Chile boasts some of the world's most varied and dramatic landscapes squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and the base of the Andes, one of world's great mountain ranges. To comprehend its diverse geography, imagine a single country stretching from Baja California through California, the Pacific northwest coast and up to the Alaska Panhandle. Chile's length—including the entire length of its jagged coast and islands—is an amazing 7,633 mi/12,606 km in all, making it the 19th-longest country in the world when measured by coastline, and the second-longest in South America.

Once thought of as remote beyond the reaches of most travelers, Chile is now one of the most modern and convenient travel destinations in South America, with contemporary infrastructure and comforts, and an outstanding reputation for safety. Combined with its booming economy and strong peso, that also means prices are high in comparison with the rest of the continent. Among Chilean specialty tours are those focusing on wine production, desert flora and fauna, trout fishing, stunning Patagonian landscapes and geology.

Modern Chile reflects Spanish, Basque, British, German and Croatian ancestry, but the bulk of the population is mestizo. Even so, there are still a million indigenous Mapuche in the south, a nation that remained autonomous until the late 19th century.
Chile requires at least two weeks if you want to see it adequately, but for those with only one week, the following itinerary provides a good introduction:
Day 1—Arrive Santiago. As most flights arrive in the morning, spend the afternoon touring the city and perhaps a vineyard.
Day 2—Santiago. Take a day trip to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.
Days 3 & 4—Fly to Calama and proceed to San Pedro de Atacama.
Days 5 & 6—Fly to Puerto Montt and proceed to the picturesque lakeside town of Puerto Varas, exploring Vicente Perez Rosales National Park.
Day 7—Depart Chile.

If 10 nights are available, consider this schedule:
Day 1—Arrive Santiago, visiting downtown sights including the La Moneda palace and its cultural center.
Day 2—Fly to Calama, visiting Chuquicamata if scheduling permits and then continuing to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 3—San Pedro de Atacama, including an early morning excursion to the Tatio geysers.
Day 4—Fly to Santiago, with an afternoon vineyard excursion.
Day 5—Fly to Puerto Montt and, after lunch at Angelmo, proceed to Puerto Varas.
Days 6 & 7—Puerto Varas, with excursions to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and the Chiloe archipelago.
Day 8—Overland by bus or rental car to Pucon. Afternoon hike at Huerquehue National Park.
Day 9—Pucon. Climb the Villarrica Volcano or raft the Trancura River, then overland to Temuco for a flight back to Santiago. Alternatively, take a comfortable sleeper bus from Pucon or Temuco, arriving Santiago the following morning.
Day 10—Visit Vina del Mar and Valparaiso or a vineyard near Santiago.
Day 11—Visit Santiago's pre-Columbian museum or other cultural attractions in the capital before an evening flight.

If more time is available, increase your stay in Santiago and Puerto Varas by one night each to see the surrounding countryside, add at least four nights in the south (Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine) or spend time enjoying special interests, such as fishing, rafting, skiing, and the like. A magnificent climax to a trip to Chile would be a seven-day cruise to see the fjords, glaciers and pristine Patagonian wilderness of the far south.

Facts to know before taking this field trip
Passport/Visa Requirements: Citizens of Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. need passports but not visas. Travelers from Australia, Canada and the U.S. must pay an entrance fee (US$15-$100 depending on nationality) in U.S. dollars (cash only) upon arrival.

All U.S. citizens must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico. Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S.
Beginning 1 June 2009, passports are required for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders with the U.S. and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda. Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure.

Population: 16,284,741.
Languages: Spanish. In the Lake District, many Mapuches speak Mapudungun, and in the north, Aymara is spoken by some indigenous groups..
Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant); though many Mapuches and Aymaras communities are nominally Catholic, they practice their own religious beliefs..
Time Zone: 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the second Sunday in October to the second Friday in March. Easter Island is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight Saving Time is also observed there October-March.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts. Three-pin sockets are the norm, so most North American devices function properly.
Telephone Codes: 56, country code; 2,city code for Santiago; 32,city code for Valparaiso;