Chile; The Bradt Travel Guide

by Tim Burford

• ISBN13: 9781841620763
• ISBN10: 1841620769
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-06-01
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

This new guide to Chile from Bradt refreshingly focuses on the country's natural history and culture. It encompasses every aspect of this geographically diverse country, from the immense deserts and peaks in the north, via the fertile central valleys, to the dense rainforests and glaciers of the south. There is opportunity to discover the culture of Chile, including mummies from the 5th century BC found in the Atacama Desert and Inca ruins.This guide details every aspect of travel, from accommodation and eating out to national parks and sailing, in this most easy of Latin American countries for independent travellers.

Author Biography

Tim Burford is a writer and expedition leader who specializes in South America and Eastern Europe. His other Bradt guides include Chile & Argentina: The Bradt Trekking Guide and Georgia with Armenia.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. vii
General Information	p. 1
Background Information	p. 3
Geography and climate	p. 3
Natural history	p. 7
Conservation	p. 18
History	p. 22
Politics	p. 30
Economy	p. 34
People	p. 38
Culture	p. 41
Sports	p. 48
Practical Information	p. 51
When to visit	p. 51
Highlights/Suggested itineraries	p. 51
Information	p. 51
Red tape	p. 52
Tour operators	p. 54
Getting there	p. 62
Health	p. 67
Safety and security	p. 72
What to take	p. 74
Money and banking	p. 75
Getting around	p. 76
Accommodation	p. 83
Eating and drinking	p. 85
Public holidays and festivals	p. 90
Shopping	p. 90
Media	p. 91
Communications	p. 93
Working	p. 95
Names and addresses	p. 96
Miscellaneous information	p. 96
Activities	p. 96
The Guide	p. 103
Santiago	p. 105
History	p. 106
Climate	p. 107
Highlights	p. 107
Getting there and away	p. 108
Information	p. 116
Getting around	p. 116
Where to stay	p. 118
Restaurants	p. 128
Bars and nightlife	p. 136
Festivals	p. 137
Cultural activities	p. 138
Money and exchange	p. 140
Shopping	p. 141
Communications	p. 144
Crime, safety and police	p. 144
Health	p. 145
Foreign embassies in Santiago	p. 145
Sport	p. 146
Worship	p. 147
Laundry	p. 147
Tours	p. 148
Touring the city	p. 148
Museums	p. 166
Other attractions	p. 172
Beyond the city	p. 172
The Norte Grande	p. 181
History	p. 181
Arica	p. 182
To Putre, Lauca and Bolivia	p. 193
Lauca National Park and beyond	p. 196
From Arica to Iquique	p. 199
Isluga National Park	p. 202
Iquique	p. 203
From Iquique to Calama	p. 215
The Calama area	p. 219
San Pedro de Atacama	p. 228
South to Antofagasta	p. 238
Antofagasta	p. 244
South from Antofagasta	p. 250
Norte Chico	p. 255
History	p. 255
Chanaral	p. 255
Caldera	p. 259
Copiapo	p. 263
South of Copiapo	p. 270
La Serena	p. 276
Vicuna	p. 290
East of Vicuna to Monteverde	p. 293
South of La Serena	p. 296
Central Chile	p. 311
Valparaiso	p. 311
Vina del Mar	p. 329
North of Vina del Mar	p. 338
The Aconcagua Valley	p. 342
From Santiago to Portillo	p. 349
The central coast south of Valparaiso	p. 351
South of Santiago	p. 363
Rancagua	p. 363
San Fernando	p. 370
Santa Cruz	p. 373
Curico	p. 377
Talca	p. 380
Constitucion	p. 388
Linares	p. 390
Chillan	p. 394
Concepcion	p. 400
Araucania and the Lakes District	p. 413
Los Angeles and around	p. 416
Angol	p. 421
East of Victoria	p. 425
Temuco	p. 430
Lago Villarrica and around	p. 440
Pucon	p. 445
Around Pucon	p. 451
The Siete Lagos	p. 457
Valdivia	p. 465
Around Valdivia	p. 474
South of Valdivia	p. 475
Osorno	p. 478
Puyehue	p. 484
Lago Llanquihue	p. 487
Puerto Varas	p. 492
Around Puerto Varas	p. 499
Puerto Montt	p. 503
Beyond Puerto Montt	p. 513
Chiloe	p. 517
Ancud	p. 519
Between Ancud and Castro	p. 523
Isla Quinchao	p. 525
Castro	p. 527
Chonchi	p. 532
Chiloe National Park	p. 534
Quellon	p. 535
The Carretera Austral	p. 537
Chaiten	p. 538
South of Chaiten	p. 544
Puerto Aisen	p. 551
Laguna San Rafael	p. 555
Coyhaique	p. 557
South of Coyhaique	p. 564
Cochrane and south	p. 569
Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego	p. 575
Puerto Natales	p. 577
Torres del Paine National Park	p. 587
From Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas	p. 600
Punta Arenas	p. 602
Tierra del Fuego	p. 620
The Pacific Islands - Easter Island and Juan Fernandez	p. 637
Easter Island	p. 637
The Juan Fernandez Archipelago	p. 655
Language	p. 664
Further Information	p. 668
Index	p. 676
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