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 destination in all of South America. Bordered to the north by Peru, to the east by Bolivia and Argentina, to the west by the Pacific and to the south by the Antarctic. The country exercises sovereignty over a number of islands off the coast, including the Juan Fernández Islands and Easter Island. Chile is one of the most remarkably shaped countries in the world; a ribbon of land, 4200km (2610 miles) long and nowhere more than 180km (115 miles) wide. The Andes and a coastal highland range take up one-third or half of the width in parts, and run parallel with each other from north to south. The coastal range forms high, sloped cliffs into the sea from the northern to the central area. Between the ranges runs a fertile valley, except in the north where transverse ranges join the two major ones, and in the far south where the sea has broken through the coastal range to form an assortment of archipelagos and channels. The country contains wide variations of soil and vast differences of climate. This is reflected in the distribution of the population, and in the wide range of occupations from area to area. The northern part of the country consists mainly of the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world. It is also the main mining area. The central zone is predominantly agricultural. The south is forested and contains some agriculture; further south, the forests on the Atlantic side give way to rolling grassland on which sheep and cattle are raised.

Most foreigners who visit Chile are drawn by its extensive and varied scenery. Attractions include the Atacama desert, the mountains of Patagonia, skiing during the Northern Hemisphere's summer, archaeological sites, ocean beaches and the remote Easter Island. Santiago also is the cultural capital of the country and also features colonial architecture. 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 maze of small islands 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. 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. Today Chile is quickly becoming one of South America's most developed nations. Combine this fact along with a wonderful tradition of hospitality offered by Chileans, and you have an excellent place to visit and to learn Spanish. Most Chileans are mestizos, although you can still find pure blooded Mapuche Indians, and direct German and Swiss descendants for example. As a matter of fact, one of the first things a traveler will notice is that many of the cities, and the manners of many Chileans have a distinctive European feel to them. For the traveler accustomed to places such as Bolivia or Peru, this will come as somewhat of a surprise. As a visitor, you have a wonderful array of options and activities available to you. From a day to day standpoint, cities such as Santiago offer a comfortable place to stay, great nightlife, excellent transportation and services, colonial architecture, shopping, plus much more.

By plane
The most common entry point for oversea visitors is the international airport of the capital Santiago. There are airports in major towns but Santiago offers the best connections. LAN Airlines is Chile's flagship airline.

By bus
If you are already in South America a cheaper and still reliable way is to go by bus to Chile. Chile has borders with Argentina (daily bus from Mendoza), Peru (bus from Arequipa) and Bolivia. Also from Brazil (bus from São Paulo, on Mondays and Thursdays). Be aware that crossing to Chile means that high altitude points might be present (Up to 2000m - 6600ft), also the roads from Peru and Bolivia are a bit poor in quality so be patient.

Currency
Chile's official currency is the Chilean peso, other currencies are not widely accepted everywhere, so try to carry pesos instead of US dollars or Euros. When exchanging currency, try to ask your travel agency or your tour guide where to do it. It's not advisable to do it in the hotel or the airport, the rates are awful. Just be patient. Never exchange money on the streets, even if the "helper" indicates you to follow them. The automatic tellers network in Chile is respectable in size and they're all connected to the same service, so they're all good for usual transactions.

Sleep
Chile has many types of hotels in the cities like Sheraton, Kempinsky, Marriott, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, etc. and a lot of hostels and little hotels of varying qualities. In the backpacker trail a local hostel version can be found in every small city residencial. There is also a variety of accommodation in the mountain ski centers, the world class resort Portillo, 80 km north of Santiago, "Valle Nevado" in the mountain close to Santiago (35 km) or "Termas de Chillan" ski resort and hot springs, about 450 km south of Santiago.

Golden Oldies Rugby Chile can make all the necessary arrangements for you and your team just contact us on:

info@goldenoldies.cl