CHILE: Tourism Not Affected By Seismic Event Measuring 7.6

Tourism is reported to be operating as normal throughout Chile inspite of seismic event measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale.

On December 25 Chilean authorities reported a seismic event measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale with an epicenter at Quellón, to the south of Chiloé Island, more than a thousand kilometers from the nation’s capital of Santiago.

As a standard preventive measure in the wake of an event of this magnitude, the authorities ordered an evacuation of the region’s coastal areas due the potential risk of a tsunami; this warning was rescinded at 7pm on December 25, with the entire country returning to normal.

Citizens and tourism services located on Chile’s coasts are fully prepared for this type of situation, with an impressively calm, organized, and rapid response to the tsunami warning.

From Chile’s far northern destinations in Arica & Parinacota Region through to its southernmost reaches, the country’s tourist sites were not affected. Conditions are entirely as normal in areas such as San Pedro de Atacama and its surroundings.

In central regions, popular destinations such as Santiago and its surroundings, Valparaíso, and areas known for their vineyard tours are fully operational and were not affected in any way. In Southern Chile, areas such as the O’Higgins, Maule, Biobío, Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos Regions (including the Chilean Lake District), and Chilean Patagonia – home to the Torres del Paine National Park – are fully operational and working as normal.

Air Transport
• Airports throughout Chile are operating as normal, including the country’s international hub in Santiago, Arturo Merino Benítez Airport.

Road Transport
• The country’s main highways are operating as normal.
Popular destinations on Chiloé Island, near the epicenter:
• Canal de Chacao crossing operating as normal.
• Castro Airport operating as normal.
• No roads are blocked on the island, except for some connectivity issues affecting Chonchi District and Quellón District.
• Chiloé’s 16 churches, which are listed as World Heritage and three of which are national monuments, are all 100% open and operational.
• There has been no damage to the island’s National Parks and National Monuments.
• There is no damage to the Puente de las Almas (Bridge of Souls).
• Forts: Ahui, San Antonio, and Pauco have suffered no damage.
• The handicrafts fairs and markets in Dalcahue, Castro, Ancud, and Chonchi are 100% operational and undamaged.
• Wetlands areas: Undamaged.
• Beaches: Lechagua, Cucao, and Mar Brava are undamaged, but temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.
• Palafitos (stilt houses): Castro and Chonchi, undamaged.
• Hiking trails: 100% open and available.
• Hotels and restaurants: 100% open and available.
• Tour operators: 100% open and available.
• Ferries: Operational, both to and from Chacao and serving the smaller islands.

CHILE: Hotels In Chilean Patagonia Chosen As Five Best In South America

The hotels received recognition as part of the World’s Best Awards.

The Singular Patagonia and Tierra Patagonia received first and fifth place respectively, as part of the World’s Best Awards 2016 category for Best Hotels and Resorts in South America; a recognition awarded by the prominent travel magazine, Travel and Leisure.

Every year, this magazine asks its readers to rate their travel experiences, casting votes in the various categories for the best hotels, tour operators, cruises, airlines, cities and islands all across the world.

Turismo Chile’s General Manager, Debbie Feldman, explained that, “we’re very happy and proud of these recognitions. They promote the Chilean Patagonia and our country as one of the region’s tourism highlights, offering high quality. In addition to these achievements, Crucero Australis took first place in the Small Ship Ocean Cruise category. Together, an excellent picture of Chile is painted to the world”.

The Singular Patagonia, located in Puerto Bories in Puerto Natales, offers 54 rooms and three suites, a spa, two restaurants and more than 20 excursions that include trips to nearby glaciers, horse-riding tours to private reserves, walking tours, a trip to Puerto Natales and the chance to discover the Torres del Paine National Park. It’s a hotel that’s already been recognized by Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice, as the best hotel in Chile and one of the best in South America, and was awarded with the LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the US Green Building Council.

Tierra Patagonia is a cosy establishment of 40 rooms that offers visits to Lake Sarmiento and the imposing peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park. Its installations include a lounge, bar, dining room, tour lounge, library, television room, heated swimming pool, open-air Jacuzzi and spa. It offers tours to discover the Torres del Paine National Park, the Patagonian countryside and its ranches. There are opportunities to go birdwatching, to discover flora and endemic fauna, to enjoy the Patagonian mountains, the pampas, forests, glaciers, rivers, lakes and waterfalls.

CHILE: About Chile

Hikers at the Towers Of Torres del Paine

Capital: Santiago

Size: 756,950 km²

Population: 14.3m

Currency: Chilean Peso

Language: Spanish

Visas: Not required for UK nationals.

