Travel Guide to Chile:
5
Fun Facts to Know About Chile
A
Hiking Guide to Easter Island
Chile:
Land of Poets
Chile
Travel: Visiting the Lake District from Puerto Varas
Chile
Travel Destinations & Places To Visit in Chile
Concepcion
Guide
Discover
the beauty of San Pedro de Atacama
History
and Growth of Santiago de Chile
History
of Chile
Sightseeing
in Punta Arenas - Chile
Revealing
the Valleys of Chile
Swept
Away In Santiago De Chile
The
Mythology of Easter Island
Travel
to Valparaiso, Chile
Revealing the Valleys of
Chile by Andres Gabor Lopez
Chile is a place of great
contrast, which can be experienced by the tourist through the landscapes
and climates that can be found travelling across its territory. Beginning
by the Big North (Norte Grande), linked to the Desert of Atacama (Atacama
Desert or Desierto de Atacama). From Putre by the north in the Chilean
Plateau (Altiplano chileno), contemplating to the Chungara Lake and Lauca
National Park, Vicuñas National Reserve, to San Pedro de Atacama and the
Salt Flat of the same name, you will notice how the colors appears in the
landscapes, as well as dry the atmosphere, the cold of the nights and the
warm of the afternoons.
Besides
the popular Desert of Atacama (above) and San Pedro de Atacama natural scenes,
less well-known beautiful places can be found, starting off from north to
south, Valley of Azapa (Azapa Valley or Valle de Azapa), Valley of Lluta
(Lluta Valley or Valle de Lluta), and Parinacota.
Perhaps
the less known area in Chile is the one from Antofagasta until Copiapo
that for many comprises part of the Chilean Big North (Norte Grande).
From the south of Antofagasta to Chañaral stands out by its weather and
geography, which is rather warmer and nicer than areas as Arica and
Iquique.
Close
to the center by the mountain zone, there are located several main cities
as Copiapo and Vallenar. Near Copiapo are Nevado Tres Cruces National
Park (Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces) and the stranger and mysterious
Salar de Maricunga. The National Park Llanos de Challe also is located in
this sector, near Huasco by the side of the coast. Almost in the limit
between the North Grande or Big North.
The
zones of valleys appears, with greener landscapes facing still the great
influence of the desert, mainly to standing out of the zone of Serena,
Coquimbo and more specifically the Elqui Valley (Valle de Elqui).
Elqui
Valley holds the title to the clearest skies of the South Hemisphere and
according to many, of the world. The zone of the Norte Chico or Small
North in Chile presents small, but interesting towns as Vicuña, Pisco
Elqui, Monte Grande, Cochiguaz and Alcohuaz among others, most of which
are located in the Elqui Valley. The economy of the area relies mainly on
agriculture, since the zone holds several areas of culture of vines for
the pisco, typical liquor of Chile.
Heading
south is Ovalle, an agricultural zone. Less than 1 hour from Ovalle you
may found Fray Jorge National Park (Parque Nacional Fray Jorge), famous
by its flora, fauna and also archaeological findings. Monte Patria, La
Paloma Dam (Embalse La Paloma), Punitaqui, Combarbala, are also small
towns spread near Ovalle. More to the south, Illapel appears and towards
the coast Los Vilos, Salamanca also is part of Chile Chico and it is
popular known as the city of wizards.
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