Chile Nature and Wildlife
Due to Chile’s long, stretched-out shape, it covers a wide range of latitudes and altitudes that have resulted in the country is home to a variety of ecosystems. Its geographical isolation means that many animals that typically live in South America are not found in Chile. That being said, larger mammals like pumas, cougars, guanacos and chilla call the country home. Chile’s forests provide habitats for various marsupials and there are also many small birds. The country’s long coast protects and supports large colonies of rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, sea lions and six species of seals. The waters off the coast are inhabited by a multitude of fish species as well as Chilean dolphins and an abundant whale population.
Conservation areas in Chile cover over 140,000 square kilometres (54,054 square miles), representing 19% of the country. It ranks seventh in the world and third in the Americas in the percentage of landmass protected. There are a total of 94 protected areas throughout the country from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia with 31 National Parks, 48 National Reserves and a further 15 National Monuments. UNESCO has also designated nine World Biosphere Reserves throughout the country reflecting the diverse landscapes found in Chile.
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations hosting three protected areas. Despite being the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert offers incredibly beautiful landscapes that attract adventure sports enthusiasts who come to enjoy sandboarding opportunities as well as hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Torres del Paine National Park is one of Chile’s largest and most important national parks. With the Cordillera del Paine at the centre, the park borders Bernardo O’Higgins National Park to the west and Los Glaciares National Park to the north in Argentina. The park is considered one of the most beautiful and uncontaminated places in the world and it hosts mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers. Conservation is very important in Torres del Paine and visitors are not permitted to stray from the clearly marked hiking trails which allow them to encounter incredible amounts of flora and fauna at every turn.
The Atacama Desert and Torres del Paine are merely a sampling of the various nature and wildlife opportunities waiting to be discovered in Chile. In a country that lays claim to Easter Island and parts of Patagonia as well as is dominated by the immense Andes Mountain range, the hardest part will be deciding where to go first.
Chile Travel Information
At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Chile.
Learn about the history and culture of Chile, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Chile's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Chile for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Chile tours today!
Extend Your Trip
After your Chile vacation packages, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours. These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.
Book your Chile tour with Goway!
LATIN AMERICA by Goway is an exclusive division that specializes in planning and organizing Chile tours, vacations and experiences. Choose from a simple city stopover, enjoy a small group tour, a Holiday of a Lifetime, an independent travel module and much more. We want to be your first choice when next you go globetrotting to Chile.
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