Adventure in Chilean Patagonia

Encircled by snow-capped peaks, Santiago is known for its colonial charm and historic landmarks, but surprises with its fresh air of modernity, with vibrant neighborhoods buzzing with cutting-edge restaurants and bars. At the heart of the old town lies the grand Plaza de Armas and the presidential palace of La Moneda, both central to Santiago’s story of conquest, dictatorship and revolution. Outside the city limits, vineyards cling to temperate Andean slopes; here, world-class wineries bottle biodynamic and organic vintages, innovating on centuries of tradition.  

Chile’s Lake District is a land of vast, serene pools where fly-fishers cast their lines and thundering, white-water rapids sweep through steep valleys. But these cinematic landscapes are defined as much by volcanoes as they are by the water; the ice-clad cones of Osorno and Calbuco are a formidable pair of peaks, looming on every horizon, their rugged slopes offering some of the country’s most epic hikes.

Take the road south out of the city of Puerto Montt and nature takes the reins once more. Aysén is the beginning of Chilean Patagonia, accessed along the winding "Carretera Austral" (the Southern Highway), named for the 769-mile-long gravel road that curls through thick virgin rainforest, along glacial-fed lakes scored with sculpted marble caves and past white-capped peaks, where waterfalls thunder down jagged slopes. Make no mistake: this is one of South America’s most iconic road trips.

Running like a fertile seam between the Andes and the sea, Colchagua is a place of pilgrimage for wine lovers the world over, the icon of Chile’s winemaking heritage. A unique terroir, shaded by the mountains, cooled by minerally Pacific breezes, feeds the perfect grapes for full-bodied, lusty reds; escape to one of the region’s distinguished wineries, replete with lavish works of art, and sample the best labels on offer as vine-striped views run far as the eye can see.