Food: Seafood is the pride and joy of Chilean cuisine. Almost every port on the Chilean coast has a small market or a row of seafood restaurants where excellent seafood can be found. The varieties of fish are endless and entertaining! If fish is not your thing try cazuela de vacuno (meat stew with pumpkin, potato, coriander and a twist of lemon).

Drink: Chilean wines are excellent. Two delicious drinks are vaina, a mixture of brandy, egg and sugar and cola de mono, a mixture of aguardiente, coffee, milk and vanilla served very cold at Christmas.

Festivals: Fiesta de la Piedra Santa: the ancient festival of the Holy Stone is celebrated every year on 20 January. The women dress in their traditional costumes, with colourful belts and silver jewellery. It continues through the night with singing, dancing, music and prayers.

Sport: Much like South America as a whole, football is the sporting lifeblood of Chile and the three most powerful teams (Universidad de Chile, Colo Colo and Universidad Católica) are centred around Santiago each provoking fierce rivalry with each other. Tennis and basketball are also popular and some rugby is played around Santiago and fifth region mainly due to the existence of the traditional private 'English' schools.

When to go: The hottest months are December to March. The Central region has a sunny Mediterranean-like climate; in July and August temperatures can drop to 10ºC. The Lake District enjoys a temperate climate similar to northern Europe but with heavy rainfall. In the far south the winter (June to mid-September) is more severe: it can snow and temperatures often drop to well below freezing. In Easter Island the rainy season is March to October (wettest in May, when torrential rain can fall, although usually in short bursts).

Chile is a ribbon of land squashed between the Pacific and the Andes. Its landscape embraces glacial wilderness and moonscapes, lakes and volcanoes, beaches, salt flats, and the burnt colours of the desert. In one day it is possible to scale a mountain with ice axe and crampons, soak off the exhaustion in a thermal bath and rest beneath the desert stars of the Southern Cross.

Santiago, Chile’s sophisticated capital, nestles alongside the Andes: a frenetic collision of skyscrapers, noise and nightlife that is home to some of South America’s most experimental modern artists. The nearby port city of Valparaíso was described by Brian Keenan as a ‘Venice waiting to be discovered’, with warrens of streets and brightly painted houses.

In the far north is the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, an unlikely oasis set among geysers, volcanoes and salt flats. For the real stargazers, there are astronomical observatories to take advantage of the region’s pristine skies.

3,790km to the west lies Easter Island, famous for its 887 iconic stone heads known as moai, ranging from two to 20m tall.

Heading south, the mysterious archipelago of Chiloé is one of the most fascinating areas of Chile. Here you are almost always within sight of the sea, with dolphins playing in the bay and, on a clear day, views across to the twisting spire of the Corcovado volcano on the mainland.

Just north of Chiloé is the deservedly popular Lake District. Much of this region is protected as national parks, and the mixture of forests, lakes and snow-capped volcanoes is unforgettable.

The Carretera Austral (southern highway) is a large tract of sparsely inhabited, spectacular wilderness stretching away south of the Lake District. High rainfall and difficult access deter some but the attractions are considerable: temperate rainforests, glaciers, fjords, small islands and hidden fishing villages. There are hot springs at Chaitén and Puyuhuapi, excellent fishing and rafting in the cold clean waters. You can trek, climb mountains and cross ice fields, or cruise in comfort to the awe-inspiring sight of Laguna San Rafael's glacier.

In the far south of the country lies the awe-inspiring Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Mecca for trekkers and wildlife enthusiasts. Throughout the year, the park offers constantly-changing views of fantastic peaks, glaciers and icebergs, where the eponymous massive granite towers overlook vividly coloured lakes and quiet green valleys filled with wild flowers.

CHILE: 10 Romantic Trip Ideas To Lure You To Visit Chile

Chile’s well known internationally for its adventure tourism activities, for wonders of the natural world including the Torres del Paine National Park and the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. It’s also gradually becoming one of the best spots in Latin America to visit for its gastronomical offer, which is great news for travelers who love to try foreign foods.

However, Chile is also a great place to go when planning a romantic trip with the person they love. With this in mind, we’ve developed a quick list of 10 trip ideas that reveals the romantic side to Chile’s natural landscapes and cultures.

What’s more, Chile’s romantic panoramas can be thoroughly enjoyed whether you have a special someone to share them with or not. Watching the sun go down behind the historic Moais on Easter Island is an experience that will have you falling in love with our country in a heartbeat.

Enjoy!

1) Discover our vineyards during the wine harvest festivals in March.

2) Enjoy the sun go down behind the historic Moais on Easter Island all year round.

3) Rejuvenate your body and mind by relaxing in Chile’s thermal baths.

4) Plan a ski weekend in July or August in any of the ski resorts across the country.

5) Visit the Flowering Desert in the north of Chile and marvel at the array of flowers as they burst into bloom in the driest desert in the world.

