# Central Chile

Central Chile is one of the most important regions of Chile. It is where you will find Santiago (the nation's capital), a number of charming small towns in the Andean highlands, the largest ski resort in Chile, and important seaside ports like Valparaiso.

## Cities

* -33.4375-70.651 Santiago — the capital city, and cultural center of the country, with many museums, events, theaters, restaurants, and bars, and you can ski in the nearby Andes and then go the beach later that day
* -35.333333-72.4166672 Constitución — historically a popular seaside resort, reached by rustic train (ramal) from Talca
* -32.8337-70.59823 Los Andes — a city on the route between Santiago and Chile's primary border crossing with Argentina
* -33.685528-71.2146114 Melipilla — the best place to drink chicha, a homemade alcoholic wine-like drink
* -34.3851-72.00495 Pichilemu — a laid-back town with beaches and surfing
* -33.65-71.1666676 Pomaire — handicrafts, rather commercial
* -33.1833-71.6867 Quintay — a seaside resort village with a whaling museum
* -34.165389-70.7398068 Rancagua — a good base for exploring the region's vineyards, and smaller villages and towns
* -32.969389-71.5450279 Reñaca — a small beach town popular with Santiaguinos and Argentines from Mendoza in January and February
* -34.633333-71.36666710 Santa Cruz – the base for exploring the Colchagua Valley wine region
* -34.085-70.382511 Sewell — an old mining town
* -35.426944-71.66555612 Talca — vast hiking east of it, including Descabezado Grande
* -33.046111-71.61972213 Valparaíso — sea, hills and beautiful old houses
* -33.0245-71.551814 Viña del Mar — the most important beach in the country hosts a botanical garden

## Other destinations

* -33.369256-71.6681391 Algarrobo — the home to the largest swimming pool in the world at the San Alfonso del Mar resort
* -33.3493-70.29232 El Colorado — ski area
* -33.350833-70.3138893 Farellones — a small mountain village near the ski resorts of La Parva, El Colorado, and Valle Nevado
* -33.641389-78.8411114 Juan Fernández Islands — a remote islands 670 km offshore
* -32.833333-70.055 Portillo — a ski area close to the Argentine border
* -35.4588-71.03066 Radal Siete Tazas National Park — an extraordinary bucolic paradise of waterfalls and lakes
* -33.3547-70.24987 Valle Nevado — ski resort
* -35.59-70.9378 Altos de Lircay National Reserve — a 121-km² reserve in the Andean mountain skirts with hiking, horseback riding, and connecting with nature

## Understand
### Climate

In central valleys the climate is essentially Mediterranean. This kind of climate is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters.

## Talk

The majority of the population speaks only Spanish. Just a few people, especially tourist guides, engineers and businessmen can speak fluent English. Nevertheless, many young people understand some simple English phrases and can start basic conversations since English has been more prioritized in the national curriculum in the last few years.

## Get in

* Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) near Santiago.

## See

Santiago, the country's capital and metropole, has the widest range of sites and activities. Valparaíso is a pleasant and colorful city on the coast.
* -35.845491-72.6357271 Curanipe. A growing fishing village, where in the morning at the Playa San Pedro locals mix with tourists for the fish coming in from the sea for the best prices, and surfers and fisher boats fight (literally) for the best best space between the waves. (updated Mar 2018)
* -35.833333-72.6333332 Pelluhue. A popular surfers' town along the coast south of Santiago. (updated Mar 2018)

## Do

* Swimming – In the largest swimming pool in the world at the San Alfonso del Mar resort.
* Surfing – Everything between -36.133333-72.78333315 Cobquecura and -35.833333-72.63333316 Pelluhue , like Curanipe, Cardonal, Tregualemu and Buchupureo are exceptional surfing destinations and mirror the shape and conditions of the Californian coast on the northern side of the continent. This region is still a hidden gem and receiving a lot of state sponsoring for development. However, beaches and breaks are far from overrun and you can find many lone opportunities to try out your board.
* Hiking – To the east of Talca vast opportunities exist, including Descabezado Grande (3,953 m), Radal Siete Tazas National Park, Altos de Lircay National Reserve, and other reserves.

## Buy

* -36.13307-72.796421 Large Supermarket, Cobquecura. Along to coast you mostly have the choice between small and very small mini-markets. In case you are looking for a decent supermarket with sizeable selection, try this one at the south when you enter the coastal region from Chillan. (updated Mar 2018)

## Sleep

* -35.885365-72.6798661 Ecolodge Ekilibre, Cardonal, ☏ +56 984 064 596, ecolodge.ekilibre@gmail.com. Inexpensive hostel with a friendly Chilean-French couple that offers tours, regional advice and lodging. Surf in summer, and ski in winter. Dorm: 6,000-8,000 pesos. (updated Mar 2018)