Chile
Extreme. Wondrous. Welcoming. Adventure by default in this sliver of a country.
Stretching from the parched dunes of the world’s driest desert, to endless glacial fields and fjords, Chile does extremes like nowhere else on earth. Fertile valleys, smoky volcanoes, towering forests, fearsome rivers; it’s ripe for exploring. Just don’t rush (the locals certainly don’t).
Experiences
Walk the streets of the colonial city of Valparaíso; enjoy sundowners with a natural show of kaleidoscopic sunset colours against a backdrop of jagged Andean mountains; discover lush orchards with local horticulturalists; trek into virgin temperate rainforest to watch monkeys swing in the canopy; kayak along dramatic fjords; take a private plane, helicopter, or hot air balloon and let the awesome, endless Patagonian steppes imprint on your soul; visit steaming hot springs, gleaming white salt flats and emerald lakes; explore the gold rush remains in Tierra del Fuego; enjoy a tasting at a leading winery and sample the finest Carmenère, Chile’s signature grape.
Where to Stay
Boutique adventure lodges in the endless Patagonian wilds; private vineyards; an expedition motor yacht with helipad; slick urban hotels in Santiago.
When to Go
Patagonia is most accessible from October to March. Santiago, the Central Valleys, and the Atacama Desert are year-round destinations.