Central Chile
Central Chile is the cultural heart of the country. All of Chile's largest
cities are located here, as are most of its universities and industries,
its vineyards,
finest agricultural lands, colonial and early republican architecture. In
fact, central Chile is something of a microcosm of the country, balanced
between deserts to the north and forests to the south, with the capital poised
between the highest peaks in the Americas and a host of premier beach
resorts.
Santiago , the capital, is a focal point of Latin American commerce and the point of entry for nearly all international arrivals. Clean and modern, Santiago sits in a basin between the Coast Range to the west and the Andes to the east. World-class ski areas in the central Andes lie only forty-five minutes away. Numerous vineyards surround the capital; hot springs, seventeenth-century colonial haciendas, and national parks in both the Andes and the Coast Range , all make easy day trips. At night, visitors may choose from a variety of restaurants serving all types of regional and ethnic cuisine, and excellent hotels assure a good night's sleep for business or pleasure.
To the west, modern highways connect with the coastal cities of Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, and San Antonio. Like Santiago, the central coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with short, mild winters and a sunny summer season lasting over eight months. Here a chain of white-sand beaches and coastal resorts offer something for every taste, from luxury hotels to secluded cabins, picnics on the beach to fresh seafood in an open-air restaurant.
To the north, the climate grows gradually hotter and drier. The chain of beaches and resorts continues north to La Serena, Chile's second-oldest city now known for its production of pisco, a grape brandy which follows close behind wine on the list of Chile's preferred drinks.
To the south, the central valley comes into its own. These were the fertile lands first claimed by the Spanish conquistadores; here the Chilean huaso (cowboy) still spends his day astride his horse in the traditional manta (poncho) and sombrero, honing his skills for annual rodeo competitions.
Last updated: July 31, 2006