Chile holidays : introduction
Chile stretches nearly 3,000 miles north to south, always bound by the Andes to the east and the Pacific to the west, yet is on average only 100 miles wide. The scenery is extraordinarily diverse, from the deserts and salt flats in the north to the lakes and sculpted peaks of the Torres del Paine in the south. With one of Latin America's most successful economies and political stability it is a friendly and safe place to explore, with a level of efficiency in services that many will find unusual in Latin America.
It is easy to combine visits to Chile with Argentina or Bolivia. Journeys that are worthwhile in their own right include a lovely crossing by boat and bus in the Lake District, or a cruise through fjords between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia in the far south.
Climate and when to go
The hottest months are December to March. The Central region has a sunny Mediterranean-like climate; in July and August temperatures can drop to 10ºC. The Lake District enjoys a temperate climate similar to northern Europe but with heavy rainfall. In the far south the winter (June to mid-September) is more severe: it can snow and temperatures often drop to well below freezing. In Easter Island the rainy season is March to October (wettest in May, when torrential rain can fall, although usually in short bursts); the coldest month is August, and warmest is February.
“We had a truly fabulous time, it feels like we have been away ages. Having a three-centre holiday meant we saw so much and did so much, it was just amazing. A really great mix of cities, museums and sightseeing, plus the wildness and remoteness of the Torres del Paine national park. And now we fully appreciate all your efforts to book us sensible flights, connections, timings etc, everything worked really well, all the flights were fine and the guides and pick-ups were great. Finally, Valparaiso more than lived up to my husband's 20-year dream..... Hotel Casa Higueras was very lush and the food was amazing. Huge thanks once again for everything.” - QM
“Did we have a good holiday, Did we!!! If we had wanted to we couldn't have planned it any better.” - A & AW
“We had a wonderful time in Chile - hotels were excellent, especially the Santa Cruz, in the wine region, the 'sights' you recommended were superb, especially the Torres del Paine National Park and the people were so friendly and interesting. Thank you very much, we had a great time and were very appreciative of all your input.” - D & PN
“Hello All (and Rose!) – thank you for providing us with a really wonderful holiday. We were blessed with superb weather for the vast majority of the trip, all the transport worked fine and Claudia and Nature Style (in Argentina) exceeded all expectations. Our trip around Chiloe was very special – we learnt an enormous amount about the culture, the way of life and the natural environment from our guide Juan Larrain – I recognise Juan as a field botanist of a very high order. With thanks and best wishes.” - PI
