Santiago, the cosmopolitan capital of Chile, enjoys the enviable position of being sandwiched between The Andes and the Pacific Ocean and bathes in a Mediterranean climate for much of the year. Founded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago boasts many cultural and historic sights, while there is a vast range of exciting outward-bound activities from trekking to skiing (seasonal) that are easily accessed from the city. A vibrant city by day and night, there are more than enough bars and restaurants to keep travellers well fed and watered during their stay.

The Central Valley is where you will find the country's most important vineyards and major cities, including the capital, Santiago. Within easy reach of Santiago are world-class ski resorts in the Andes and exclusive beach resorts on the Pacific coast. The area also boasts a huge number of excellent seafood restaurants and pristine national parks offering ideal landscapes for a host of outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, horse riding, hang gliding and trekking.