Chile’s stunning Atacama Desert can be visited at any time of year as days are warm and it almost never rains
Chile is a long, slender ribbon of land which runs through every imaginable kind of landscape. Set between the majestic Andes and the rugged Pacific coast, it stretches more than 4,000km from the desolate Atacama Desert in the north to the granite peaks and glacier fields of Patagonia in the south.
In between these extremes, the country offers snow-capped volcanoes, crystal-clear lakes, dramatic fjords, ancient forests and verdant valleys dotted with vineyards.
Travellers may also encounter remnants of ancient civilisations, indigenous communities, bustling city culture, excellent restaurants and superb local wines.
The competition
Cox & Kings, Chile and LAN and TAM Airlines are delighted to offer you the chance to win the holiday of a lifetime to Chile. Visit our website to play our ‘pairs game’ and match the images in the lowest number of guesses to win. You can enter as many times as you like.
Whether you win or not, Chile is definitely a place that should be on any grown-up’s travel itinerary. Here’s a brief guide to what to expect.
When to go
Chile is best to visit from October to March, during the South American summer. However, the climatic diversity of the country means that there is something to visit all year round.
The Atacama Desert can be visited at any time of the year, as days are invariably warm, nights are always cold and it almost never rains. Santiago and Valparaíso in the centre of the country have a Mediterranean climate and are at their best in the summer months.
Santiago and the coast
Santiago, the cosmopolitan capital of Chile, is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Andes. Its historical attractions include the elaborately decorated cathedral and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.
Chile’s wine country
Set between the snow-capped Andes and the coast, the fertile valleys around Santiago are home to some of the oldest and most renowned wineries in Chile. Some estates offer clients the opportunity to stay in a colonial hacienda.
Patagonia
Stretching across southern Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is a land of rugged and untamed wilderness. The remote Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most visually distinctive and unspoilt places in this region, with soaring granite towers surrounded by shimmering lagoons, glaciers, and forests.
Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park
The Atacama Desert
Surrounded by arid mountain ranges, the Atacama Desert offers extraordinary landscapes of sand dunes, purple-shaded volcanoes, salt flats, geysers, green oases and turquoise lakes.
Easter Island
The mysterious and remote Easter Island lies in the middle of the South Pacific, a 5-hour flight from the mainland.
This small patch of grass-covered volcanic rock is an extraordinary open-air museum of hundreds of moai (gigantic stone statues) which are scattered throughout the island.
Chile’s far north
Northern Chile is renowned for its clear skies and attracts astronomers from all over the world. The region is dotted with the remains of pre-Columbian cultures, including mysterious rock carvings.
On the border with Bolivia lies Lauca National Park, with snow-capped volcanoes overlooking the emerald-green Lake Chungara.
The Lake District
Towering volcanoes, vast rivers and deep blue lakes dominate the scenery of the Chilean Lake District. The northern area is covered in forests and is home to the indigenous Mapuche people.
Chile self-drive
Self-drive trips through Chile offer flexibility and freedom to explore the stunning scenery. With wide-open roads and little traffic, it is possible to wind your way across the Andes into Argentina and back. The largely unpaved Carretera Austral offers one of the most challenging and rewarding self-drive journeys on the continent.
Getting there
LAN, part of the LATAM Airlines Group flies daily from Madrid non-stop to Santiago, Lima and Guayaquil and operates between Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia. LAN offers codeshare flights from the UK to Madrid with Iberia and British Airways.
Cox & Kings offers high quality small-group tours and tailor-made holidays throughout Chile.You can also design a holiday to suit your interests, tastes and budget [with link].
To request a copy of our Latin America 2015 brochure, visit the Cox & Kings website or call 020 7873 5000 to discuss your travel plans with one of our Latin America experts.