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Activities in Chile
Home » Chile » Chile: Activities and Attractions » Activities in ChileThere is so much to do in this wonderful country. Visitors will be amazed at the activities available in Chile. It does not matter if you are an expert or a beginner, if you have an interest in a particular activity, you can pursue it in Chile. Below is a list of various activities you can participate in while in Chile and the places with the best conditions to pursue the activities.
• Diving: Although Chileans tend to look outside of their own country for diving, towards the Caribbean or Brazil, there are several places along the endless Chilean coast that are great spots for diving. From Puerto Montt in the South, up to Arica in the North, there is almost 2,000 miles of coastline. The best sector, however, to dive extends from La Serena to Arica based on the temperature of its waters. With the many different beaches in Chile, perhaps the best for diving on the North Coast is Caldera, due to its nearly tropical microclimate.
The beaches of Chile are readily accessible, and the bottom of the sea varies between sand and typically large, round stones. The difference between Chile and other coasts is the large quantity of seaweed and diversity of sea life in the water. Because the waters provide a large abundance of fauna in fairly shallow waters and have incredible visibility, it makes this area perfect for marine photography.
• Skiing: Chile is known internationally as being one of the world’s top skiing destinations as well as the best of South America. With over 2500 miles of mountains, it is not hard to wonder why skiing is so popular in this country. In addition, the superb conditions of the slopes, picturesque landscapes, high quality infrastructure, and easy access and proximity to urban centers all contribute to this being a top ski destination in the world.
The primary ski centers are found in Central Chile directly in the middle of the Andes, with altitudes that range from 7872 feet up to 9840 feet above sea level. These centers provide the largest skiing surfaces as well as the finest infrastructure. The centers that are found in Southern Chile are based at lower heights and the majority of them are located on volcano slopes. The scenery is typically gorgeous, as skiers can take in spectacular forest and some with awe-inspiring panoramic views.
• White Water Kayaking: If you enjoy white water kayaking, Chile is the place to be. The rivers of this country are regarded as world class for “white water” enthusiasts, whether you want to go rafting or kayaking. The rivers that are most renown nationally and internationally are the Futaleufu and the Bio-Bio, both of which are class V. The other rivers of Chile fluctuate between classes III and IV.
• Mountain biking: Chile provides many ideal locations for mountain-biking enthusiasts. Beginning in the North, the dry, rustic and uninviting terrain of the desert dominates the landscape. The routes and tracks of this area offer difficult challenges for the riders of this sport, who face extreme conditions with the hot sun, high diurnal temperatures and extreme low temperatures in the night, as well as the threat of dehydration.
The central area of Chile, however, provides a more pleasant and mild climate for riding. There are a vast number of areas to travel between the low mountain regions and the coastal. The top places to travel on your bike are the national parks and reserves.
In the South, Austral and Magellan areas, the climate can be quite unpredictable and the temperature is considerably lower. Within these regions, the area consists of a large diversity of trails and secondary roads. If you are visiting Chile during the summer, a superb ride for mountain biking is the Austral Road.
• Fishing: Chile is a great spot to enjoy fishing. The country offers spectacular scenery as well as an abundance of fish. Sport fishing is prevalent in the country and involves capturing fish as a sport or for tourism. With its extensive coastline as well as a myriad of lakes and rivers, Chile provides an abundance of species to be found within the water.
Sea fishing is engaged in along the length of the Chilean coast, with the most popular species being: tuna, sea bass, bonito, tollo, sole, and San Pedro. Fresh water fishing is enjoyed primarily in the South, Central, and Austral zones as well as in the Magellan regions. The most popular species caught in these lakes and lagoons are carpas, pejerreyes, and various species of salmon.
• Surfing: If you love to surf, Chile is a perfect destination to enjoy this activity. From the Northern region of the country to the Central region, there are numerous beaches that provide perfect conditions for catching a swell. The nice thing about surfing in Chile is that you can surf nearly all year round. The only time it is not good to surf in the country is in the middle of winter (July and August) due to non-conducive weather conditions. Whatever time of the year, you do decide to surf in Chile, remember to bring a wet suit as the water temperature varies between 50° and 68° F.
Surfing in the North consists of smaller but extremely strong waves and between Arica and Iquique “tubes” are frequent. In the Central Region, there are precipitous shores and larger waves. The Easter Island surf is considerably more dangerous due to the fact the waves break on coral, and should only be surfed by expert surfers.
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