If you are looking for adventure, you are sure to find it in Chile. Maybe you are an avid skier but your travel partner prefers fun in the sun at the beach; no worries, both of you can enjoy your chosen activities, and all within the same day.
Situated on the Pacific Ocean side of South America, with Peru to the north and Bolivia and Argentina to the west, Chile is approximately 2,880 miles (4,506 km) long, but averages only about 110 miles (180 km) in width.
Thanks to this unusual geography, it is possible to hit the slopes in the renowned Andes mountains in the morning, and after a short drive of about an hour and a half, enjoy the afternoon sipping cool drinks and soaking up the sun at the beach. However, for the adventure seeker, Chile offers much more than just skiing and beach fun. From desert in the north to arctic glaciers in the south, there are nearly unlimited possibilities available to the adventure traveler.
Beginning in the north, you will find the Atacama desert. With an average annual rainfall of less than 0.04 inches (1 mm), and some areas that have never recorded rainfall, Atacama is considered the driest place on earth. Daytime temperatures average between 77-86F (25-30C) in the summer (December to February) with winter (June to August) temperatures slightly lower at around 64-77F (18-25C). Make sure to pack warm clothes if you plan to visit this area, because at night it can drop below 32F (0C) in summer and as low as 14F (-10C) in winter.
In the middle of this dry, virtually sterile region, you will find an oasis where the village of San Pedro de Atacama is located at an elevation of about 7,900 ft. (2,400 meters). A popluar tourist area, the adventurer will find sandboarding activities and native ruins to explore, while the more relaxed vacationer can visit the local archeological museum featuring pre-Columbian cultural exhibits. At the conclusion of your daytime adventures, everyone can enjoy the evening together for some stargazing as the climate in this desert area allows for unrivalled and spectacular views.
Moving to the coast and a little further south, La Serena is another popular stop. Beaches are the main attraction here but in neighboring Coquimbo you will find a relatively inexpensive tour boat complete with a guide who will fill you in on the very interesting pirate history of this coastal town and will also happily point out all the "must see" destinations once you are back on land, such as the Millenium Cross and the Faro Lighthouse. The highlight of this tour is an up close and personal look at the native seal population that inhabit a large rock jutting up out of the sea just off the coast of La Serena. For those needing a bit more excitement, windsurfing, sea kayaking, sailing and diving are also available.
Most visitors to La Serena make it a point to visit the nearby Valle de Elqui (Elqui Valley), known for its enchanting scenery as well as the place where Chile's famous pisco is produced. Here the active traveler will find horseback riding and trekking to keep them busy. Afterward, you can relax in the evening and enjoy a pisco sour, considered to be the national drink of Chile. Be careful though, the siren call of the pisco sour has drawn many a foreigner to an exceedingly painful morning after.
Continuing down the coast, you arrive at Chile's capital city, Santiago, situated in the central part of the country. Chile has a population of over 16 million, nearly half of which reside in Santiago. A recent 2009 estimate put the population figure of the city at around 7 million. While the city is chock full of cultural and tourist attractions, those looking for more excitement will be able to do some biking and trekking, ending the day by experiencing some of Santiago's night life. If you want to dance all night to a particular sound, be it disco, jazz, salsa, hip hop, heavy metal or even Irish music, you can find it somewhere in Santiago. Nearly every musical taste has a niche somewhere in the city. If you prefer to wind down the evening with a nice meal and a glass of Chilean wine, there is wide selection of ethnic cuisines to choose from at restaurants that will fit every budget.
Leaving the capital city behind, you continue southward to Chile's lake district (Los Lagos). With its snow-capped volcanoes and deep blue mountain lakes, it offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the entire country. Waterfalls, rivers, forests, lakes and thermal springs provide a true playground for the outdoorsman and adventure traveler. White water rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking and climbing the famous Villarica volcano are just a few of the activities to wear out even the most energetic of folks. This is definitely one place you want to make sure you don't forget to bring your camara to.
One can't leave the lake district without a visit to Puerto Montt, a small port city featuring native handicrafts and local seafood markets. From here you can, visit one of the nearby national parks, go kayaking in the Tenglo Canal, or take a day trip to Chiloe island, famous for its myths and legends.
Finally, at the very tip of Chile you arrive in Punto Arenas, one of the southernmost cities in the world. Located on the Brunswick Peninsula in the Strait of Magellan, about 881 miles (1418 km) from the coast of Antarctica, it is the capital of Chile's Magallanes y Antarctica Region. The name Punto Arenas in Spanish, literally means "Sandy Point".
Here you can ski, go trekking in the Torres del Paine national park or visit the penguin colony "Seno Otway" just north of Punto Arenas, where every spring hundreds of Magellanic Penguins return to their place of birth to breed. Whale watching is available at the Rey Jorge Island Natural Sea Park, while those who prefer to observe different species of native animals and birds can take a trip to Fauna Patagonica "Estancia Lolita".
For the very adventurous, and those who wish to brave the cold, cruises are available that wind their way through the channels of Patagonia, crossing inlets and fjords, unveiling scenic wonders such as the Serrano Iceburg and the Darwin mountain range, which boasts a thick Magellan forest crowned by glaciers.
Whether your idea of fun is a leisurely bike ride through the park topped off by a wine-tasting tour and a good meal, or a six hour trek to the top of an active volcano, the adventure you are looking for is waiting for you in Chile.