Chile

Sandwiched between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, Chile is the world’s longest country from north to south, an immense 4,620km, yet averages just 175km across. Capped by glacial fjords at one end and sunbaked deserts at the other, Chile is always an adventure.

Its cool southern tip is marked by Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific meet, as mountains rise out of frigid fjords at the edge of Patagonia to form hundreds of islands. Follow a string of 17 awe-inspiring national parks north – the sheer peaks of Torres del Paine, immense glaciers of Laguna San Rafael and forests of Queulat to name just a few. Home to wildlife such as puma and guanaco, and a mix of cultures including the indigenous Mapuche people, horse-riding ‘huaso’ ranchers and remote fishing communities, it is a fascinating place to explore.

Cross the Chilean Lake District, a lush region of temperate rainforests and snowcapped volcanoes, into the Central Valley where you’ll find rolling hills and green vineyards on your way to the capital, Santiago, always with the Andes looming to the east.

The landscape gradually dries into the Atacama Desert as you continue north, a desiccated and starkly beautiful place that resembles the Martian surface so closely that NASA test rovers here. A sprinkling of oasis towns, such as San Pedro, are remote hubs from which to explore this otherworldly wilderness.