Pinochet's former stomping ground sprawls from the snowy crests of the Andes in the country's north to the Patagonian wilderness in the south, with the searing heat and lunar landscape of the Atacama desert and the pretty lake district in its belly. Official language is Spanish. Take me to your leader Chief of state and head of government is President Ricardo Lagos Escobar. Treat yourself at some stage to a seafood paella, it's sure to be one of the highlights of your stay.
Chilean wine is magnificent.
Party time After Christmas and Easter, Chile kicks up its heels in September for Fiestas Patrias, National Independence Day and Armed Forces Day. In the mid-north town of Andacollo, the Fiesta de la Virgin del Rosario is celebrated in December. A sprawling metropolis of skyscrapers and shopping arcades dotted with parks and tree-lined promenades, Santiago is home to a multitude of fine museums, pretty colonial architecture and some regal churches. The Mercado Central is always bustling if you're after a bit of action, while Barrio Bellavista is a colorful suburb in which to spend an afternoon. On rainy days Do the museum thing.