====== Chile ======

Chile can be divided into 3 sections: North, Centre and South.  Each one having its own "personality".

In the north of Chile you can find the driest desert on Earth: the Atacama Desert.  In the south of Chile you can find great extensions of land covered by native forests that date from thousands of years ago.  The centre of Chile is a mixture of things: you have the beach, the mountain and also the capital, Santiago.

===== North of Chile =====

  * La Serena
  * Desierto de Atacama (Atacama Desert)
  * Valle del Elqui, Valle de la Luna

===== Centre of Chile =====

  * Valparaiso and Viña del Mar
  * Isla Negra (Black Island)
  * Santiago
  * Campos de Ski (Skiing Fields)

===== South of Chile =====

  * Parques Nacionales (National Parks)
    *  7 Tasas
    *  ...
  * Isla Grande de Chiloe (Chiloe's Big Island)
  * Torres del Paine (Paine Towers)

===== Useful links =====

  * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile (I guess that you've already seen this one, but just in case)
  * http://www.sernatur.cl/   (Chilean tourism office)
  * http://www.gochile.cl/   (They have a good handbook)
  * http://www.allsantiago.com/  (Best description of santiago)
  * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago,_Chile
  * http://www.andeshandbook.cl/ (if you like trekking)

==== It's time to train your tongues  ====

At last but not least, this chilean slang guide is done not by a chilean, but it's a very good

  * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_Spanish
  * http://www.quewea.com/slang.php

===== Facts =====

  * We do not wear loincloths. :-D
  * Chilean currency is called "Peso".  Certainly, if you come from any continent not being South America, the [[http://www.xe.com/ucc/|exchange rate]] will favour you. 
  * Chilean official language is spanish.  Chilean spanish is very difficult to understand because we speak quite fast and also drop the last syllable in many words.  Not many people speak foreign languages, but most of them will try to help you anyway.
  * Santiago is not a very safe city.  **Beware of pickpockets!**
  * Chilean wines are among the best in the world.  Don't forget to try some.  We recommend: FIXME.
  * Chilean people are very passionate about: soccer, politics and religion. So, it is better not to touch those topics.
  * Trains **are not** as good as in Europe.  The best way to travel is by bus or plain (plain tickets are not expensive, the main airline is [[http://www.lan.com|LAN]])
  * Public transport is bad (specially buses).  It is better to take a taxi or use the subway ([[http://www.metrosantiago.cl/|official page]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Metro|Wikipedia page]]).