Juliana Jups
Belo Horizonte
Chile (read all 2 entries…)
(in )
Not worth it!
Answers:
anodien
Santiago Metropolitan Region
(local :D)
It’s kindda difficult to tip you, since Chile is so long. Maybe if you tell me where are you planning to go?
In advance, I recommend you to go south, is just amazing.
Juliana Jups
Belo Horizonte
Thanks for the ‘go south’ tip. I am spending two weeks there. My plan is to go north, as far as Antofagasta, because I really want to see the desert landscapes, the Atacama, Salar, San Pedro de Atacama and such.. Then, I’d go to Santiado and Valparaíso and such, for about three days. After that, I’m planning on going south as far as Puerto Montt, including Pucon, Chiloé, Osorno.
Are any of these places really recommended? Or anywhere in between these places? I’ve heard from a lot of people that Pucón is really beautiful, and Chiloé as well. What about Puerto Montt and Osorno? I’ve seen different reactions to these places.. I would also love to go to Bariloche, I’ve read that there is a ferry that goes there from Puerto Montt, is it true?
Thank you everyone for the replies!
anodien
Santiago Metropolitan Region
OK, San Pedro de Atacama is awesome too, I loved it, and it’s always full of tourist so is really fun. Kindda expensive though, but there’s good food. The Salar de Atacama is beautiful, I hope you’re lucky enough too see the flamingos flying (I saw them!!). I do not have too many tips cause I went there just last year in a school trip…so I couldn’t wander around; but the trip worth it, everything is breathtaking. Oh yeah, go to the museums in San Pedro and Arica, they’re good.
The south is AMAZING! Pucon is my favourite place to go on summers, though is crowded in February, luckily you’ll skip that. There’s lots of things to do!, canopy, hikking, even paintball; the lake and the volcano are beautiful (I don’t recommend you Pucon’s main beach, is disgusting, you better find a more private one, there’s tons in the way to Villarica). The city is really beautiful cause they planned to build it in wood with a German style..oh yeah, food is good too, be shure to try German cakes and pastries.
I haven’t go to Chiloe (in fact is in my 43 places I wanna go), but I know is incredible since most people I know have seen it, so you’ll have a great time there.
Osorno…my cousins lived there so I went there like 10 times or more…the city it self is not very appealing, kindda boring in fact, but the sorroundings are sooo gorgeous, the Volcan Osorno is one of the most beautiful of the south, and during this time of everything is green and nice. Near Osorno there are various hot springs like Puyehue Resort (you can go for a day), or the Lake Ranco (for me the greater one in the south). So if you want to go to Osorno I recommend you to trip around the city. There are great German restorants in there too.
I haven’t go to Puerto Montt either, so I can’t tell you anything about it :P
You can pass to Argentina from Osorno, in bus through the Cardenal Samoré way, or also in bus from Puerto Varas through the Parque Puyehue pass, or from Puerto Varas to Bariloche in a boat, the so called “Cruce de Lagos” http://www.visitchile.cl/crucedelagos.htm
Oh yeah, some tips…Chile is really safe, but be careful nevertheless, since “gringos” are sometimes appealing (if you’re in touristic places I don’t think you’ll have problems though). Things are way cheaper than in the States, but have common sense; is better to buy things were chileans buy things. Some flee markets are really cool, Santiago has some good ones, and San Pedro too (but is expensier there). Food is good, not as “exciting” as mexican, the best thing in Chile are the basic stuff; fruits are the best, and you’ll be lucky to come here during summer! Try rare ones like chirimoyas or lucumas, and in the south berries are good. I really recommend you German pastries in Pucon and Osorno!
I hope this helps! You’ll love Chile :D have a GREAT trip.
renni1010
Atlanta
Yes it depends on where you go.
Lots of people take buses in Chile.
I recommend taking the bus to get to the train if you can afford it.
I can’t speak for all of the touristy areas, but in Chile lots of places with public restrooms, do not provide toilet paper. Such as gas stations, or grocery stores. Also many of them expect you to pay for use of the restroom. Just an inside tip. This doesn’t apply to the restaurants I went to.
Pucon is a really quaint beautiful place to visit, as well as Lake Villarica.
I didn’t get to the very south of Chile as I was there in the winter, but I have heard it’s beautiful.
My husband is from Chile, so if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
jack2u
Ontario
You should do like I do. Go to a bookstore and either read or buy (I always buy) a copy of “the Lonely Planet”. It’s probably the best travel book out there and well worth the money. Plus you always have a book on hand for wait times.
The book will help you select things in your price range (low to high), give you maps, tourist spots to see, warnings on what not to do and things to look out for. If you get the one on Chile it will have info, etc for where ever you may end-up. They also tell you what to do, who to see, etc in an emergency.
Have a great trip. It’s a beautiful country – I spent 10 days in Iquique after our plane was hit by lighting – nice city and great beaches.
John
Juliana Jups
Belo Horizonte
Thanks John!
I agree completely with you, having good information is essential to having a safe trip. I thought of buying the lonely planet guide, but I live in Brazil, so I’d have to buy it on the internet and it wouldn’t get here on time. I have another great Chile guide, though.
I saw on your profile that you’re from Montreal, that’s a beautiful city, by the way.
Thanks again!
jack2u
Ontario
My pleasure Jooliana,
One of my favourite places is “Chapters” bookstore and I’m there quite often. If you have any specific questions I could look them up for you. You can also go to their web site http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
I love your to do list – Being an organ donor – does that not sting. Myself – I’d put that one near the bottom…
Hope you have a great trip – I’m rather envious.
John
lisaTM
Mount Desert Island
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!!!
lisaTM
Mount Desert Island
Oh I forgot to add that Valparaiso, on the coast a bit north from Santiago, is a MUST VISIT. The hills are filled with houses with steps all over the place. It was once the major hub for shipping and it is still quite bustling. You can take cog elevators (ascensor???) up the hills too.
Oh and the churches in the south are out of this world!
muddybuns
New York City
If you’re into camping, Pichiduangui, Chile, about 3 hours NE of Santiago is a great place to camp and see breathtaking sunsets. Lots of people go there to windsurf.
Vina del Mar is pretty. The drive from Stgo is pretty. There’s a nice restaurant (maybe the only larger one on the wayI haven’t been there in a few years). It’s cool to climb to the top of the sand dunes and watch the sunset. It’s also near Valparaiso which is nice as well.
I would definitely take a boat over to Argentina in the south in the lake district.
If you want to see rural landscape/ vineyards (there’s a nice hotel on the way inland) go to La Serena (on the coast) and drive inland. The vineyards are prettydrink some pisco while you’re there.
Copiapo is a nice desert town, it’s pretty especially when the desert blooms.
In Stgo, go to Santa Lucia and climb all the way up and see the view of the city. The markets around it are cool too. The subway is easy to get around in the city. There are decent/nice spa hotels near Los Andes outside of Stgo good for a night or a day trip.
Have a great time! I loved living in Chile!
