Greetings to you all,
Having just returned from a first-time visit to Oman
I will be waxing lyrical about this new lateral destination in a
newsletter later this year but for now it is over to Steve who
embarked on a major update in Chile last October where he finally
made it over to Easter Island, one of very few places he hadn't
visited before in South America.
Laterally yours,
Nick, LateralLife London
Chile really is a breathtakingly beautiful
country. Not only is it a very civilised introduction to South
America (in terms of infrastructure, economy, politics and comfort
levels) but the contrast between the deserts in the North and the
glaciers and lakes in Southern Patagonia are truly remarkable
landscapes. Add in some culture to see the remote Moai on Easter
Island and some ever-improving Chilean wine with a stay on a
vineyard in the Central Valley and you have one of the greatest
travel experiences anywhere.
Easter Island.
This remote island outpost is a further 5 hours West of Santiago,
no mean feat but most definitely worth the effort. The enormous
Moai statues which stand guard all over the island are imposing
monolithic carvings dating back to around 1250, the most impressive
of which are labelled the 'Fifteen' at Tongariki which face inland.
Explore remote beach coves, hike up to vast volcano crater-lakes,
climb around the Moai filled quarry and take in the peaceful
seclusion. The Explore Rapa Nui
offers the best accommodation on the island, near to the only
town of Hanga Roa.
North - Star Gazing and Atacama
Desert.
Chile's Atacama desert, the driest in the world, is a land of
reddish rugged landscapes, floating lakes, flamingo filled lagoons,
high-altitude geysers and adobe towns and villages. This harsh
terrain is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast where you can hike,
horseback ride and bike through jagged valleys surrounded by
mountains and volcanoes. It is also an area for magical star and
moon-gazing with some of the world's most powerful telescopes
operating in this region - some of which you canvisit. We highly
recommend the Alto Atacama Desert Lodge for its location,
service and comprehensive all-inclusive packages.
Centre - Valparaiso and Wine
Region.
Valparaiso has come a
long way from its humble beginnings as an immigrant settlement and
industrial port town. It is today on UNESCO's World Heritage list
and many of the neighbourhoods have been quirkily and artistically
restored with ancient funicular railways transporting visitors from
sea level to hillside streets full of characterful street art,
individual boutiques, small museums and some delightful
hotels. Casa Higueras is our firm
favourite. On the outskirts of Valparaiso spreading north and south
along the Central Valley is the renowned key wine producing area of
Chile. VIK Hotels has recently opened a
state of the art titanium roofed ultra-modern hotel which is aiming
to create the first 100 point South American wine. Our other little
secret favourite however is the tiny Lapostolle
Residence (of Grand Marnier family fame) where 4 sublime
casitas overlook the Colchagua Valley.
South - Lake District, Temuco to Pucon.
Fly into Temuco where we recommend hiring a 4x4 to explore some
of this lesser-visited Lake District region more independently.
With a 4x4 you can take to the smaller roads which run along the
edge of deserted lakes dotted with German ancestry and architecture
- and a few good cafes to boot! Base yourself at the newly
opened Hacienda Vira Vira run ultra-efficiently by an
expat Swiss couple who have meticulously selected an excellent wine
collection coupled with farm to table regional cuisine. They even
produce their own cheese! This area is another active base to head
out white-water rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and climbing to
the summit of Chile's Villarrica volcano.
Far South - Torres del Paine,
Patagonia.
Torres del Paine National Park is now firmly on the
traveller's radar and for this reason we recommend visiting in the
slightly quieter months of the Patagonian Spring and Autumn where
you will feel like you have the park's trails to yourself. You need
at least 3-4 nights to do a visit justice and cover off the basic
hiking highlights of Grey Glacier, French Valley, Torres base and
some galloping across remote Patagonian farmland. Accommodation is
excellent and the all-inclusive packages mean excursions are
tailored to individual fitness levels and interests. We
particularly like the contemporary Tierra Patagonia
Hotel - and the cosily romantic yurts at Patagonia
Camp for those who enjoy a little glamping.
Nick will be heading to Indonesia to satisfy a
strong diving itch in a remote part of Sulawesi in June whilst
Steve will be wandering in Southern Sri Lanka where infrastructure
is ever-improving now that the political situation is
calm.