I spent a lot of time down south. Go to the Lake Region where you can swim in the clearest volcanic lakes. Villarica and Pucon. Absolutely gorgeous!

Temuco is awesome too. A very different city than Santiago with the most amazing market. The Mapuche people live near tehre and are very active politically and culturally. I think there is a cultural center you can visit (I was lucky and got to stay with a family for a week!!!) Valdivia is a beauiful city too.

Puerto Montt is very interesting as there is a lot of German influence.

I highly recommend a visit to Isla de Chiloe. I stayed there for two months and it is an amazing place. Ancud has a great museum dedicated to the island’s myth culture. There is an old fort in Ancud and a great local market for seafood and local handknits. Castro has very cool houses built over the water on stilts. There are many little islands you can hop onto (take a bus there…they will get on a motorized barge!)

I agree, take busses. When I weas there they were not too expensive. We always went on the Salon Cama which has reclining seats, food and games, movies and pisco!!! They would stop at a restaurant for dinner even.

Have a great time! I am so jealous!!!