Steph Dyson - Moon Chile: With Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Travel Guide)

Glaciar OHiggins.

Superlative in beauty and scale and at times utterly wild, Chile is a truly unique South American nation, where you can venture from desert to glacier and from pristine coastline to soaring mountaintop, all in one trip. Those seeking an unforgettable adventure will not be disappointed.

Chile is a place that, in many ways, doesnt make an awful lot of sense, defined as it is by huge contrasts. Its bookended to the east and west by the snow-cloaked Andes Mountains and the freezing waters of the Pacific Ocean. The dry desert north and the lush Patagonian south are different in every conceivable way, from the colors of the landscapes to the traditions and ethnic makeup of the peoplebut both somehow still represent Chile.

When I head to a national park or drive out into the mountains, there is always something new that delights me. I stumble on a bewitching glacial lake or watch in awe as the stars light up the sky above a soothing hot spring tucked away in a mountain valley.

Chile is the ideal place to stray from the main roads. Go wilderness camping in a silent forest in Patagonia. Stargaze in the Atacama Desert. Ski down the flank of a snow-covered volcano. Peel back Chiles layers and see the world from a new perspective.

the national flower of Chile, the copihue

Santiagos Plaza de Armas

Trek Through Parque Nacional

: Experience the northern part of Patagonia by car, and youll pass through some of the countrys wildest lands and its least visited national parks.

Admire Architecture: Even though its not far from the mainland, Chilo is culturally distinct from the rest of the country. See multicolored palafitos (houses on stilts) perched above the water and check out the archipelagos ingeniously assembled churches.

Stargaze in the Atacama : Northern Chile has some of the globes darkest skies. Theres no better way to behold the heavens than on a star-gazing tour.

Spot Chilean : Keep your eyes peeled for some of the most interesting animal species in the country, like penguins, whales, and pumas.

Venture to the Ends of the Earth: Take a boat cruise through the labyrinthine Chilean fjords and visit . It may not literally be the ends of the earth, but the remote and windswept area certainly feels that way.

Go .

Set Foot on : You may have heard of it as Easter Island. This Polynesian island far from the mainland is like nowhere else on the planet.

Explore Charming Cities: Eat at world-class restaurants in cosmopolitan (pictured).

Get an Rush: Sandboarding, surfing, and white-water rafting are just some of the nearly endless adventures possible in Chile.

Where to Go

Santiago

In the countrys most modern city, fine-dining restaurants rub shoulders with typical Chilean bistros and spirited live music venues. Historic buildings host museums and cultural centers remembering Chiles colorful history. The capital citys backdrop of the snowcapped Andes means skiing, hiking, and remote weekend escapes are never far away.

Valparaso and Via del Mar

On the coast west of Santiago is a cooler climate and crisper air, housing the seductive beach resort towns of hilly bohemian Valparaso and modern Via del Mar, where Chiles rich and famous kick back during the summer. Picture-perfect coastal towns surround the two cities to the north and south, boasting glorious sun-drenched beaches. Nearby, the Valle de Casablanca is laced with long-standing vineyards.

Norte Grande and the Atacama Desert

Stretching from the border with Peru, the seemingly barren plains of the Norte Grande fold into the spine of the Andes. The region is home to the