Snow capped mountains and stretches of vineyards encircle the vibrantly modern metropolis of Santiago, Chile. The sky is pierced by soaring skyscrapers in the financial district while off in the distance the peaks of the Andes ascend toward the same blue ceiling.
Airfare to Santiago is extremely convenient if you wish to continue your travels to other destinations within South America. The long north-south coastal strip of land that is Chile is essentially divided in half by the central capital of Santiago, providing an ideal home base for easy access to all parts of the country from the Atacama Desert to Cape Horn. A short drive to the west lands you at the beaches of the South Pacific Ocean while an even shorter jaunt to the east reveals Andes ski resorts and neighboring Argentina. Chile is also bordered by Peru and Bolivia to the north.
Sun, Snow and Sophistication in Santiago
From Independence from Spain in the early 1800s to the end of Pinochet rule in 1990, Santiago struggled with mass influxes of immigrants and a deterioration of infrastructure. However, recent history has proven the strength and innovation of the people and today Santiago is the financial capital of South America and a bastion of cultural preservation and seemingly infinite urban renewal.
Begin your Santiago travel in the central Plaza de Armas where the National Cathedral stands among other government buildings. From there you can catch the underground metro to any barrio of the city. Among the museums of Santiago, be sure to visit the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolumbino for 4500 years of South American history prior to European arrival. Along your way, stop in at Pablo Neruda's home (La Chascona) where the famous author spent a good portion of his life.
To fill your evenings, Santiago is brimming over with a hip music scene and sleeplessly boisterous nightlife. Jazz is a prominent sound throughout Santiago's streets and the Club de Jazz in Ñunoa is one of the best. For a bit more sophistication, visit the Teatro Municipal to bless your ears with Chile's Philharmonic Orchestra or the Universidad de Chile for the Chilean Symphony. Then, find your way to Barrio Bellavista where lounges, restaurants and nightclubs are generously dispersed among youthful hostels and boutique hotels.
El Aire Libre in Santiago
For the fresh air enthusiasts, there is much to do in Santiago. Aside from an expansive municipal park full of bicyclists and joggers, most ski and snowboarders begin their winter wonderland adventures in Santiago for the easy access to many mountain resorts. The wine enthusiast finds fantastic tastes in the surrounding vineyards of Concha y Toro, Santa Rita and Santa Carolina. And once you book your airfare to Santiago, you, too, will find your ideal surroundings among the streets of Santiago.
