue National Park has some fantastic views; deep forests, lakes, waterfalls, all housing a multitude of wildlife and birds of all kinds among the local vegetation. It’s an ideal place for hiking or other outdoor activities.

You may be tempted by the charms of seaside resorts such as La Sirena with its colonial architecture, or Vina del Mar with its Botanical Gardens.

Go down to Patagonia and discover the Penguin Reserve at Punta Arenas, take a pony trek in the Torres del Paine National Park or embark at Puerto Natales for a cruise among the fiords.

There are various international airlines that serve Santiago.
A visa is not required for European citizens.

The currency in circulation is the Chilean peso. The required budget is still fairly moderate despite an increase over the last few years. A reasonable meal will cost you less than €15 and a double room around €40.

There are no particular health precautions to take but protect yourself against the sun and watch for altitude sickness. Make sure all your vaccinations are up to date and include that for hepatitis A.

Travelling internally by bus is an efficient means of transport although internal flights are reasonably priced too.