Geographically speaking Chile is unlike any other country, it is a long sliver of land spanning 4000 km and no more than 180 km wide, limited by natural border of the Andes Mountain Range acting as a great icy barrier to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West.
These characteristics have placed Chile as being the most distinctive country from any other in South America.
Certainly, it is westernized, politically stable with an orderly government and the safest and most relaxing country to travel in, whilst its capital, Santiago, is one of the easiest and least intimidating cities to arrive in.
People are warm and hospitable, and the police are not corrupt, polite and helpful. Recognized as a trade pioneer in Latin America, Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.
Due to the huge distance the country covers, Chile has a great variety of landscapes, from the immense deserts of the Altiplano in the North, to the giant ice fields and glaciers of Patagonia in the south. Chile's population of 17 million is predominantly concentrated in the Santiago and Viña del Mar regions, making it hardly noticeable throughout many parts of the country.
This explains the country's many vast and untouched wilderness regions. While many of these regions have become a paradise for outdoor activities and adventure tourism, there are still a large number of these areas where it is possible to be the only person for miles around and where you can truly find solitude and tranquility. |
