Stretching down the west-hand side at the base of South America, Chile is an extremely long, narrow landmass, often called “the thin country”. It lies between the Andean highlands and the Pacific Ocean, and has a topography that includes deserts, rainforests, mountains and glaciers. Because of its length – a phenomenal 4,000 kilometres – it is important to decide what you want to see when booking flights to Chile.
The capital of the country is Santiago, a good base from which to explore, and the arrival point for most international flights to Chile. From here, wine lovers can visit the colonial towns of the Central Valley and tour the lush vineyards surrounding them. In the north of the country lie the spectacular Andes and most travellers seeking adventure head up this way. Avid skiers can get their adrenaline going on the slopes of Farellones, La Parva, and Valle Nevado.
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Peak season:
The large cities are popular destination year-round, with plenty to see and do irrespective of weather. The peak season for activity holidays is November to April, when the rainfall is least. June to October is the season for skiing.
Off season:
June to October is when there is the largest rainfall across the country and the coldest temperatures.
Because the country is so large, in length if not width, flying is the easiest way to get around for travellers wanting to explore many destinations. Domestic Chile flights are available with airline LAN. If you’re planning on making lots of flights, get the LAN Visit South America Air Pass which will give discounted tickets within Chile and also to Peru and Ecuador. There are other regional airlines flying to different destinations.
The bus system in Chile is very good. The network covers much of the country and service is cheap and efficient. In comparison, trains are poor; many lines are used only for freight.
There is one main airport for flights to Chile:
Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) is eleven miles northwest of Santiago (journey time – 30 minutes).
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Isabel AllendeThe debut novel by the acclaimed Chilean author spans four generations of a family’s life in Chile.
Sara WheelerBritish travel writer Sara Wheeler spent six months travelling from the very top to the very bottom of the country. This humorous account of her adventures is an excellent introduction to the country.
Edited by Katherine SilverCollection of short stories about the country by Chilean and foreign authors.
Pablo NerudaAn excellent introduction to the poetry of the Nobel Prize winner.
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