Chile

Chilean Grapes. Photo by Freyja Ellis

V!VA User‘s Description

Wedged between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, the best known fact about Chile is its wholly improbable shape. Stretching 4,000 km (2,500 mi) south from the base of Peru right to the tip of the continent, it has almost three times as much coastline as its neighbour, yet only half the total landmass. As you might expect of such a country, Chile features huge extremes in its landscape. The very north of the country is occupied by the world’s driest desert, some parts of which have never felt a drop of rain, while deep in the south, the famous ice fields of Tierra del Fuego stretch out into the distance like giant floating boulders. In between, more hospitable terrain greets visitors; palm-fringed sandy beaches and well-developed ski-resorts can be reached in a couple of hours from Santiago and further south, the Lake District and Patagonia both feature world-class hiking. On your way down, you can stay in a comfortable hacienda in the midst of Wine Country.

By Zenan Delaney

Once a small fishing village, Huasco grew into a small town due to the iron ore industry and tourism. A good base to operate from for those that come to Chile to see the dessert in bloom, it also has a nice beach. Driving in to town you’ll see the land around Huasco is adorned with Olive trees, and it is now famed for its olive products, which are some of the best in the country. The promenade is spectacular for a small town and a pleasant walk at any time of day.

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