Santiago is not only the capital of Chile but also the biggest city of the country, homing a gigantic population of over 5,000,000 people. This city is guaranteed to have it all. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure there is plenty of indoor and outdoor activities here to keep you occupied. Hot springs, hiking and skiing will accommodate the outdoor enthusiast and when you're ready to come inside there's plenty of discos, clubs and phenomenal restaurants.
The city falls in a large valley completely surrounded by the Andes Mountains. The basin where the city sits was actually covered for hundreds of millions of years by the ocean making this quite a unique area. The city has a cooler Mediterranean climate making it a bit different than other parts of chile and approximately once every eight years or so it snows on the city for some reason. Thermal Inversion causes a fairly high level of smog to become trapped over the city in the winter but no one there seems to mind and looks at it as a sort of a giant cloud.
Although Santiago has a long and colorful history, there are only a few historical buildings left after being hit with so many earthquakes but if you're looking for culture, there are plenty of museums to satisfy your curiosity. The church of St. Francis that is the oldest and most significant building in Santiago is considered a “must see”.
Aside from the vast number of cultural museums and art galleries to explore, the city has an infectious type of energy with plenty of trendy cafes and exotic suburban parks. Additionally, the mountains around Santiago aren't just for decoration! Those are the magnificent Andes so there is plenty of trekking, climbing and horseback riding as well as skiing and kayaking.
Die hard skiers from all over the the world flock to ski these slopes and Santiago is happy to accommodate with luxury resorts or cozy old lodges set off on the mountain with a charming view. If you are “better then good” at skiing you can even get a helicopter lift to the biggest slope that welcomes you with a 8200 feet vertical drop.
Frothy water and a bold adventure is what kayaking in Chile will give you. The torrential waters from the great Maipo offer a hefty current and an adrenaline rush. Do not forget a waterproof camera because the scenery here is really something special.
Santiago is a vibrant city that has the cuisine to match its atmosphere. Succulent seafood and wine are a must and be sure to devour an empanada for desert. The wine routes offer fascinating tours to various vineyard valleys giving you not only exquisite beverages to savor but also some delicious food of Chilean culture prepared by people of the land who will love to sit and chat with you if given the opportunity.
It is useful to know if an earthquake occurs during your visit, to remain calm. They are common here and the entire city is now built with seismic protection, offering high safety standards so you can enjoy your visit to this pulsating metropolis with no worries.
