सर्दी नजदीक है, और ठंड के मौसम से बचने के लिए दक्षिणी गोलार्ध की यात्रा की योजना बनाना शुरू करने का यह एक अच्छा समय है।
If you need some help deciding on where to go, here are five reasons to consider Chile as your next vacation:
1. Leading destination in South America
According to the 2022 World Travel Awards, known as the “Oscar Tourism Awards,” announced last month, tourists chose Chile for the second time as “South America’s Leading Destination” and as the region’s “Leading Adventure Tourism Destination” for the eighth consecutive year.
Meanwhile, the Atacama Desert captured the title of “Most Romantic Destination” for the fifth time. The Explora Patagonia National Park was recognized as South America’s Leading Sustainable Lodge.
“These awards are the best proof of all the great things Chile has to offer to everyone who decides to visit the country. You have incredible landscapes, exciting activities such as rafting, kayaking, surfing, ziplining, and trekking, and rich traditional cuisine,” said Ian Frederick, Trade Commissioner for the U.S. at ProChile, the governmental organization responsible for the promotion of Chilean goods and services in foreign markets.
2. Geographic diversity
If you are unsure if you want to go to the beach, countryside, mountains, or forest, you don’t have to worry because you will have it all in one place.
As the longest country in the world, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Andes Mountains on the other, Chile has every climate and landscape you can imagine. Driest desert in the world? Check. Vineyards? Check. Rainforests and glaciers? Check and check.
“Whether you go to the Atacama Desert in the North, to Easter Island or the wine valleys on the central coast, or Patagonia in the South, I can assure you that you will have an experience like no other,” said Frederick.
“You can start your day at the foot of the Andes, spend the next few hours visiting a city or a vineyard, and top it off with a beautiful sunset on the Pacific Ocean,” he added.
Frederick highlighted that “Chile’s wildlife is unique, with multiple species that you can’t find anywhere else on the planet, such as chinchillas, monitos del monte, and pudus.”
3. Exquisite food and wine
Chile is a well-guarded gastronomic treasure, and a trip to taste its assorted flavors is more than deserved.
“Chilean cuisine is a rich mixture of ancient traditions and ingredients used by our indigenous people with European food and trends. The Pacific coast is one of Chile’s greatest virtues due to its great selection of fish and seafood,” Frederick highlighted.
The powerful geographical barriers have made Chile a paradise for growing grapes and producing high-quality wines. Make sure to experience authentic Chilean flavors with local wines.
The ProChile representative mentioned that “you will find different wine routes across the country, including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, and Colchagua, and all of them include tours to learn about the history, winemaking process of each grape variety, and tasting that perfect combination of food and wine called wine pairing.”
4. No more pandemic restrictions
Chile has consistently been one of the leading countries worldwide in vaccination rates against Covid-19, allowing the country to return to normalcy.
In September, the government updated the requirements for travelers, eliminating the affidavit, vaccine homologation, and mandatory use of masks on airplanes. Passengers still need to show a vaccine certificate; if they are not fully vaccinated, they must take a PCR test no longer than 48 hours before boarding.
People under 18 years old do not need to fulfill any requirements to visit Chile.
“After more than two years of closure, Easter Island reopened its borders in August, and we have taken every measure to ensure that its people and visitors don’t have to worry about an outbreak there,” explained Frederick.
5. Best value for your dollars
In 2022, the U.S. dollar has surged against almost every other currency, including the Chilean peso, which means it’s cheaper for Americans to travel abroad.
“American tourists traveling to Chile will be able to have premium experiences at reasonable costs,” Frederick stressed.
