By Cylver Symphony CarterCHILE

Best Hotels In Chile • . Alto Atacama Desert Lodge • In an almost otherworldly way, the low-

slung adobe-and-thatch lodge sinks into a terra-cotta ridge and the curves of the Catarpe valley. Inside, Alpaca pillows, hangings, and throws and a sprinkling of Atacama crafts underscore local culture. Recycled-wood furniture. Serious commitment to growing native plants. More than two dozen desert excursions with local native guides. 6 swimming pools. Spa. Great star-gazing. 32 rooms; from $398, incl. breakfast.

2nd Best Hotel • The Aubrey, Santiago• The spiffed-up art-filled 1927 mansion has the

look of a traditional Palm Beach, Florida, estate. Open since 2010, it sits surrounded by gardens and palm trees in the hilly, happening bohemian Bellavista neighborhood of Santiago. (A short walk away is the Pablo Neruda Museum La Chascona, one of the poet's homes.) The Aubrey's interior is sleekly chic. Rooms are minimalist luxurious, with feather duvets and LCD cable TVs. Plans include the installation of solar panels. Restaurant. Swimming pool. 15 rooms; from $240, incl. breakfast, mineral water, and Wi-Fi.

Alto Atacama Desert Lodge

Camino Pukara Sn Sector SuchorAyllú de Quitor San Pedro De Atacama Antofagasta Chile

The Aubrey, Santiago

Boutique HotelConstitución 317Providencia, SantiagoChile

Cerro San Cristóbal • Cerro San Cristóbal is a hill in northern Santiago

with a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. At the peak, there is a church and a 22 meter (72 feet) statue of the Virgin Mary. The summit can be reached by cable car or a long hike. Cerro San Cristóbal houses the Parque Metropolitano, Santiago’s largest public park. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools.

Chiloé Island • Chiloé Island is the largest island of the Chiloé

Archipelago in the Los Lagos Region and the second-largest island in South America after Tierra del Fuego. In part because of its physical isolation from the rest of Chile, Chiloé has a very special architecture and local culture. The Spanish who arrived in the 16th century, and Jesuit missionaries who followed, constructed hundreds of unique wooden churches in an attempt to bring Christianity to the archipelago. The result was a mixing of Catholicism and indigenous Chilean beliefs

Chiloé Island

SPORTS IN CHILE •Coached by Mario Salas, the Chilean team is looking for its first championship win in the distinguished world tournament.

• As you can see soccer is a famous sport in Chile

• Lots of Chileans play it • But it’s not the only sport in Chile

Sports• Chile’s favorable climate, privileged natural spaces, and

excellent private and public facilities encourages a wide range of physical activity. Every weekend thousands of Chileans can be seen jogging or riding their bicycles through parks and squares, while a seemingly endless variety of sports are enjoyed by an increasing number of Chileans, including tennis, horseback riding, skiing, football, tennis, rugby, skiing, kayaking, swimming, polo and golf. For the more adventurous souls, the country also offers opportunities for extreme activities in the air, mountains, or water.

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Culture • Chile's national dance is the cueca. The dance is a story of a

man pursuing a woman who plays coy hiding behind her handkerchief. You will see the dance performed at every important festival in Chile, and especially on the Chilean National Day on the 18th of September. Dancers dress in the traditional costumes of the Chilean huaso and wave their white handkerchiefs in the air.

• The most important music movement is from the 1960's. The "nueva canción" (new song) movement put emphasis on the guitar sound and also traditional Andean instruments as the troubadour sang politically based songs. The lyrics are not necessarily associated with party politics, but rather focus on the struggle for a change and the value of rural life and beauty. While the music is a bit outdated politically, most Chileans still continue to appreciate the music from groups that continue the traditions today.

LA CUECA DE CHILE

Your Text HereLA CUECA DE CHILE

Clothing in Chile

• Chile has three traditional clothing namely chamanto, the chupallas and safari jackets. These are usually dressed on during festivals. However the modern people of Chile dress formal every day.

Futaleufu MultiSport

• Travel to Patagonia and discover the Futaleufu River! For

sheer beauty and whitewater excitement, there are few rivers

that rival Chile's pristine Futaleufu. This Patagonia tour is

located in the heart of Patagonia, the Futaleufu River is

renowned as one of the best whitewater opportunities in the

world. This thrilling Patagonia trip combines Class III, IV and V

rafting with classic Patagonia hiking, bicycling, yoga, kayaking,

horseback riding and many other outdoor pursuits enhanced

by plush, luxury camping. Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of

the area, while top rafting guides navigate through the

legendary rapids of the Futaleufu.

Water Activity

Torres Del Paine 'W' Hike

• + Travelers: $2,995 per person 3 Travelers: $3,155 per person 2 Travelers: $3,595 per person This popular six-day Patagonia tour is our version of the famous 'W' hike in Chile's premier national park, Torres del Paine. By boat you'll visit Last Hope Sound, the Serrano River, Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and Grey glacier before making an exciting trek through the highlights of Torres del Paine National Park. Travel highlights include Lake Pehoe, the beautiful French valley and the three soaring granite towers that give the park its name.

Nature • The beautiful country of Chile is home

to a variety of animals. Each species has adapted to each of the country's three main habitats consisting of the Andes Mountains, low coastal mountains, and the broad, fertile central valley. These terrains provide the perfect balance of rainfall, soil, and vegetation the animals need to survive.

• Chile's extraordinary variety of natural wonders includes the driest desert in the world, the altiplano, lakes and volcanoes and southern canals and glaciers. It's a country of contrasting and overwhelming landscapes, where contact with nature is guaranteed and it's still possible to find unexplored areas. This narrow territory has over 4,000 km of coastline and beaches for all tastes. Chile is home to all of the climates of the world save for one (humid tropical), which has allowed for the development of multiple natural landscapes. The northern area is arid and cold at high altitudes. It also receives brief bouts of precipitation that allow plant life to bloom in the desert. The central area is temperate and warm, perfect for wine producing. In southern Chile, the landscape becomes rainy, lush and rural, and the temperate jungle begins. Southern Patagonia is marked by intense cold and strong winds as well as fjords, lakes and raging rivers. The variety is completed by the archipelago of Chiloé, the pristine Juan Fernández (Robinson Crusoe) Islands, and magical Easter Island (Rapa Nui) with its warm subtropical climate

LANGUAGE

• Spanish in the official language of Chile. There are also quite a few indigenous languages such as Mapudungun (spoken between the Itata and Tolten rivers) and Aymara (spoken in the mountains of the north).

MEETING&GREETING• Men will usually shake hands.• Women generally pat each other on

the right forearm or shoulder.• These are always accompanied by

the appropriate greeting for the time of day - "buenos dias" (good morning), "buenas tardes" (good afternoon) or "buenas noches"(good evening).

GOOD

BYE

ENJO

Y CHI

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