Chile
Tropics, arctic, desert, forest, islands.....great extremes in one country!
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Spanning 4,300 kms from north to south around the foot of SouthAmerica, Chile encompasses an extraordinary diversity of terrain and climates. It is the World's thinnest and longest country, bordering Peru and Boliva in the north and Argentina along the east.
Within its boundaries is the driest desert in the world - the Atacama in the far north; the lush valleys and fertile farmland of the Central Region; golden Pacific beaches; the jagged spine of the snowcapped Andes with some of the highest peaks in the western hemisphere; the Lake District with its thick rainforest, volcanoes, hot springs and lakes; the far south with the 1,000-year-old glacier fields, granite peaks, jewel-toned lakes, and pampa of Patagonia; to the frozen wonderland of Antarctica.
But that's not all. Within Chilean territory are several of the most enigmatic islands in the world: Easter Island (Rapa Nui), with its mysterious moai sculptures and vibrant culture, located farthest away from any other inhabited land mass on the planet; Robinson Crusoe Island, so-called for Alexander Selkirk who lived as a castaway on the island and inspired the well-known novel; and Chilo, home to a unique culture centered on rich folkloric traditions and mysticism, and dotted with dozens of lovely antique Jesuit churches that are considered some of the oldest wooden structures in the world.
Separated from the rest of the world by arid desert, the Andes, the Pacific Ocean and ice fields, Chile has its own animal and plant wildlife, and an extremely diverse climate and pockets of microclimates - meaning that the country can be visited year-round. The austral winter from June to October brings visitors down from the northern hemisphere to ski in the summer; - and snowbirds escaping the cold come for Chile's balmy summers from November to March. The spring brings hundreds of birds and wildflowers, and the autumn the changing of color of the country's dense forests - as well as "off season" prices that are a true bargain for international travelers.
Chile's gastronomy is also a highlight. The terrain of the Central Region is considered to provide the best conditions in the world for growing grapes for wine, and today's wineries are producing varieties that are winning awards and making international wine experts take notice. With more than 2,000 miles of coastline, seafood is the country's specialty, with a hugely diverse selection of fish and shellfish.
Chile's people are warm and generous, and truly enjoy interacting with foreign visitors. The country also has a solid political system with an entrenched democracy. The economy is booming: Chile has signed free trade agreements with more than 50 countries, and the country boasts a modern infrastructure and highway system. It is also the safest country in Latin America, giving travelers a sense of security. The Economist's "Global Peace Index" ranked Chile as the 20th most peaceful country in the world, in 2009.