6) Lose yourself in the beauty of our country from above. There are more than 2.000 volcanoes in Chile for you to climb, gaze at and fall in love with.

7) Observe the stars in the Atacama Desert, one of the clearest skies in the world.

8) Take a trip to the Torres del Paine National Park, the 8th Wonder of the World.

9) Visit the beach at Viña del Mar where you can combine sun, sand, surf and fine dining.

10) Fall in love with the mystical nature of #Chiloé’s churches, 16 of which are considered Cultural World Heritage according to UNESCO.

Chile is one of the 10 countries with the highest tourism growth in the world - Chile Travel Chile is one of the 10 countries with the highest tourism growth in the world 10 Romantic Trip Ideas to inspire you to visit Chile - Chile Travel 10 Romantic Trip Ideas to inspire you to visit Chile Valparaíso ranked one of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world by Condé Nast Traveler - Chile Travel Valparaíso ranked one of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world by Condé Nast Traveler Discover the birdlife on Chiloé Island - Chile Travel Discover the birdlife on Chiloé Island

CHILE: Tracking Pumas In Patagonia

Pumas are among the least seen of earth's big cats.

Though they're widely distributed from the Canadian Rockies to the southernmost Andes (and known alternatively as cougars or mountain lions), pumas have historically been thought of as too elusive for any sort of commercial tourism.

That changed when a company called Quasar Expeditions, in partnership with Explora Patagonia, launched its first puma trekking safaris earlier this year in Chile's famed Torres Del Paine National Park.

The idea was to give wildlife enthusiasts the same opportunity to see pumas as they'd have with jaguars in Brazil, lions in Africa or tigers in India.

It's estimated that the 935-square-mile Torres Del Paine in southern Patagonia is home to more than 50 pumas, giving it one of the world's densest big cat populations.

Early morning rays have just painted the park's famed massif in a violet hue when I meet up with 33-year-old puma tracker, Jose Vargas.

It's been about a half hour since my chance encounter, and he can sense the effect the cat has already had on me.

"When you see the puma eye to eye, it transmits an energy that's quite powerful," Vargas says as we set off into the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve with binoculars and high hopes.

Our first stop on the aptly named Fauna Trail is an arid plateau buzzing with brush-grubbing guanacos.

These wild cousins of the domesticated llama are among the puma's favorite foods, and it shows on the bone-riddled trail ahead.

Vargas bends down next to a spiky "mother-in-law's pillow" bush to inspect a particularly bloody guanaco carcass.

He tells me that it can't be more than two days old, but adds, "the puma has surely moved on by now to hunt for another kill."

A beret-wearing, mate-drinking gaucho, Vargas grew up in the park's Lago Grey region and was tracking pumas alongside his father when he was just five years old.

He says the methodology hasn't changed over the years.

He listens to the guanaco's bleating calls -- "many in rapid succession could signal a puma" -- and looks for cues from the sentinel, an older male who stands on a hilltop overlooking the herd.

About three hours into our hike we reach an overlook above Laguna Goic with sweeping views of the snow-capped Andes floating like white waves on the horizon.

We've laughed at courting rhea birds (they're related to the ostrich and emu), chased a gray fox in pursuit of photos and smelled more hog-nosed skunks than we'd care to.

But we have yet to lay our eyes on another puma.

Vargas says the caves near this lagoon are a popular puma hangout.

He saw a mother and two cubs here three days ago, but there are no signs of activity as we stand on a high point surveying the land, nor is there the slightest hint of fear in the guanacos nearby.

Active from dusk to dawn, pumas are rarely spotted midday and our clock is ticking.

Vargas suggests we climb along the lagoon's frosty edge in a last ditch attempt to come eye to eye with a puma.

We're rounding a rock formation when he calls out that he's spotted a puma.

A light snow has just erupted from a sunny sky slightly obscuring my vision.

By the time I make my way to his side the puma has climbed over a ledge out of view.

I'm gutted.

It's nearly noon and our window of opportunity has closed.

I head out again in search of pumas that evening and twice the following day.

I'm awed by the wingspan of soaring condors, the elegant frock of the caracara and the cotton candy blue of the glacial lakes, but I never do manage to spot the enigmatic puma in broad daylight.

In the end I'm OK with it.

Unlike many safaris in Africa (or Asia) where Big Five success is all but guaranteed, there's nothing contrived about finding pumas in Patagonia.

There's no baiting, there are no feedlots and there are a limited number of tracking sessions each year where the chances of success are admittedly slim.

But there's something nice about knowing that these creatures are free to roam in and out of the park, clocking in six-mile journeys on an average hunting day -- and that your encounter, if it happens, hasn't completely disturbed their solitary ways or turned them into showpieces in a cageless zoo.

When you do see this spectacular feline, however dark the night may be, you feel like you've actually earned the honor.