Chile’s Lake District: Civilized Wild at the End of the World

Chile’s Lake District: Civilized Wild at the End of the World

It’s early evening, about 7:30, but the sun is still high above the horizon. A kayaker glides with smooth, even strokes across the lake’s placid surface. Nearby a lone swimmer braves the waters, chilly now in mid-March. The terrace of the hotel, which looks out on the lake, is packed with people sipping beer or coffee as they dig into cakes and pies—the kuchen for which this region is famous.

The World’s Most Scenic Border Crossing

The World’s Most Scenic Border Crossing

For a border crossing that you’ll remember forever, travel from Chile to Argentina (or vice-versa) via the Cruce Andino, a boat journey on freshwater lakes from one country to the other. The lakes lie amid green hills and snow-capped volcanoes and mountains that stretch right across the South American cone about 600 miles south of Santiago, Chile. Running down the middle of this green swath is the rugged spine of the Andes.

Little-Known Seaside Campeche Booms

Little-Known Seaside Campeche Booms

Recently an IL reader who planned to visit Campeche, Mexico, where I live, wrote to say that she was changing her travel dates because she couldn’t find a hotel room—all the hotels she’d called were booked up. Exasperated she concluded, “Campeche must be on the map now.” Wow, is it ever. This Sleeping Beauty on the Gulf of Mexico, one of the prettiest and safest cities in the country, was off the radar for years…even though it’s just 100 miles south of Mérida, in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Chile’s Lake District

Chile’s Lake District

The Lake District is one of Chile’s most popular vacation areas, with cool, freshwater lakes for summertime vacations and, in some parts, wintertime skiing, as well. It’s long had a smattering of mostly European expats. Now adventurous U.S. and Canadian expats are putting down roots in this region, too…Join Glynna as she tells IL Managing Editor, Eoin Bassett, why.