Chile Activities

If your children enjoy running around in the great outdoors, they will have a ball in Chile. The country is home to some of the most unique and amazing natural features in the world. There are so many to choose from, you’ll find it hard trying to decide what to do first.

Fantasilandia (Santiago)
This modern amusement park is the largest in Chile and has a decent selection of rides, including a haunted house, toboggan ride and four stomach churning roller coasters. The park is open on weekends and holidays from April through until November and every day from December through to March.

Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM) and Santiago Aquarium
These two Santiago highlights share the same 11-acre park in La Granja barrio. The MIM gives children an interactive introduction to the world of science and technology. This ultramodern museum has over 300 exhibits ranging from robotics and 3-D cinema to palaeontology. The neighbouring Santiago Aquarium is also well worth the trip, if only to see its funny sea lion show. A combo ticket for entry into both places is available and the entrance fees are very reasonable.

Perito Moreno Glacier (Calafate)
This easily accessible glacier is one of the most magnificent in South America. You can drive right up to it, park your car and traverse a series of safe walkways that lead right up to the amazing 48 metre high wall of turquoise ice. Most travel agencies in Calafate can arrange this trip for you.

Punta Tombo National Reserve (Patagonia)
Every autumn, over a million penguins flock to this hillside in Patagonia to give birth to their babies. In this natural reserve you can freely walk among the birds, which are all friendly and incredibly funny. This place is rather remote but makes for a once in a lifetime experience.

Chile is one of the most underrated adventure travel destinations on the planet. With its incredible range of geology, climate and nature it is a true Mecca of outdoor recreation. One of the most famous skiing destinations in the world is just 150 kms from Santiago. Portillo has been around for over 50 years and its steep chutes still attract skiers from all over the world who come to this inclusive resort for its fantastic ambience. Cross country skiing and ice skating are also on hand. Chile’s ski season conveniently runs from June to September.

White-water rafting and kayaking
Some of the world’s most hardcore white-water rafting is in Chile. The king of them all is the Futaleufu River, or the ‘Fu’ as it’s called by locals. Its Class five sections such as ‘Hell’ and ‘The Terminator’ are among the most challenging on earth. Luckily, it’s a long river and there are rafting and kayaking trips for boaters of all levels.

The Maipo, Claro, Bio-Bio and Trancura rivers are other main destinations for excursions ranging from a day to a week. The scenery is extraordinary and untouched on all of Chile’s rivers.

Trekking in the Andes
Thanks to the establishment of several national parks, some of Chile’s most important and beautiful natural areas have been preserved and are open to trekking. The different parks each represent their unique biospheres and all have something worth seeing. The Lake District south of Santiago is one of the most popular regions where several parks are located. Volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes, hot springs and wildlife are just a few of the sights in abundance.

The southern region of Chile has even more stunning and quiet parks to explore. The jewel of them all is Torres del Paine, a remote, untouched and surreal area of spectacular scenery and wildlife. All of the national parks have extensive trail systems designed for both day hikes and multi-day backpacking adventures. There are campgrounds and basic huts in the backcountry. You can trek solo in most of the parks except for Torres del Paine, where you need a group or guided trek.

Volcanoes
There’s something intrinsically alluring about an active volcano. They are surreal yet powerful and potentially very dangerous. Chile is home to a large share of the world’s volcanoes and many of them are stunning, perfectly conical and easy to ascend. The climbs range from moderate to technical and are best done under the guidance of a local outfit.

Horse racing
Santiago has two racetracks which hold events of this popular spectator sport on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year. The Club Hipico is considered the better of the two and hosts its yearly classic, El Ensayo, on the first Sunday of November. It’s a colourful and fun Chilean spectacle. The Hipodromo Chile is the other racetrack and has its annual classic, the St Leger, during the second week in December.

Being a country stretched over such a variety of landscapes, Chile has a created a wide range of food and drink. Chilean food doesn’t have much in common with the spicy dishes of Mexico, as hot chillies are not used frequently. Seafood makes up a large part of Chilean cuisine due to its 4,270 kms of coastline. The red wines of Chile are another indulgence not to be missed.

Chileans usually eat four meals a day. A light breakfast of toast with coffee or tea is followed by lunch, which is the day’s main meal, served between 13:00 and 15:00. Chile follows the tradition of siesta; so many businesses will be closed in the afternoon. Between 17:00 and 19:00 it is common to have a sandwich or pastry with your tea or coffee, like the British afternoon tea. Dinner rarely begins before 20:00 and often runs as late as midnight. You’ll have to adjust your eating schedule if you want to enjoy some of the local restaurants.

Chile serves some of the finest seafood in the world and many of its traditional dishes are specialties from the sea. King crab and lobster are considered the real delicacies, but more common dishes include paila marina, broth loaded with fresh seafood and fish; ceviche, seafood marinated in lemon juice and served chilled; and mariscal, raw seafood served chilled, like sushi. South American razor clams baked with parmesan cheese is another favourite.

Chile also serves some tasty and hearty dishes based on country lifestyles. Traditional lunch items include cazuela, a clear broth with potato, rice, corn on the cob and a piece of beef or chicken, and pastel de choclo, a corn casserole mixed with chicken, beef, olives, and vegetables.

Nearly every Chilean meal is accompanied by local red wine. The country’s rich volcanic soil is ideal for growing grapes and Chile produces excellent wines.

Chile’s most unique products are the many handicrafts produced by its indigenous tribes, in particular the Mapuche and Aymara people. Craft fairs are frequent events around the country and celebrate Chilean culture by selling items that represent its traditions and folklore. Musical instruments can be found at the craft fairs along with alpaca wool clothing, lapis lazuli jewellery and copper souvenirs.

In Santiago, craft markets come in the form of permanent installations and weekly events. Los Dominicos is one of the top permanent markets in the city. The largest market in Santiago is Feria Santa Lucia, a sprawling outdoor affair selling everything from antiques to lapis lazuli jewellery and clothing. This is the most traditional market in Chile and is a great place to window shop.

Persas are Santiago markets where people attend to ‘swap’ items. You can buy or trade nearly everything at these although there is a special emphasis on old Chilean music on vinyl. There are some real treasures to be found here as many people from around the country come to Santiago to sell their old stuff. The two main persas in Santiago are at the Central Station and at Bio Bio.

Outside of Santiago, you can often find local crafts in the small towns near traditional tribal areas. The Lake District is the home of the Mapuche Indians, who make wonderfully colourful crafts. Also, Chile and Afghanistan are the only countries where lapis lazuli stones are found. Unfortunately, they’re not much cheaper here than in other countries.