Chile – World Travel

Middle-Chile Chillan Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

Earthquakes have battered Chillán throughout its turbulent history, so most of its colonial charm was bulldozed away decades ago. But, away from the sweeping concrete shopping precincts of the city center, it does have its appeal. As the birthplace of Chilean liberator Bernardo O’Higgins, the city boasts an interesting history, as well as a bustling, colorful outdoor market, one of Chile’s best. Founded in 1565 as a military outpost, it marked the northern border of La Frontera, an area over which the state never exercised complete control until the Mapuche were subdued in the late 19th century. Destroyed by earthquakes and Mapuche sieges, Chillán was refounded several times before moving to its present site in 1835. However, the old city, nearby Chillán Viejo, never really died.

Striking murals by the famous Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros and his compatriot Xavier Guerrero also help make Chillán an interesting stop on the Panamericana. And, of course, it’s just a short hop away from the famous spas and slopes of the Termas de Chillán.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’middle chile Chile travel’]

Northern-Chile Ovalle Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

This unassuming market town is more famous for its surrounding attractions than its own modest charms, which include an artifact-heavy museum and an animated plaza where men huddle over chess games and stalls peddle colorful trinkets. Founded as a satellite of La Serena in early republican times, Ovalle is the capital of the prosperous agricultural province of Limarí; so it’s unsurprising that it also has the liveliest market, Ferio Modelo de Ovalle, in the region.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’northern chile Chile travel’]

Middle-Chile Talca Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

Talca folk are fond of repeating a phrase coined in their town, Talca, Paris y Londres. While that slightly over-hypes the Chilean city, this is a worthwhile place to visit. It has thriving universities, so there is a lot going on during term-time. But this is also wine country, and nearby viticulturists are now catering to a steady stream of booze- and food-loving gringos. Talca is also of historical as well as culinary significance – Chile’s 1818 declaration of independence was signed here. Beyond the city boundaries, there are some breathtaking under-explored trekking possibilities in the nearby Reserva Nacional Altos de Lircay.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’middle chile Chile travel’]

Chiloe Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

Visitors who lament the supposed cultural homogeneity of Chile, or consider it too similar to their own country, obviously haven’t been to the misty, verdant archipelago of Chiloé. This group of islands evolved independently from the rest of the country and escaped much of the conforming influence of Santiago and the colonial onslaught. It then remained isolated and off the commercial route until nearby Puerto Montt was founded in the mid-19th century. Chiloé sprouted its own history and culture, unique to the islands, and is worthy of a visit for its striking regional flavor.

Forged by harsh rainy weather and the seafaring life, the differences run deep. On the surface you will see changes in architecture and cuisine: the famous Chilote wood shingles; palafitos (houses mounted on stilts along the water’s edge); more than 150 iconic wooden churches (16 of which are Unesco World Heritage sites); the renowned meat, potato and seafood stew, curanto; and a plethora of fish and shellfish dishes. A closer look reveals a rich spiritual culture that is based on a distinctive mythology of witchcraft, ghost ships and forest gnomes. The mythology shapes a world view that has guided generations of Chilote life.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’chiloe Chile travel’]

Chiloe Parque-Nacional-Chiloe Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

Running back from the pounding Pacific coastline, and over extensive stands of native evergreen forest, the 43, 000-hectare Parque Nacional Chiloé (adult/child US$2/free) is only 30km west of Chonchi and 54km west of Castro. The park teems with Chilote wildlife, from 110 different types of bird, to foxes and the reclusive pudú, which inhabits the shadowy forests of the contorted tepú tree. Within the park and along the eastern perimeter is a number of Huilliche indigenous communities, some of which are involved with the management of campsites within the park.

