Chile is a country of startling contrasts and extreme beauty, with attractions ranging from the towering volcanic peaks of the Andes to the ancient forests of the Lake District. There are a multitude of very good parks here, and plenty of opportunities for fine adventure travel. Chile is justly famous as the location of Torres del Paine, considered by many to be the finest nature travel destinations in all of South America.

The most obvious factor in Chile's remarkable slenderness is the massive, virtually impassable wall of the Andes, a mountain range that is still rising and that contains more than fifty active volcanic peaks. The western border is of course the Pacific Ocean, but it is a misconception to picture Chile as nothing more than the steep western slope of the Andean peaks. All along its length Chile is marked by a narrow depression between the mountains and the sea. To the north the land rises and becomes more arid, until one reaches the forbidding Atacama Desert, one of the most inhospitable regions on earth. To the south just the opposite transformation takes place: the land falls away, and the region between mountains and ocean fades into the baffling archipelagic maze that terminates in Chilean Patagonia. Chile's southern extremity is marked by Cape Horn, a treacherous headland surrounded by almost continuously storm-tossed seas and passable only through the foggy stillness of the Strait of Magellan.

maipocanyon.jpg (23104 bytes)In the center of the country, however, is a long and expansive river valley, a five hundred mile corridor occupied in the north by vineyards and great farms and in the south by primeval forests and enchanting lakes. Santiago, the capital, anchors the northern and more prosperous section of the central valley. The lush Lake District to the south, however, is the homeland of Chile's indigenous peoples, the Araucanians.

Also part of Chile are two notable Pacific possessions-the Juan Fernandez Islands and the famous Easter Island, both of which are administered as national parks. The Juan Fernandez islands are located about 670 km off the Chilean coast, while Easter Island is situated 3700 km distant.

Chile's climate is as diverse as its geography. Aside from the obviously extreme climatic conditions of the Andes an the Atacama, however, the country enjoys a comfortable temperate climate.

People

Chile's population is composed predominantly of mestizos, who are descended from marriage between the Spanish colonizers and the indigenous people. The surviving indigenous groups consist of the Aymara, in the north, and the Mapuche, who number roughly 100,000 and continue to inhabit the forested areas of the lake district. Chile is also home to a number of significant immigrant groups, including minority populations from virtually every European country. There are signifcant numbers of Basques and Palestinians. The high proportion of mestizos among Chile's people has made race a minor issue in comparison to class, which continues to be a source of considerable tension. The great majority of Chile's people, as one might expect, are concentrated in the central valley. Spanish is the country's official language, but some of the Indian dialects remain. In the north, they speak Aymara, in the south Mapuche, and on Easter Island the Polynesian language of Rapa Nui.

Climate

The climate of Chile comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale, extending across 38 degrees in latitude, making generalisations difficult. According to the Köppen system, Chile within its borders hosts at least seven major climatic subtypes, ranging from desert in the north, to alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and south east, humid subtropical in Easter Island, Oceanic in the south and mediterranean climate in central Chile. There are four seasons in most of the country: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November).

Like a lot of countries in South America, Chile has started to develop its medical facilities in order to attract rising numbers of tourists looking to avail of high level health services at much reduced costs compared to North America and Europe. Those taking full advantage of medical services in Chile can also benefit from the excellent tourism infrastructure and some spectacular locations at which to reflect and relax.

For American tourists, travel to Chile is easy. No visa is required, making having medical treatment carried out in Chile a viable option for US citizens. Citizens of countries outside the US should find the visa application process for Chile straightforward and reasonably inexpensive, although stipulations vary from country to country.

Santiago, the capital city, is a hub for international affairs and also the location for many of the country’s top hospitals. The most popular treatments and surgeries being offered to medical tourists are plastic surgery, with treatments such as breast augmentation, face and body lifts, and tummy tucks drawing the largest amount of customers.

Chilean medical staff are trained to international standards. Locals are known for their friendly and caring temperaments, and these characteristics can be seen among doctors and nurses throughout the health system. International standards for medical practitioners ensure that both doctors and nurses are working to global requirements. Many of the treatments on offer are available at up to half the cost of those in developed countries.

Geography

Situated south of Peru and west of Bolivia and Argentina, Chile fills a narrow 2,880-mi (4,506 km) strip between the Andes and the Pacific. One-third of Chile is covered by the towering ranges of the Andes. In the north is the driest place on Earth, the Atacama Desert, and in the center is a 700-mile-long (1,127 km) thickly populated valley with most of Chile's arable land. At the southern tip of Chile's mainland is Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world, and beyond that lies the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego, an island divided between Chile and Argentina. The southernmost point of South America is Cape Horn, a 1,390-foot (424 m) rock on Horn Island in the Wollaston group, which belongs to Chile. Chile also claims sovereignty over 482,628 sq mi (1,250,000 sq km) of Antarctic territory; the Juan Fernández Islands, about 400 mi (644 km) west of the mainland; and Easter Island, about 2,000 mi (3,219 km) west.

