The Southern Coast Feature

Scenery: The Carretera Austral, a dusty dirt road blazed through southern Chile by former military dictator Augusto Pinochet, has opened up one of the most beautiful places in the world to tourists. Rent a car, preferably a four-wheel-drive truck or jeep, and soak it all in.

Glaciers: To watch a chunk of ice break off the glaciers near Mount San Valentín and fall with a thundering splash into the lake below is reason enough for a trip to Laguna San Rafael National Park.

Fishing: Fly-fishing fanatics were among the first to explore this area thoroughly. You'll be able to step right outside your door for great fishing at any number of lodges. A short boat trip will bring you to isolated spots where you won't run into another soul for the entire day.

Rafting and kayaking: The Futalefeu River is Class V-plus. That's raft speak for very fast-moving water. In fact, this river is considered one of the fastest in the world.