The Paddler ezine WW kayak collection 2013 | Page 116
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INFORMATION
LOCATION: Situated south of Peru and west of Bolivia and Argentina,
Chile fills a narrow 2,880-mi (4,506 km) strip between the Andes and
the Pacific. One-third of Chile is covered by the towering ranges of the
Andes. In the north is the driest place on Earth, the Atacama Desert.The
southernmost point of South America is Cape Horn, a 1,390-foot (424
m) rock, which belongs to Chile. Chile also claims sovereignty over the
Juan Fernández Islands, about 400 mi (644 km) west of the mainland; and
Easter Island, about 2,000 mi (3,219 km) west.
Chile
www.roughguides.com
WEATHER: Chile encompasses a wide range of climates (and micro
climates). Its seasons are the reverse of those in Europe and North
America, with, broadly speaking, winter falling in the June to September.
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period and summer in the December to March period.
PADDLING: Chile’s many rivers afford incomparable rafting and
kayaking opportunities.The country’s top destinations, the mighty Río Bío
Bío and the Río Futaleufú, entice visitors from around the globe. In
addition to these challenging rivers, gentler alternatives exist on the Río
Maipo close to Santiago, the Río Trancura near Pucón, and the Río
Petrohue near Puerto Varas.The Maipo makes a good day-trip from
Santiago, while excursions on the latter two are just half-day affairs and
can usually be arranged on the spot, without advance reservations.
Chile’s white-water rapids also offer excellent kayaking and sea kayaking
is becoming increasingly popular, generally in the calm, flat waters of
Chile’s southern fjords, though people have been known to kayak around
Cape Horn. Note that the Chilean navy is very sensitive about any
foreign vessels (even kayaks) cruising in their waters, and if you’re
planning a trip through military waters, you’d be wise to inform the
Chilean consulate or embassy in your country beforehand.
GETTING THERE: Airfares depend on the season.You’ll pay the
highest fares in the December to February and June to August periods,
the southern and northern hemisphere’s summer holiday months,
respectively. Fares drop slightly March to November – and you’ll get the
best prices during the low seasons: April, May, September and October.
TRAVEL: Travelling in Chile is easy, comfortable and compared with
Europe or North America, inexpensive. Most Chileans travel by bus, as
it’s such a reliable, affordable option. However, internal flights are handy
for covering long distances in a hurry.The country has a good road
network and driving is a quick, relatively stress-free way of getting
around. Chile’s rail network has fallen into decline and only limited
services are available. South of Puerto Montt, ferry services provide a
slow but scenic way of travelling as far as Puerto Natales.
FOOD: On the whole, eating out tends to be inexpensive. In local
restaurants you can expect to pay around CH$3500–5500 for a main
course. If you’re aiming to keep costs way down, rather than resort to
the innumerable fast-food outlets, you could head for the municipal
markets found in most towns; besides offering an abundance of cheap,
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