The Andes Essays - Communes Of Chile, Racing, Sandboarding

The Andes Essays - Communes Of Chile, Racing, Sandboarding The Andes offer a number of trekking trails where you can marvel at the natural beauty of this small country, which practically hangs off the edge of the map. Options include northern altiplano treks at altitudes of over 4,000 meters, climbing circuits (of varying skill levels) at the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park in southern Patagonia, and paths leading through native forests on the island of Chilo and northern Patagonia. Keeping with the mountain theme, the area surrounding Santiago and the southern part of the country are home to skiing and snowboarding runs that attract tourists from around the globe each year. With an endless array of rivers and lakes and an unusually long coastline, Chile is a premier destination for water sports like surfing, kayaking, rafting, scuba diving and fishing. The rivers and lakes of Patagonia offer world-class fly fishing thanks to their abundance of trout. Adventure seekers will find plenty of places to practice sandboarding, canopy ing, paragliding and other exciting sports throughout the country. If you're looking for something more peaceful, southern Chile is the place for you. Its lush forests, waterfalls and lakes are a delight for travelers looking to connect with nature in its purest form. Relax as you take in its canals lakes and volcanoes. Snapping photos will be your only care in the world. !Canopying Whether you find yourself near Santiago or in southern Chile, there are plenty of opportunities to try canopying, a sport that involves zipping through forests among the treetops, combining fun, adrenaline and an opportunity to appreciate the natural wonders that surround you. The sport gains new fans every day in Chile, and dozens of companies offer this thrilling and ecologically-friendly activity to locals and visitors alike. In Cajn del Maipo (15 km from Santiago), you can zoom along a line over the Maipo River at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. The Via del Mar Botanical Gardens offer both adult routes (which are about 1,500 meters long) and shorter childrens circuits. This activity is very popular in Pucn, Villiarica and Valdivia. In fact, the longest canopying circuit in South America is Pucns El Cndor, a 3,500 meter long route with six stations and views of the Villarrica, Quetrupilln and Lann Volcanoes and two lagoons. Another renowned route is in the basin of Lake Llanquihue, near Puerto Varas. The circuit reaches heights of 100 meters and includes 11 segments that are accessible to canopying fans of all ages. The Huilo-Huilo Reserve has a route that combines canopying and trekking along trails that lead through its forests. Finally, in the Northern Patagonia, youll find canopy routes that run through the forest that links Lake General Carrera and Lake Negro. Featured Destinations ! 1 Araucana 2 Highlights of the Central Valley 3 Osorno 4 Puerto Montt Puerto Varas 5 Santiago !Tips 01 !Precautions Its important to make sure that you work only with certified operators who provide the necessary equipment: a firm harness with two straps that connect to the cable, a helmet and gloves, and a solid infrastructure. !Sandboarding Sandboarding is becoming more popular in the countrys central and northern regions, which offer large dunes with fine sands and majestic views. Best of all, the sport is still so new that you wont have to deal with hordes of tourists. The best known place for practicing this sport is Valle de la Muerte, located 2 km from San Pedro de Atacama, where local agencies provide sandboards, guides and transportation to gigantic dunes of fine sand. The slopes allow you to reach high speeds and offer the unique colors and textures of the Atacama Desert at sundown. You can also surf the dunes by starlight. Next, head to Cerro Dragn, in Iquique, which offers soft hills, strong winds and a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Youll find the solitary dunes of the Quebrada de Quisma further inland along with the picturesque town of Pica, where you can enjoy relaxing hot springs after a day of sandboarding. Another northern destination for fans of this exciting sport is Medanoso, near Copiap. At 1,600 meters, its the tallest dune in Chile and part of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally. In the evening, it turns a deep