The driest desert in the world in the north, granite towers and glaciers in the south – Chile is 4,300 kilometres of nature in a single country.
Photo: Adam Young (Unsplash)
Full disclosure: Chile is on my list, not in my photo album. Friends who've been there describe two trips in one: the Atacama in the north with salt lakes, geysers and the clearest night sky on earth – and Patagonia in the south with Torres del Paine National Park, for many the most beautiful hiking park in the world.
In between, Santiago with the Andes at its back, and Valparaíso, the colourful port city with its funiculars, an hour and a half away. And if you have the time and the money, you can fly five hours out to Easter Island and the Moai statues.
Chile is the most expensive country in South America, but also the easiest: safe, well organised, easy to explore by hire car. From San Pedro de Atacama you do day trips; in Patagonia you hike the «W» in Torres del Paine in four days or do day tours from Puerto Natales.
Santiago: Providencia or Lastarria. San Pedro de Atacama: village centre. Patagonia: Puerto Natales or lodges in the park.
I almost always compare hotels, apartments and guesthouses on Booking.com – with genuine reviews and usually free cancellation.
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