Chile is like a Katy Perry song. It's hot (Atacama Desert), then its cold (San Rafael Glacier); it's up (Cuernos del Paine), then it's down (Elqui Valley); it's in (Mylodon Cave), then it's out (Villarrica Volcano). To get to know it, acquaint yourself with both its majestic and quirky destinations, from glassy salt flats and ghost towns to mountain trails and valleys of vineyards.
Torres del Paine National Park
The most famous of Chile's national parks, Torres del Paine is home to rolling grasslands, emerald lakes, subpolar forests, and neon blue-tinted glaciers. With the Cuernos del Paine, the park's famous granite peaks, towering over the landscape, you'll find wildlife like the puma, guanaco, huemul deer, condors, Darwin's rheas, and flamingos here. Plan a day hike up to the peaks, or opt for multi-day treks like the W, the O, or the Q.
Santiago
The capital of Chile, Santiago contains diverse museums, buzzing cultural centers, and a history intimately tied to Chile as a whole. Learn about indigenous culture at the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and the crimes of the dictatorship at the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos. See exhibitions, theater, and dance at the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM). Tour Palacio la Moneda, where President Allende's government was overthrown, and hike to the top of San Cristóbal Hill for one of the best views of the city. Also, Santiago is the best city to base yourself for skiing in the Andes and surfing in the Pacific in the same day.
Atacama Desert
Base yourself out of the bohemian town San Pedro de Atacama to visit the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth. Walk through the rock and sand formations in the Valle de la Luna to feel like an astronaut exploring a far-off planet. Watch geysers erupt at nearby El Tatio, the third largest geyser field in the world. Float in salty lagoons at Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache, and take landscape photos of Chile's largest salt field, Salar de Atacama.
For those heading to Santiago, take jeans, some T-shirts, and a leather jacket.
Chile is a popular surfing destination, and come September, surfers return to the coast to ride the waves. Be sure to pack your wet suit if you plan on hanging ten.
Housed in a neo-Baroque palace in Budapest's City Park, Széchenyi is Budapest's largest thermal bath complex. Built in 1913, this sprawling site is home to 15 indoor pools and three huge outdoor pools of varying temperatures. Széchenyi is open year-round, and you'll see locals play chess on floating boards at the edge of the pool come rain, shine or snow.
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