Must See

Arica

In the far north of Chile is the port city of Arica, which has some excellent beaches, sand dunes, and year-round warm, dry weather. It is also home to the famous San Marcos Cathedral.

Nearby, visitors can marvel at the unique landscape of Altiplano, home to the indigenous Aymara Indians, where salt marshes, vast volcanoes and lakes exist together upon a high plateau. Excursions can be made from here to the oasis of the Pica Valley and to the hot springs of Mamina.

Easter Island

Easter Island, located 3,800 km (2,361 miles) west of the mainland, is home to the colossal and mysterious Moai, gigantic stone figures up to 9 m (30 ft) tall which can be found all over the island. It is thought that the Moai were commemorative images of chiefs or lineage heads, and as a result of tribal warfare, many were vandalised by opposing clans.

Other sites to visit include the museum in the main town of Hanga Roa, the Oronco rock carvings and the volcano crater Rano Kao.

Pucon

Pucon is the adventure sports centre of the country, located in the heart of Chile's fabulous Lake District. This scenic region of lush farmland, dense forest, snow-capped volcanoes, waterfalls and clear lakes, offers superb whitewater rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, and the chance to spot the rare puma. Lake Villarica and the Cincira and Trancura rivers combine to create beautiful scenery, and are an angler's dream.

San Pedro De Atacama

In the north of the country, explore the bizarre lunar landscapes surrounding this charming town. San Pedro lies in the heart of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth, where volcanoes, beaches and mountains combine to make this very unique area.

Santiago

Watch the world go by in this bustling cosmopolitan capital, or in winter, head out to the cordillera ski fields at Valle Nevado and Portillo to tackle some of the highest commercial peaks in the world. For great views of the city and the Andes, take a trip to the Virgin Mary on the peak of the 860 m (2,822 ft) Cerro San Cristóbal (Saint Christopher's Hill). La Chascona, one of poet Pablo Neruda's houses, can be visited at the foot of the hill, in the Latin Quarter of Barrio Bellavista.

La Serena

This beachside city has a colonial air, beautiful stretches of beach, a handful of museums and pretty villages and vineyards nearby.

Torres Del Paine

Explore this beautiful national park in southern Chile, noted for its many lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and rocky peaks; the centrepiece of which are the majestic 2,000-metre granite pillars that give the park its name. You can also try to spot the Patagonian guanaco (similar to the alpaca) in its native habitat.