Chile holiday packages
Chile offers a diverse landscape from the Atacama Desert with its hot springs and oasis valley of Pica to vast volcanoes, salt marshes and lakes. Chile has many popular seaside resorts including Vina del Mar and Los Vilos.
Chile's capital is Santiago, guarded by the Virgin Mary from an 860 metre peak Cerro San Cristobal (Christopher's Hill) and offers many tourist attractions. Nearby are some excellent ski resorts such as Portillo, Farellones and the fashionable Valle Nevado.
In the northern region the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Lauca National Park is a popular destination and in Chilean Patagonia the Reserve of Torres del Paine offers some of the most unspoilt and beautiful scenery in the world. The regions of Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego are all worth exploring during the summer season.
Arica, on the northern border with Peru is an excellent tourist centre with good beaches and the famous San Marcos Cathedral.
Easter Island is a must see with its Moai, gigantic stone figures, rock carvings at Oronco and the volcanic crater of Rano Kao.
G.A.P. Adventures have authentic holidays to Chile designed to cater for different travel preferences and budgets. Their ten day Chile and Argentina Gourmet Adventure provides a gastronomic tour through the wine regions, crossing the spectacular Andean Range to the wine growing region of Mendoza. For the naturalist there's an active fifteen day Patagonia Hike, Bike and Raft tour with treks to the heart of the Andes, rafting on the mighty El Manso River and bike tours through some of Chile's charming villages.
Independent Patagonia, a fourteen day adventure explores Chile's Lake District and Patagonia's towering fjords and is designed for the freewheeling independent traveller on a budget.
Austral Tours offer Easter Island packages as well as a Southern Chile Cruise on board the Magallanes which has different accommodation types to suit all budgets. The cruise takes in spectacular scenery and wildlife, glaciers and the Torres Del Paine National Park.
Adventure Associates offers an eleven day exploration of Chile, showcasing the best the country has to offer from Santiago, Pucon, the stunning Lake District and the Paine Towers National Park. There are also options to extend the tour. Other tours include a five day Andes Lakes Crossing, Easter Island Stopover and tours of the Arica and Lauca National Park.
If travelling to Chile for the first time and if time is limited sourcing a good package tour can save time and money. Online company iexplore offer various packages which include all meals and accommodation and cover a large area in a relatively short time.
Immunization against Yellow Fever is required if going to Easter Island within six days of visiting infected countries. All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled or sterilized. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Immunization against tetanus and hepatitis A is advised and epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occur. Chagas' disease has been reported in rural areas but other insect-borne diseases are largely absent.
Rabies is present in animals. If bitten, seek medical advice without delay. Health insurance is essential. If heading to the Andes tourists need to be aware of altitude sickness and allow time to adjust to altitude change.
