Valparaíso (or Valpo to the locals) is a Chilean city steeped in history. Once known as the “The Jewel of South America”, this city’s bohemian, youthful revival over the past 20 years has made it a must-visit destination when touring these parts. If you love getting lost in alleyways full of street art, craft beer …
Chile
Few countries in South America can even begin to compete with Chile when it comes to epic natural landforms and surreal landscapes.
From the thick, dusty plains of the Atacama Desert – the globe’s driest non-polar desert – in the north, to the rich, fertile vineyards of the Central Valley, the verdant, rolling hills and brightly-painted churches of Chiloé, down to the far reaches of the South American continent in the alluring, secretive depths of Patagonia, Chile is vast, wild and utterly compelling.
Beyond-the-beaten trail travel destinations rubbing shoulder with world-famous national parks such as Torres del Paine National Park and the surreal and fascinating Easter Island.
It’s been my adopted home for the past year – and will be for the next as I research the upcoming Moon Chile guidebook – and I continue to be astounded by the places that I discover on each trip around the country.
