Since I've been back from China now for over a month I need to start thinking about next year. For some reason Chile has always been on my "wish list"; I'd love to hear what your favorite parts are! (I've been to Peru, Brazil, and Argentina, and enjoyed them all.)

I'm looking to "travel cheap" if that's possible (ahem--it's why I don't go so much to Europe these days), so any hints in that direction would be quite welcome as well.

Chilean women n wine , seafood and the Southern of Chile.

Welllllll, the women and wine won't do me any good, but the seafood and South sound good!

Anyone else like to add to the list? (por favor...)

Amy:

a) Think in Punta Arenas + Ushuaia + Isla de los Estados + Faro del fin del Mundo .Its not cheap but worthwhile.
interpatagonia.com may help
Minimum 2 weeks . Unforgettable

Amy:

Please tell me how many days you are planning on staying, what time of the year your are travelling, I can help you with ideas or check some of the previews websites for chile I haved posted.

My only times to go would be July or August (I teach!) and two weeks to maybe 16 days would be my limit. (alas )

Chile doesn't seem to come up as much on here as, say, Costa Rica and Argentina, so I really appreciate your replies!

I recently returned from a trip to Santiago. I find that it is a good base - close to the Andes, Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso and the wineries. I don't know what you consider "cheap" but restaurant prices ran about 1/2 of what you would pay for in the US. Same for hotels - possibly even cheaper than 1/2.

You do realize that July and August are winter months in Chile. The weather when I was there ranged from mid-50s to mid-60s in the day. We had three days of rain (in a row - some big storm moved in toward the end of our stay).

July and August , winter time, worst time of the year to visit the south of Chile. If a skier; close to Santiago there are a few good place , probably Portillo being the best , but most expensive too.
Santiago is a nice city for a few days.

Northern of Argentina ( Jujuy / Salta )
might be good choices for warmer weather.

Actually, cool to cold weather is one of the reasons I look forward to travel in the Southern Hemisphere in the summer! Where I live it can be 90 degrees and humid in July and August, so 50's is wonderful for me.

I would like to stay a few days in the Atacama as well, I think. Any advices?

Take a look at Explora. Very expensive, but sure looks interesting.

**goes to look at Explora site**
**drools all over keyboard**
**checks prices**
**topples over in dead faint**


Sigh. Someday, someday perhaps I will spend $3,020 for four days...but not this time, I'm afraid.

**considers what body part she could do without and goes off to sell it**

Oh, I had the same reaction, Amy, but it was fun to dream. I want to go to Patagonia and Buenos Aires, finding the cheaper route almost always lands me in "dream territory" first then I realize no one wants my body parts even if I offer them for sale, so I go back to reality planning. Happy travels.

Santiagov,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonder site--interpatagonia.com. It has the best resources I have found yet for my Argentina/Chile trip--and the English is actually English and doesn't revert to Spanish sporatically. Now, can you help me with hotels on Easter Island??

Nephew santiagov: I have told you several times you should not keep ladies waiting.

JaneB's post, directly addressed to you, has been here for over 20 minutes.

Are you napping again?

BTW, I hope you know about the "Isla de Pascua", because I don't.

Amy:

Just a general idea: I assume you are aware of the fact that many things in Argentina are cheaper than in Chile, for foreigners.

Perhaps you could come again to Argentina and visit other areas?

Jane B

Thanks, you are the first one providing some feed back about interpatagonia.com.

The company is based in San Martin de los Andes , close to Bariloche , so they have an excellent knowledge and they are doing a hell of a job with their web , have winned many awards with their site and a few years ago started welcomeargentina.com
thats very good too, but not as complete as Interpatagonia.com for the moment.

Nephew santiagov: JaneB is still waiting for an answer about the Isla de Pascua!!!!!!!

The question was asked over an hour ago!

Amy:

Santiago is a wonderful city, very modern with excellent transportation and many places to visit.

I will suggest you stay in "Barrio Porvidencia"this is a middle class part and very nice, you can check www.doberti.cl( 30 USD night) for accomodation, or www.chilehotel.net.

From this place you will have metro-bus, restaurants, malls, and everything you need near by.

Santiago Try to establish the city as it is in the US- County, cities- but it didn't work as planned so you find "Comuna" same as cities-in the US- but in the same Santiago. The "comunas operate similar to the cities in the US, but with huge differences.

Each "Comuna" has very good tours, free all week long.

Also go to sernatur(this is the turism office ) is located in "Barrio Providencia" they also can give you maps, they speak English and are very helpful.

Now you can start downtown Santiago and if you want to visit museums do it on sundays as they are free. Downtown is the only place I will say you be more careful about your bags,etc..

Santiago has alot of activities worth on visiting.


Viña del mar and Valparaiso are very closed , you might want to go early in the morining one day and come back at night.

Atacama desert is expensive..


if you want more specific details, drop me a line with questions !!

Jane.

I wa gathering info about Eastern Islands , there is , but in spanish , very long to download ...try in your search engine
hoteles islas de pascua

Vivir from the forum will surel provide better info than me for Islas de pascua

Good luck

barbacharters