The park comprises three sections. The northern sector is called Chepu and includes Isla Metalqui (and its sea-lion colony), but is difficult to access without a car. In addition, Metalqui is highly restricted because of ecological concerns and can only be visited with special arrangements from the parks service. The middle sector, Abtao, is restricted by Conaf and accessible only by an 18km hike from the Pichihué property. The more accessible southern sector, Chanquín, contains the majority of the 10 official hikes in the park, ranging from quick jaunts to 20km slogs.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’chiloe Chile travel’]

The-Lakes-District Temuco Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

With around a quarter of a million people and some 50, 000 daily commuters, Temuco is one of Chile’s fastest growing cities. While it is impoverished around the outskirts, it has a developed core with lots of businesses, shops, markets and even the American fast-food chains that you surely traveled all this way to find. The city is also the regional transportation hub, with steady transportation to Santiago and connections to pretty much everywhere you might want to go in La Araucanía, the Lakes District and beyond. Temuco does not have a lot of attractions in itself, but it does have affordable prices and gives a sense of the culture in the region that can’t always be seen in the sanitized-for-your-protection tourist towns like Pucón. If it has nothing else going for it, Temuco can always boast the fact that Pablo Neruda grew up here.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’the lakes district Chile travel’]

Middle-Chile Concepcion Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

Industry, convenient energy resources, port facilities and universities have combined to make Concepción the second most important city in Chile after Santiago. Concepción is not a particularly scenic city, but it has an infectious hustle and bustle, and there are pleasant plazas, pedestrian malls and galerías (shopping malls). The nightlife is also rocking, a result of the town’s large student population.

The inhabitants of Concepción are known as Penquistas after the city’s original site at the nearby town of Penco.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’middle chile Chile travel’]

The-Lakes-District Parque-Nacional-Conguillio Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

Created in 1950 primarily to preserve the araucaria (monkey-puzzle tree) Conguillío shelters 60, 835 hectares of alpine lakes, deep canyons and native forests. The centerpiece of this fantastic park and Unesco Biosphere Reserve is the smoldering snow-covered Volcán Llaima (3125m). Since 1640, Llaima has experienced 34 violent eruptions, most recently in 1957. Around 2000 years ago a lava flow off Llaima’s northern flank dammed the Río Truful-Truful to form Laguna Conguillío, Laguna Arco Iris and Laguna Verde.

You can access Parque Nacional Conguillío from three directions. The first, and shortest (80km), is directly east of Temuco via Vilcún and Cherquenco; this accesses the ski resorts at Sector Los Paraguas, but doesn’t access (by road, anyway) the campgrounds, main visitor center and trail- heads. All of those are best reached by taking the more northern route from Temuco via Curacautín (120km). The park’s southern entrance, also 120km from Temuco, is accessed via Melipeuco. From here a road heads north through the park to the northern entrance, also accessing the trailheads and campgrounds.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’the lakes district Chile travel’]

The-Lakes-District Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

The further south you go in Chile, the greener it gets, until you find snow-bound volcanoes rising over verdant hills and lakes. This bucolic region makes a great escape to a slower pace. The Araucanía, named for the monkey-puzzle tree, is the center of Mapuche culture. Colonized by Germans in the 1850s, the area further south is a provincial enclave of stocking-clad grannies, küchen (cake) and lace curtains. So perfectly laid-back, you’ll start to feel a little sueño (sleepy). Don’t. Outside your shingled dwelling tens of adventures wait: from rafting to climbing, from hiking to hot-springs hopping, from taking onces in colonial towns to sipping mate with the local huasos. Hospitality is the strong suit of sureños (southerners), take time to enjoy it.

Rural roots still mark most city dwellers (about half the population), who split wood and make homemade jams as part of their daily routine. Unfortunately, the rocket-growth of Temuco and Puerto Montt creates an atmosphere of crowded consumption. Seek out the green spaces bursting beyond the city limits. The isolated interior (from Todos los Santos to Río Puelo), settled in the early 1900s, maintains pioneer culture thanks to its isolation, but road building signals inevitable changes.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’the lakes district Chile travel’]

Northern-Chile Copiapo Chile

WorldTravelDB.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:59:57 +0000

This pleasant but down-to-business town earns kudos for being the site of several historical firsts: South America’s first railroad (completed in 1852) ran from here to Caldera; here, too, appeared the nation’s first telegraph and telephone lines, and Chile’s first gas works. It’s not hard to guess the reason why a provincial backwater should so suddenly hit the jackpot – mining. Copiapó budded with the 18th-century gold boom, and bloomed with the rush to cash in on silver discovered at Chañarcillo in 1832.

The city retains many historic buildings, has a welcoming buzz and an agreeable climate, making it a worthwhile stopover between La Serena and Antofagasta. It’s also a handy base from which to embark upon adventures into the remote mountains near the Argentine border, especially the breathtaking Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces, Laguna Verde and Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world.

We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’northern chile Chile travel’]