14 replies to this topic

[Marysmith.0901]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm planning to go to Chile next year, maybe around January. I know that I still have more time to prepare, but I believe that it's better to be early than sorry. Lol    So, I am looking for some advice and recommendations. I agree that Chile is a beautiful and diverse country with so much to explore. This article has really sparked my interest in visiting this country. 

https://gowithguide.com/blog/chile-tourism-statistics-2023-the-ultimate-guide-5558 I hope that I also have three weeks of vacation. I think two weeks is not enough, though. I'll do my best to make the most of it. Thanks again for the ideas! But, if you still have more to share, it will be much appreciated! Cheers! 

[buckland]

I used to live in Paraguay. I made two 2 month trips with a backpack in 1979 and 1980. Long time ago. Chile stands out in the top two countries I have traveled to out for more than 40. People were gracious and open. Food and wine spectacular. It is a huge country with three distinct biomes. If you want dry mountain desert or deep wild fiords it is there. Torres de Piné stands out as insanely beautiful. The area around Villarrica Volcano.  The city was not my destination but if you want panache it is Vińa del Mar.  If you want pre Inca ruins go to the very north at Chan Chan. (very rough up there) or perhaps the Atacama desert... try the train!

No matter what you do Chile is magnificent. (if you are a wine nut ... google places !) 

[Marysmith.0901]

I used to live in Paraguay. I made two 2 month trips with a backpack in 1979 and 1980. Long time ago. Chile stands out in the top two countries I have traveled to out for more than 40. People were gracious and open. Food and wine spectacular. It is a huge country with three distinct biomes. If you want dry mountain desert or deep wild fiords it is there. Torres de Piné stands out as insanely beautiful. The area around Villarrica Volcano.  The city was not my destination but if you want panache it is Vińa del Mar.  If you want pre Inca ruins go to the very north at Chan Chan. (very rough up there) or perhaps the Atacama desert... try the train!

No matter what you do Chile is magnificent. (if you are a wine nut ... google places !) 

 

 

Wow,  Your recommendations are very helpful, I'll definitely add Torres de Piné, Villarrica Volcano, and Chan Chan to my list. Thanks for that! Did you try any cool adventures or activities when you were in Chile?

[buckland]

It was a different time. Allende had been just overthrown, there was still hostilities with Argentina. It was the time of the 'disappeared'. Travel was actually quite dangerous and one needed to be very cautious. I did get into trouble but was luckily saved by good people. So there were no tourist things to do other than explore places and meet people. No internet, phones, just a map. I hopped a freighter from Puerto Mont to Punta Arenas. That was a wonderful week going through the southern waterway... very similar to the Alaskan waterway. I climbed the volcano and looked in the caldera ... it is a bit too active now to suggest that. Be sure to get out of the cities and explore.... take the train south. I am sure I would not recognize it today but it must still be beautiful.

[Marysmith.0901]

Woah! It sounds like you were quite the daredevil back in the day, since I can't imagine hopping a freighter to travel anywhere nowadays, haha. Can't wait to make some fun memories.  Thanks for sharing your experience it's very helpful Cheers!