A sliver of a country that somehow manages to encompass barren desert, knife-edge mountains and fertile river valleys, Chile Dropdown content has long attracted intrepid travellers. And for 2018 the country is taking things up a notch.
Adding to the enduring appeal of its internationally acclaimed vineyards, famously clear night skies and adventure-ready landscapes, this year brings festivals, a burgeoning culinary scene and the chance to explore the new Route of Parks.
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Awakening from a slumber, Santiago's dining scene is proving that the food alone merits stopping by, with contemporary Chilean dining spearheaded by Boragó, the fifth best restaurant in South America. Trendy sangucherías (old-school sandwich shops), such as Capicuá in the Providencia neighbourhood, are also leading the pack in rebooting Chile’s most humble cuisine: expect king crab or goat meat sandwiches that draw on culinary traditions from across the country.
2018 is also set to establish the city’s cultural credentials, with the 25th anniversary of Santiago a Mil, a festival of theatre and dance that will run until January 21. This festival will bring together acts from across the globe performing in venues and in the streets, touching upon subjects ranging from the childhood of acclaimed Chilean composer, Violeta Parra, to life in refugee camps around the world.
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Patagonia and its spectacular wind-scarred lands are held in veneration by many hikers – and for good reason. 2018 is when the focus will shift from the glacier and granite-riddled
This year make sure you head to
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One winery not to miss is award-winning Casa Marin, whose cool coast whites grow just four miles from the ocean in the San Antonio Valley. Like many of Chile’s producers, they’ve gone beyond the conventional tour and have an on-site wine bar where they've paired their best wines with gourmet Chilean food.
To visit, rent a taxi for the day from Santiago or go the whole, luxurious hog with a tour with Liz Caskey, a sommelier who’ll get you into even the most exclusive vineyards – many of which aren’t open to the public.
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Thanks to a fortuitous mix of high altitude, aridity and low light pollution, Chile’s Atacama Desert has two-hundred cloudless nights a year and stellar conditions for stargazing.
If that’s not enough to satiate your thirst for the night sky, hire a campervan with Soulvans to head out miles from civilisation and sleep beneath the stars. You can also ogle state-of-the-art technology at
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Awarded in 2017 the accolade of the world’s leading adventure tourism destination for the second year running, Chile looks set to continue offering once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. One of the best thrills is an ascent of one of Chile’s 3000 or so volcanoes – many of which are still active.
To escape even further, fly to tiny
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Discover more of Chile with