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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

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