Chile

Once having discovered it, travelers return to Chile again and again. Some go to visit the Lake District, others to fish for the world-famous trout. The attractions of this beanstalk of a country are seemingly endless—boat rides through the fjords, the sea kayaking, the rodeos, mountain climbing. Its breathtaking national parks are legendary, starting with Lauca in the north and stretching southward with Fray Jorge, Payehue, Vincente Perez Rosales, and on to Torres del Paine, the jewel in the crown of the Andes.

There’s also the Chilean Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego as well as the giant statues of Easter Island that attract anthropologists, explorers from all over the world. And of course, many travelers seek out the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, where Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, survived being marooned for many years. More? Chile claims a large piece of the Antarctic, which can be visited. Or, the Atacama in the north is the world’s driest desert, and attracts visitors to its ghost towns, beaches, and prime fishing sites.

And that’s just for starters. We could mention La Serena, the famous observatory, the Chiloe, the wild and wooly island near Puerto Montt, the enormous open pit copper mine of Chuquicamata, and the glorious vineyards which produce some of the world’s best wines.

The view from the roof of the Radisson Hotel in Santiago. NB. Do not let the door shut behind you, otherwise you will have the embarrassment of having to be rescued by hotel staff! Even more embarrassing when you are not staying there!!