100 Best Things: Chile
 

I was inspired by the Peru question and so here goes for Chile: I'll start.

* The Maipo Valley
* Colchagua
* Valpariso
* Vina Del Mar
* Santiago
* Pomaire...Shopping
* Montes Winery
* Santa Rita Winery
* Morende Winery
* Alma Vina Winery
* Viu Manet Winery
* Vina Bisquert Winery
* Chateau Los Boldos Winery
* Apostle Winery
* Montgras Winery
* Alpha Winery
* Concho Y Toro Winery
* Laura Winery
* Cousina Macal Winery
* Undurraga Winery
* Shopping in Santiago
* Museum Hopping in Santiago
* The Changing of The Guard in Santiago
* Lapis Jewelry
* Casa Silva Winery
* Buying Cooper
* Vino Del Maipo Winery
* The Beautiful Churches
* The Hotel San Francisco Delux Suite
* Restaurant Aqui Esta Coco
* Azul Profundo Restaurant

I have more but, I'll stop for now.

Oaktown,
Won't you please continue? And, perhaps, expand a little on those places not thoroughly covered by the guidebooks? Chile is high on our list of countries to visit soon!
Thanks,
Carol

Pucon and the hotel Park Lake. Spent 10 days there, rented a car, and would recommend to all........GREAT PLACE. Also AVOID the Antamulal........old and overprice.

http://www.villarricaparklakehotel.cl/

Carol:

Thanks! I will. I would love to hear from others too...

- Isla de Pascua (Rapa Nui)
- "Asado al Palo" for dinner
- Isla de Chiloe with all the myths
- The Atacama
- The cruise parade in Valparaiso
- The Patagonia part
- Puerto Montt
- The bullets on La Moneda Palace
- A soccer game on the Nacional Stadium ( Colocolo!)

Sorry, the parade it's on Valdivia, on the south.

Chile doesn't appear to attract as many visitors from this forum. A friend recently returned from a South American trip (3 nights Santiago & 3 nights Buenos Aires) and loved it. Got me interested in visiting down there; surely others have more to add to this list?

Chile is a beautiful country with so much to offer. Although my favorite place in the world for travel is Southern Africa, when my wife and I discuss a holiday home somewhere for sometime in the future, Chile is our #1 choice.

Personally, I enjoy the Atacama Desert very much (although I have only spent 4 nights there) and I really like the Las Condes district of Santiago where there are beautiful highrise luxury apartments for a somewhat reasonable price (although that may have changed with the weakening dollar, as I last visited exactly two years ago).

And of course, how can one not take into consideration the incredible winelands and Patagonia.

Although they are apples and oranges, I just returned from Costa Rica a couple days ago (it was my first visit), and, at least the Jaco area is totally useless...feels like you are in Baja California with all the Americans.

On the other hand, Chile is something else. Seems like a more sophisticated place than a lot of other places I have been.

I had kind of a rushed trip last time, visiting Vina Del Mar, Santiago, Atacama Desert and Patagonia all within about 14 nights, so next time, I definitely want to stay a little longer, maybe the year after next (haven't quite gotten Southern Africa out of my blood yet and will be going again next year for a fourth consecutive year).

In the Atacama Desert, there is a great little hotel, called the Tulor Hotel, and while the rooms are very basic, the common area of the lodge and the restaurant are both beautiful. The owners live onsite and run the lodge, and they are excellent hosts, and there is a swimming pool that features an excellent view of some 16,000+' freestanding volcanic mountain. The prices were very reasonable when I stayed...I want to say about $130 USD per night, but again, the dollar was much stronger in December 2002.