Chile: a guide for beginners

By Chris Moss 1122AM GMT nineteen March 2010

Colourful Valpara�so, inside of easy reach of Santiago Photo CORBIS

In 1817, Jos de San Martín rode his white steed opposite the Andes from Mendoza to Chile. At the battles of Chacabuco and Maipú both in 1818 he prevailed over the Spanish forces and left a released Chile in the hands of Bernardo OHiggins. Chile dates the wars of autonomy from Sep eighteen 1810, when the creole leaders of Santiago shaped a junta; the central autonomy day is Feb twelve 1818.

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Top five attractions

Torres del Paine inhabitant play ground the 10-day circuit around the bottom of the massif is one of Patagonias good hikes; the Atacama Desert, where the transparent skies and unsullied ambience pull the worlds astronomers (and backpackers); the wineries in the suburbs of Santiago; the Lake District, home to German settlers, Mapuche Indians and eco-conscious exiles from Santiago; and Tierra del Fuego, where there are good (and great-value) cruises out in to the glacier-walled fjords and removed channels.

Best city

Valparaíso, for the associations with Pablo Neruda, Latin Americas majority distinguished poet, ("How crazy/a funny port/what a head with hills/ dishevelled/you dont finish combing your hair/you never have time to get dressed," he wrote in "Ode to Valparaiso") and the funicular elevators and it doesnt humour from year-round fog as the capital, Santiago, does.

How will Chile be celebrating independence?

Despite the new earthquake, Chiles tourism authorities have been penetrating to highlight that majority of the nation is open for business. Independence celebrations will be muted, generally in and around Concepción, but will still go ahead. There are additionally memorial stamps, the refurbishing of the cathedral in Santiago, and, on Sep 18, the troops will be out in force; last month, there was a re-enactment of the channel of the Andes by San Martín; the 6,060-mile pavement well known as the Sendero de Chile, that goes from Arica to Cape Horn, was ostensible to be inaugurated in 2010 but is not ready.

See www.chilebicentenario.cl

Tour Bicentennial Chile

A 14-night tour, starting in Valparaíso on Sep 10, followed by five nights on Easter Island, where a four-night stay at the Explora road house includes meals, trekking, cycling, snorkelling and riding. Travel behind to Santiago on Sep sixteen for the rave to the big day, staying at the new W hotel. After the party, fly to Calama for a four-night stay at the Alto Atacama, located in the desert.

Price from �5,835 per person, together with place to live with majority dishes and activities, made at home flights and transfers.

Contact 020 7386 4646; theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk

Souvenir to buy

An alpaca poncho, preferred for the dried at night and for Patagonia; majority appropriate used as a throw behind home.

Quirky Chile

Visit one of Santiagos cafs con piernas literally coffee shops with legs to see smart, matched (and customarily rather squat) businessmen being served espressos by leggy, pneumatic immature women in pinkish and lime-green follower tubes and mini skirts.

Read

Travels in a Thin Country by Sara Wheeler (Abacus). A sharp-witted multiple of backpacker chitchat, potted histories and analyses of the Chilean essence after decades of Pinochet domination creates this one of the majority renouned travelogues about the country.