We all know and love the South American classics such as Brazil and Argentina. However, it's worth noting that the beautiful continent also holds some other gems that whilst not yet at the iconic status are heading in that direction. Chile is leading that field and we reckon now is a great time to go, before it hits the big time (it will) and the chance to be 'ahead of the crowd with your travels' will have disappeared.
Why Chile then? Words sometimes don't do justice to a place when you have landscapes as beautiful as Chile's. We could just point you to the gallery and let the pictures do the talking but we really should put something here and shed a little light on the destination that has captured the heart of every member of Black Tomato that has set foot in this gorgeous country.
The thing that Chile has in bucket loads is variety. Read Che Guevara's Motor-Cycle Diaries and you will see a country of ever changing visually arresting landscapes; a country full of people whose warm hospitality leaves everyone who visits feeling like they now have a home from home. That was some time ago but it hasn't changed. From cultural indulgence in the cities of Santiago and Valparaiso and culinary heaven in the surrounding wine regions to sensory overload in the mind blowing Atacama desert in the north of the country, Chile more than ticks boxes for the perfect holiday range of experiences. In fact, it leaves you with a list of 'best ofs' that frankly are hard to beat anywhere else in the world. Best landscapes, best activities (rafting in the glacial waters of Patagonia - yes, please), best 'oh my God that is gorgeous' moment (as you sip a crisp Chilean White Wine in the vineyard that it was produced in) and many, many more.
How to do it? Well there are many ways and our in-depth knowledge of the country will allow us to pull together the perfect itinerary for you. A personal favourite is combining a stay in Santiago during which we will arrange some time in the stunning vineyards surrounding it, followed by a couple of days soaking up the wonderful atmosphere of the beautiful coastal town of Valparaiso - known as the Venice of South America. From here, it's then north to the wilds of the Atacama Desert and the feeling that you have been transported to another planet. Scorched earth, salt basins, lava flows, volcanoes and vast expanses of uninterrupted plateau that lies between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the most remote places on earth that produces some of the most stunning landscapes we have ever seen. A stay here at the exquisite Explora hotel will take you to the heart of the desert. When not picking your jaw off the floor as you marvel at the landscapes, we can also arrange activities that will allow you to experience the wonders of the desert up close and personal. From walking and biking to horseback riding, the excursions into the desert will provide you with some of your fondest travel memories.
We would genuinely love to continue to rave about Chile's gems, but sadly we can't turn this into an essay and we also know your time is precious and digesting chapter and verse on a lunch break on a website is not ideal. So instead we hope this brief overview has inspired you and should you wish to get to know Chile better, drop us a line and we'd love to tell you more about it and better still, send you there. You won't regret it. Promise.
