Seaside resort in Chile
By Elaine X. Grant
Chile is the longest, narrowest country in the world, stretching 2,600 miles from its hot and dry northern tip to the permanent glaciers of Antarctica and Patagonia. Adventure travelers flock to the tips of the country—the thermal springs, volcanoes and desert in the north and the antarctic wildlife and scenery in the south—but it is the center of the country that offers some of Chile's less rugged (but no less interesting) attractions: wine, beaches, skiing and Santiago.
Chile's central valley is a temperate winemaking region that over the last decade has generated some of the world's best wines and made Chile into a powerhouse of winemaking--among the top 10 largest wine producers in the world. The country's largest and most famous winery, located in the Maipo Valley, is Concha y Toro—a spectacular estate, cellar and park open for tours (011-56-2-4765269, www.conchaytoro.com). Oenophiles interested in visiting several wineries might want to consider the wine tours offered by Avalon Tours (949- 673-7376, www.avalon-tours.com).
In Chile, what we consider the summer months are the season for skiing, with most resorts operating from July through September. Ideal for the intermediate skier, Chile's resorts feature vast expanses of above- treeline slopes; dry, light snow (think Utah); and plenty of wide, gentle runs. The most popular are Valle Nevado, Portillo and Termas de Chillán. All offer five-star accommodations, and for those in the "no pain, no pain" camp, Termas de Chillan has a hot-springs spa.
From December to February, swarms of vacationers descend on the beaches just over an hour's drive from Santiago, including the fashionable Viña del Mar and the less touristy Valparaíso, which is Chile's main seaport, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the site of one of Pablo Neruda's three Chilean homes, now a museum. Countless other beaches stretch up and down the coast from Santiago, each known for something different: water sports, upscale resorts, scenery, food, fishing or nightlife.
No matter where you plan to visit, you'll probably be flying into Santiago, the country's capital. A beautiful city spread in the shadow of the Andes and offering a wealth of colonial buildings and high-end hotels and restaurants, Santiago deserves at least a day or two of exploration. Don't miss the stately Plaza de Armas; The Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art; The Municipal Theatre, with opera, music and ballet onstage April through November; and the Dominicos Arts and Crafts Village, where you'll find close to 200 workshops filled with local crafts, arts and antiques.
From St. Louis, both American and Delta fly to Santiago, with one connection. Flight time is approximately 11 hours. For more information, call 866-937-2445 or go online to www.visit-chile.org. Depending upon the time of year, Chile is either one hour ahead, one hour later or the same time as St. Louis. One U.S. dollar is equivalent to approximately 582 Chilean pesos.
