Chile - North to South
It would not be right to finish our trip to Bolivia and Chile without putting together at least one blog about Chile. Yes we enjoyed quite an adventure in Bolivia, but our travels from north to south in Chile - were amazing. During our travels, we experienced distinct contrasts in climate, geography & culture. Remember Chile is as long north to south as Canada and the USA are east to west (2,670mi/4,300kms). The big difference is that Chile averages only 112 miles or 180kms in width.
The North - with its arid desert like geography is rich in minerals. The unique landscapes make it an attractive place to visit, at least once in your lifetime. Whether it's the deserts of Bolivia or the natural wonders near San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, this area was a great place to start our travels in Chile.
Below are two photos I took of the indigious people of the Atacama Desert.
The Centre of Chile is where the vast majority of Chileans live. Santiago, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar make up for 40% of Chile's population. Two very interesting coastal cities to visit, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.
Valparaiso - Chile's City of Colour & Murals
Vina del Mar - Chile's Spectacular Sand Dunes
The Central Valley is the agricultural and wine region of Chile. Many fruits and vegetables are grown here for domestic consumption and for exporting around the world. Chilean wines are growing in popularity and many vineyards are found throughout the central valley. The most famous Chilean red wine - the Carmenere.
What an amazing backdrop to the vineyards - the snow capped Andes Mountains.
The South Central area is considered Chile's most beautiful region. More rain falls here and the landscape is green and lush. This is where Chile's cattle industry thrives. This is also Chile's adventure playground. There are great opportunities for rafting, hiking, climbing, fishing, and biking - all under the shadow of the most amazing volcanoes - many still active.
Pucon
is a beautiful city in the South Central region. Definitely our favourite city. It nestles in the valley below the Villarrica Volcano. You can still see steam coming from the top, as this is one of the most active volcanoes in the region. There have been eruptions in 1964, 1971 and most recently in 2015.
Puerto Varas
is another active lifestyle city. Puerto Varas's architecture has a distinct German influence as 6,000 German immigrants helped settle this area in the mid 1800's. Like Pucon, the vistas are dominated by magnificent volcanos. The Orsono Volcano is an iconic image of all of Chile. Imagine waking up each day to the photo below. This was truly a room with a view.
The drive around the lake along the base of the Orsono Volcano was one the the most beautiful drives of our whole trip.
Chile an Adventure Waiting
I hope the photos I've included in this blog will encourage you to consider Chile as a travel destination. Chile is a proud nation. Proud of its heritage, beauty & diversity. The people are welcoming and the country safe to travel in. Well worth a serious consideration.
