CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA - TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

CHILE TRAVEL GUIDE:

Travel Guide to Chile:

History of Chile   by Jennifer Bailey

The history of Chile can be traced back to the time when the Incas first inhabited the region. By the time the Spanish explorers and invaders hit the Chilean shores in the 16th century, the country was divided between different tribes, primarily Native Americans. The most significant of these were the warlike Araucanian tribe, who were the only ones who posed some resistance to the Spanish.

The conquests of Chile by the Spanish conquistadors began in 1535, when they came seeking gold but were turned back by the local population. The Europeans finally managed to establish a permanent settlement in Chile at Santiago in 1541. The repeated Mapuche insurrections resulted in the destruction of several of Spanish settlements.

Finally, the abolition of slavery in 1683 brought about a truce between the colonists and the locals. The struggle for Chile's independence from Spain began in 1810 when the locals declared Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. Although the Spanish tried to suppress the freedom struggle, constant warfare till 1817 and the decisive victory by Bernardo O'Higgins over the Spaniards, finally ensured complete independence in 1818.

Further turmoil and warfare took place in the form of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia between 1879 and 1883. As a result, Chile further expanded its territory northwards.

After the Chilean Civil War in 1891, the country witnessed several ups and downs in the political scenario, with short stints of dictatorship.

A severe economic depression in the late 1960s and early 1970s also hampered the country's growth in the international market. Political stability was finally restored in the late 1990s, but not before a brutal military regime under Augusto Pinochet Ugarte when serious human right violations took place.

Today, after years of turmoil, disorder and warfare, the country is a settled place and attracts thousands of tourists each year who take pleasure in and inspiration from its rich historic heritage.

Chile Travel Destinations & Places To Visit in Chile   by Gokhan Ozbal

A country in South America, Chile totally reflects the beauty of nature. The country is very well known for its improbable shape. It has an unusual geography of extreme zones which means geysers, mountains, beaches, forests and volcanoes. Chile is the perfect destination for the ones who are in search of wilderness and pure nature. Generally, this country is regarded as the natural wonderland.

Santiago is the capital of Chile. Vina del Mar, Easter Island, Arica, Curico, Iquique, Calama, La Serena, San Pedro de Atacama, Valparaíso, Torres Del Paine, Valdivia, Temuco, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Talca, Concepcion, Antofagasta,  Quellón, Chaiten,  Chonchi, Ancud,  Punta Arenas, Puente Alto, San Bernardo, Talcahuano are among the popular cities of Chile.

Santiago is not only the capital city but also the biggest one. Santiago offers tourists a number of attractions.  Among these attractions there are Arms Square, Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, National History Museum, Coloured House, Moneda Palace,  La Chascona House Museum, Palace of Fine Arts, Church of St Francis, Statue of the Virgin,  Santa Lucia Hill and much more. Moreover, Santiago offers attractive parks.

One of the major attractions of Chile is Easter Islands known as Rapa Nui and Isla de Pascua which has a mistery. The colossal rocks that are carved to resemble huge human faces make this place so charming. These are 887 huge monolithic stone statues called moai The mystery is that how these boulders were carved is unknown. Chile is also famous with Torres del Paine. 

It is also one of the best nature travel destinations in all of South America. In Arica there is the famous San Marcos Cathedral. Altiplano with its vast volcanoes and lakes is a place to see. Atacama desert in the North and Patagonia in the South call for adventure.  The Andes provide outdoor sports such as hiking, skiing, trekking and climbing. The Lake District presents beautiful scenery.

Chile houses one of the driest places in the form of Atacama Desert. On the contrary, it has the coldest glaciers.

Chile owns a very long coastline which means that the country is  a paradise for beach lovers. Viña del Mar is the most popular seaside resort of Chile. Concon, Arica and Renaca  are also popular ones.  Valparaíso which has been designated as  World Heritage Site  by UNESCO is a popular travel destination. It is the main  port of Chile.

Chile also has very beautiful National Parks. Juan Fernandez Islands, Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael, Reserva Nacional Cerro Castillo, Vicente Pérez Rosales,  Volcán Isluga,  Laguna del Laja,  Bosque de Fray Jorge, Parque Nacional Puyehue, Lleu Lleu Lake, Lauca National Park, Rio Simpson National Reserve, Torres del Paine National Park are among these parks and places to visit while exploring Chile.

These are only some of the names of the destinations to visit. There are many attractions all of which are worth to see.  To learn and get more information you can visit travelovideo.com. The videos of travelovideo will inform you about Chile.