Chile is, as I like to think of it, ‘South America light’.

For first-timers to this part of the Americas, it’s an ideal intro to the vast and varied continent. Since Pinochet’s tyrannical dictatorship ended in the 90s, Chile has emerged as one of the ultimate travel destinations. It’s certainly having a moment; Lonely Planet has named Chile the #1 country to visit for 2018.

Chile has long-held a reputation for adventure tourism; hiking, skiing, surfing, sand boarding, rafting and glacial ice trekking are all on the agenda, as well as a paradise for nature lovers boasting some of the most pristine places on the planet.

However, it’s not all adrenalin and adventure, there’s plenty for those who enjoy exploring at a slower pace with striking architecture, vibrant coastal cities and luxury lodgings where you can kick back with gourmet food and local wine.

Chile’s unique culture is shaped by the influences of Spanish colonisation, European settlement and the original indigenous population. The largest group of native inhabitants are the Mapuche who come from Southern Chile.

One of the many theories as to the origins of Chile’s name is derived from a native Mapuche word meaning ‘ends of the earth’. When you spend some time in the wild and windy Chilean Patagonia it does indeed feel as though you’re standing on the very edge.

So with that in mind, here are a few things to know before you go…

1. Be prepared for the most breathtaking landscapes

Chile is the longest, narrowest country in the world stretching over 4,300km from north to south; a sliver strung along the Andes Mountain range and flanked by a windswept coastline.

Chilean landscapes are incredibly diverse – from the moonscape of the Atacama Desert, colourful portside cities, fertile valleys of the wine region, the untamed beauty of the Chiloe Archipelago, the lush Lake District (like something straight out of a Swiss storybook), the craggy granite horns of Torres del Paine to the Patagonian peaks, foggy fjords and sparkling glacial fields. Before you go, do yourself a favour by watching the cult classic The Motorcycle Diaries to see the scenery unfold on screen.

 

2. Don’t be surprised by the arresting architecture

Scandinavians get all the credit for trendy architecture and style, meanwhile Chileans hold their own when it comes to contemporary design. Expect eco-friendly hotels that are strikingly modern yet use natural material, graceful structures and vast windows to blend in with the rugged, remote surroundings.

Sitting on the Llanquihue Lake is Hotel AWA, which blends a distinct Brutalist style with the environment using local materials such as volcanic rock and native cypress.

Another notable hotel is Tierra Patagonia (pictured below), whose dynamic form is reminiscent of a prehistoric fossil strewn on the desolate shoreline. A firm favourite with design-lovers is the historic The Singular Patagonia; an impressively converted cold storage warehouse set amongst the fjords.

3. It’ll leave you starry-eyed

In northern Chile you’ll find the world’s driest desert, the Atacama. Visitors are enchanted by the surreal lunar landscape of the aptly named ‘Moon Valley’ and the good vibes of the adobe town, San Pedro de Atacama.

It’s said there is a positive energy in the air created by high quantities of minerals quartz, copper and sodium. The place certainly leaves one feeling starry-eyed – with zero humidity, high altitude and unpolluted skies the Atacama boasts perfect conditions for stargazing.

So much so that it’s home to an astrological observatory named ALMA, it’s the largest of it’s kind equipped with powerful tools for an unprecedented look into the universe’s oldest galaxies.

The secluded luxury hotel Alto Atacama hosts stargazing evenings for guests. Astro-tourists can gaze up at the heavens and marvel at the celestial wonders (just quietly, there are even rumours of UFO sightings).

4. It’s the place to be for lovers of literature

It’s little wonder that Chile is known as ‘Pais del Poetas’ (country of poets) as two Nobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded to Chilean poets – Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Minstral. Whilst Minstral was stirred by the isolation of Patagonian landscapes, Neruda drew inspiration from the portside town of Valparaiso.

Valparaiso has long charmed Chilean writers, poets and painters and today it remains a gritty artist-enclave. The UNESCO heritage listed old town is perched on the cliff side and splashed with colour. Climb the steep staircases or ride the old-fashioned funicular to the top.

5. Chile has around 2000 volcanoes (and some of them are still active!)

Chile sits on a string of volcanoes and fault lines known as the ‘Ring of Fire’, so there’s no shortage of seismic activity.

It’s the second largest volcano chain in the world after Indonesia. In Pucon you can hike the still active Volcano Villarrica, it’s one of the few volcanoes in the world to have an active lava lake within its crater. If hiking a volcano isn’t on your bucket list, relax at Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira watching the plumes of smoke float from the volcano in the distance.

Meanwhile, the El Tatio Geysers in Northern Chile is the largest geo-thermal field in the Southern Hemisphere. Be sure to get up early as the otherworldly craters are beautifully illuminated at sunrise.

WORDS: Eddie Hart of The Portmanteau Press