Recognizable by anyone on a map of South America, Chile condenses a unique variety of climates and wilderness panoramas on a long, narrow strip of land 4,300 km long and 200 km wide. An extraordinary country backed by the endless Andes Cordillera which serves as its backbone to explore with its Chilean tour guide. Rocky landscapes of Tierra del Fuego in Chilean Patagonia, desert and arid valley in the north in Atacama, pampas as far as the eye can see in the centre, but also sandy beaches, active or snow-covered volcanoes, fjords, geysers, glaciers and multicoloured lagoons, the extremes attract and meet in Chile. Not forgetting the part of Antarctica that Chile claims or Easter Island and its mysterious moaïs planted thousands of kilometres offshore in the Pacific Ocean. A fierce nature in which Magellanic penguins and other pink flamingos take pleasure. Set off on a journey to the end of the world to discover the rich Chilean culture, a mixture of ancestral traditions inherited from the Araucans and the Incas and a strong "occidentality". A crossbreeding of which you will have a magnificent glimpse in Valparaiso, a port and artistic city with 45 hills.

When to go Chile ?

It is not really the season that counts in Chile, but the geographical area you want to visit. The North, between Santiago and Arica, does not pose too many climatic problems, but the best time to explore the Andes mountain range is between April and November to avoid the risk of being blocked by snow. The best time to visit Patagonia is between October and April (spring and southern summer). The rest of the year, transport is very uncertain and many establishments close their doors.

Attention: the months of January and February correspond to school holidays in South America, which means a (considerable) increase in prices and mandatory bookings in some sites.... Skiers will ignore these remarks and will be delighted to travel to Chile in July and August.

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Practical information for travel Chile

In order to better help you prepare your trip, we offer you various itinerary possibilities, which do not seek to be exhaustive: Patagonia is a huge territory and a trip to the southern lands (as everywhere else!) does not mean that you have to see everything at once. There's no point in running, so it's better to slow down sometimes, not to let yourself be overwhelmed by the frustration of not "ticking all the boxes" of the famous "must-do's". Because it's quite simple, everything is a must in Patagonia. So take the time to define your desires and you will be able to concentrate on areas and particular activities that suit you and that will satisfy your trip. Patagonia is a land that never lets itself be discovered and the paths of the imagination are still open to dreamers, poets and other anchorites. It is captivating... You will come back one day!

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How to go Chile

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How to go alone

There are direct flights to Santiago de Chile. Please note that the price variation depends on the airline you fly with and, most importantly, on the time you book your flight. To get the best fares in high season, buy your tickets six months in advance. For less popular periods, a much shorter delay should not prevent you from getting a good price.

How to go on a tour

Chile lends itself perfectly to long hikes and treks. It will seduce lovers of wide open spaces and dynamic vacations. The offer for this type of accompanied stay is very important and adapts to the level and duration you wish. Many specialists also offer services to organize a customized trip: flights, accommodations, car rental and also extensions to personalize your stay, especially to Easter Island.

How to get around

In spite of a good infrastructure, travelling in Chile is still time consuming. The most economical way is by bus, which serves all the cities of the country on a daily basis. To go up or down the country quickly, the plane is very suitable and rather cheap. The ferry can be a good solution to explore in the south the region of lakes and volcanoes where there are not many roads. The railway network is now limited to a main line between Santiago and Chillán.

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Discover Chile

At the very end of the Western world, Chile is a strange-looking country. A land of poets, explorers and novelists, it fascinates as much as it questions. Long isolated and inaccessible, it was one of the last South American territories to be colonized. Today, Chile is within everyone's reach, but few people know about it. From the summit of its volcanoes to the heart of its glaciers, this Andean country boasts an exceptional natural environment that is sure to satisfy all your wanderlust. But its thousand fascinating places, rebellious history, unruly lands and unique culture hide other, more intimate and complex secrets. To get to grips with this destination, take a closer look at its many facets. The better you get to know Chile, the more you'll be able to take advantage of its assets, and the more you'll be able to appreciate it!

