Chile is a long and narrow country, located on the western side of the southern tip of South America. It stretches for 4,200 kms, from north to south, between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, with an area of 756,096 km2 on the South American continent and 1,250,000 km2 in Antarctica. Easter Island, Juan Fernandez, and numerous smaller islands are also part of the National territory. The current population is 17,094,275 inhabitants.


Chile has a highly varied geography. Starting in the far North, between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, lies the Atacama Desert: the driest one in the world. This is an area of great mineral wealth, fishing, and industrial activities, all of which have given rise to its main cities and ports. The warm-water beaches, the high Andean valleys and towns, and the old saltpeter mining ghost towns are some of the region’s greatest tourist attractions.

From the city of La Serena, the landscape turns greener to the south, with the Central Valley stretching between the Andean and Coastal mountain ranges, for approximately 1,000 km to the city of Puerto Montt. Most of the country's population and its economic and agricultural activities are concentrated in this long valley. Tourism is also of great importance throughout the valley, and it is centered on its beautiful beaches, its rivers (outstanding for fishing and rafting), and its lakes and volcanoes, with their lovely cities, where visitors will be warmly welcome to enjoy the excellent service and kind hospitality.

South of Puerto Montt, Chile's geography changes dramatically, and the continent breaks into countless islands, channels, rivers and glaciers, all amidst the lavish native vegetation that reaches to the very shorelines, making it ideal for adventure travelling. Finally, at its southernmost tip, the city of Punta Arenas is the natural departure point to Antarctica.


In the northern part of the country the climate is mild and dry, with subtropical temperatures ranging between 18°C and 30°C in coastal areas. In the desert and inland towns, temperature variations between night and day may go from 0°C to 40°C.

The Central Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with well-defined seasons and moderate temperatures, ranging between 0°C to 13°C in Winter (July - September) and 15°C to 35°C in Summer (January – March). Winter can be very rainy towards the southern end of the valley, especially in the Lakes' region.

Further south, the climate becomes subarctic, and temperatures may get as low as –15°C, in Winter.