History

Chile was originally under the control of the Incas in the north and the nomadic Araucanos in the south. In 1541, a Spaniard, Pedro de Valdivia, founded Santiago. Chile won its independence from Spain in 1818 under Bernardo O'Higgins and an Argentinian, José de San Martin. O'Higgins, dictator until 1823, laid the foundations of the modern state with a two-party system and a centralized government.

The dictator from 1830 to 1837, Diego Portales, fought a war with Peru from 1836—1839 that expanded Chilean territory. Chile fought the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia from 1879 to 1883, winning Antofagasta, Bolivia's only outlet to the sea, and extensive areas from Peru. Pedro Montt led a revolt that overthrew José Balmaceda in 1891 and established a parliamentary dictatorship lasting until a new constitution was adopted in 1925. Industrialization began before World War I and led to the formation of Marxist groups. Juan Antonio Ríos, president during World War II, was originally pro-Nazi but in 1944 led his country into the war on the side of the Allies.

In 1970, Salvador Allende became the first president in a non-Communist country freely elected on a Marxist program. Allende quickly established relations with Cuba and the People's Republic of China, introduced Marxist economic and social reforms, and nationalized many private companies, including U.S.-owned ones. In Sept. 1973, Allende was overthrown and killed in a military coup covertly sponsored by the CIA, ending a 46-year era of constitutional government in Chile.

Religious Beliefs.

A large majority of Chileans (73 percent) are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Some 15 percent of the population identifies itself with several Protestant groups. This includes Anglicans and Lutherans, but the vast majority of Chilean Protestants (90 percent) belong to the Pentecostal Church. Another 4 percent of the population belongs to other religious groups (Jews, Muslims, and Greek Orthodox), while 8 percent claim not to profess any religion. Chileans profoundly respect the religious beliefs of others, and religion seldom constitutes a source for conflict or disagreement.

Places To Visit

Antofagasta
Antofagasta, or the North Pearl, is a port city north of the Chilean capital, Santiago. Its eastern edge is bounded by the steep hills of Chile’s Cordillera de la Costa; the Pacific Ocean is to its west.Twelve miles of coastline and a mild climate with an average temperature of 17°C have helped this city develop as a year-round beach resort. It has cloudless skies throughout the year, due to which there are numerous observatories with some of the world’s largest telescopes.

Arica
On the northernmost tip of Chile lies the oasis of Arica, a coastal town not far from the Peruvian border. It sits on the edge of the Atacama Desert.With its mild climate, warm waters, and perennial supply of fresh river water, it is a popular tourist destination and is known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’. It has many beaches that serve as resorts all year round. It almost never rains here; Arica receives less than 1 mm of rainfall in a year—the lowest in the world.

San Bernardo
The San Bernardo city is one largest city in the complete state of Chile. The San Bernardo city is also the capital city of the Maipo province. The major part of the settlement of the San Bernardo city is Roman Catholic. San Bernardo city has many attractive natural features and many beautiful sceneries and landscapes which are worth watching. The city also has many buildings which are standing there since the ancient times. The city also has several museums and historic buildings which pull over a variety of crowd towards the city.

Paine
Paine is one of the famous and also the largest city that is located in the southern part of the province of Maipo and in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. It is considered to be one of the extensive communication centers throughout the country.

Iquique
Iquique is the capital city of Región de Tarapaca (Tarapaca province) in northern Chile and lies just south of the Peruvian border. Founded in the sixteenth century and originally a part of Peru, it was ceded to Chile in 1879 during The War of the Pacific.Iquique’s climate ranges from an average winter low of 12.5º C to an average summer high of 24.4º C, which makes it an all-season destination. It is one of Chile’s most visited cities for its mild climate, proximity to the Atacama Desert, archaeological treasures and access to Peru and Bolivia.

Transport in Chile is mostly by road. The south of the country is not connected to central Chile by road, except through Argentina, and water transport also plays a part there. The railways were historically important in Chile, but now play a relatively small part in the country's transport system. Because of the country's geography and long distances between major cities, aviation is also important.

AIRLINES
Chile does have national airlines that go to the major cities. A 45 minute trip (between 250 and 300 mile) cost about $80.00 dollars one way. A round trip is usually double ($160.00 dollars). Prices may be less between some cities.

BUS
There is a good bus system that can get you to all the major cities and regions in Chile. The ticket cost is about $10.00 about every 250 to 300 miles. Once you get to the city there is another bus system that can bring you to almost every little town in Chile. A ticket on these buses begins at a price of 75 cents and up depending on how far away the city.