Pictures and images Chile

Flore de la vallée de las Trancas, près de Chillan Arnaud BONNEFOY
Marche sur le Grey Glacier. D. Joseph Meyer - Shutterstock.Com
Palafitos à Castro, île de Chiloé. Jose L. Stephens - shutterstock.com
Moai érigés par la civilisation Rapa Nui Alberto Loyo - Shutterstock.com

The 12 keywords Chile

1. #Andes

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The backbone of the country, it is nothing less than the largest mountain range in the world. As mystical as it is impenetrable, it dominates lakes, valleys, forests, volcanoes and fjords. You will be able to see its peaks and discover the myriad of atmospheres it offers before dying in the waters of Tierra del Fuego.

2. #Asado

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Beyond its gustatory delights, this mythical preparation of mutton is a know-how, an art of living, a reason to get together and share good times with the locals who have never failed in this tradition. Raised in the open air and cooked for hours, theasado, a kind of barbecue, is the culinary specialty of the country.

3. #Condor

With its metallic feathers, the king of the Andes is the ultimate incarnation of freedom! Its majestic flight, spinning and soaring towards the sky, is particularly moving and its silhouette easily identifiable: with a wingspan that can reach up to 3.50 m, the condor is one of the largest birds in the world.

4. #Desert

Arid desert, flowery desert, starry desert... The Atacama Desert fascinates as much as it questions: reputed to be the driest place on the planet, its annual rainfall does not exceed 0.1 millimeter! These conditions are so exceptional that NASA has chosen to test its equipment for the Mars missions here.

5. #Dictatorship

Marked by the coup d'état and the dictatorship of Pinochet (1973-1990), Chile remains traumatized by this dark page of its history which still leaves many traces. Today a new page seems to be written at last with the dawn of a new constitution breaking the hold of the dictator Augusto Pinochet on the Chilean society.

6. #Huaso

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Like his cousin the cowboy of the Wild West, the huaso travels the miles on horseback, proud and unsubdued. An emblematic figure of Chilean folklore, he is descended from the first Andalusian settlers and the region's indigenous peoples. Left to his own devices, he has long embodied a free spirit close to nature and the bearer of a unique culture.

7. #Mapuche

This warrior people resisted both the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors. Guardians of an ancestral culture, this community is very present in Araucania. Fighting to preserve their traditional way of life and protect their lands, they are in constant conflict with the Chilean authorities and represent 85% of the country's indigenous population.

8. #Moais

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Guardians of Easter Island, these 900 monumental statues have been classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. They all come from the quarry of the Rano Raraku volcano and the mystery of their construction still makes travellers dream... Let yourself be carried away by the magic of this island and its enigmatic guardians!

9. #Patagonia

Located somewhere between the 40th and 55th parallel south, Patagonia is the southernmost part of the American continent. Often referred to as the "Deep South", it is a vast region with boundaries that are still unclear and debated. A playground of breathtaking landscapes, it will awaken the most adventurous minds in search of the end of the world!

10. #Pisco

Born and essentially produced in the Elqui Valley, the famous Pisco is a brandy made from wine (like Cognac). National drink of the country, the pisco has even its national holiday, celebrated on May 15th! Disputed between Peru and Chile, this strong alcohol (40 degrees) can be tasted pure or in cocktail under the name of Pisco Sour.

11. #Fireland

This archipelago located in the extreme south of America is composed of one main island and several thousand others. Windy, mystical and isolated, it owes its name to the first tribes who populated it before the arrival of the colonists: to overcome the cold, the nomadic peoples lit large fires and maintained large fireplaces to keep warm.

12. #Volcano

Chile is a seismic country and the kingdom of fire-breathing volcanoes. They sublimate the horizon and dominate the immense steppes with their silhouettes that are as perfect as they are threatening. Some of them have awakened in recent decades. In addition to contemplating them, you can also climb their high peaks.

You are from here, if...

If you never turn down an invitation to an asado : this special moment for your taste buds is above all an excellent excuse to get together and eat a lot!

If you're having breakfast instead of dinner or a snack, this practice is called Once and is a tradition for many families. The food is sweet and savory: bread, avocado, eggs, ham..

If you're always late , because here you don't really look at your watch! Chilean time is always half an hour or even an hour late. So arm yourself with patience and, as we say here, " tranquilo "!

If you're carrying your calabash with mate, that tasty, bitter blend of roasted leaves and hot water.

If you speak Spanish the Chilean way! Chileans speak (very) fast and hardly ever pronounce "s". If you have a basic grasp of Spanish, add the following words to your vocabulary: Cachái? (do you understand?),bacán (great), Sí po (yeah), weón (very familiar among friends)...

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