Which country has Aussies all hot and bothered?

Which country has Aussies all hot and bothered?

Chile is hot on the radar! According to some fresh data, this South American gem is turning the heat up for Aussies travellers.

The Tourism Authority of Chile has released that Australians are flocking to Chile in record numbers. In fact, Aussies are loving it so much that in 2016 they were the highest visitor total Chile had ever received, with the country gaining a whopping 50, 968 Down Under travellers.

This was up by 10.8% and contributed to an overall 26% increase of international arrivals from 2015.

For 2017, tourism is projected to see a 14% increase in international arrivals from 5.6 million to 6.4 million, with Australian visitor numbers expected to grow by another whopping 10%.

According to Chimu Adventures and the Tourism Authority of Chile, increased air capacity, value for money and reduced misconceptions regarding distance and accessibility have been some of the main factors contributing to this growth.

Also fuelling this new found love is Chile’s recent win of “South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination” at the 2016 World Travel Awards.

“With air capacity at record heights and the launch of direct flights from Melbourne to Santiago, Chile has become more accessible for Australians than ever before” Co-founder at Chimu Adventures, Greg Carter said.

“Both Qantas and LATAM have increased their capacity into South America considerably over the last three years by switching to larger aircraft and we’ve been seeing the impact of the boost in seat numbers with some very competitive airfares.”

 The Top Things to do in Chile for Adventure Lovers

Explore Santiago and surrounds

Santiago_shutterstock_198592412

Santiago is the entry point to Chile and a must-do for every visitor. Sitting in a deeply carved valley framed by high Andean peaks, Santiago is not only an extremely beautiful city but it also offers an amazing choice of food on top of boating a variety of art galleries, historic mansions and museums.

In Santiago you also have a world of activities right at your doorstep such as the award-winning vineyards of the Maipo Valley as well as some of the best skiing slopes in winter that become exceptional wilderness hiking trails in summer.

Visit Atacama Desert

Atacama_shutterstock_384395968

The Atacama Desert located in Chile’s north is considered the driest hot desert in the world. There are a lot of day activities visitors can choose from such as exploring the Salt Plains or visiting indigenous cultures.

Cruise the Fjords

Chilean fjords_shutterstock_507063649

Cruising along the channels and fjords of Tierra del Fuego in southern Patagonia, you will be able to appreciate nature at its most uninhibited sailing through its glaciers, snow-covered peaks, granite cliffs and glacial waterfalls.

Trek Patagonia 

Torres_Del_Paine_shutterstock_46772347

Torres del Paine National Park has become a Patagonia icon offering a plethora of hiking opportunities giving adventure-seeking explorers the best perspective on Patagonian scenery, its mountains, turquoise lakes, rivers and glaciers.

Chimu Adventures’ offer an 8-day “Secrets of Chile”, that is priced from AUD 3,720. From exploring the fascinating history and culture of Santiago, to hiking and sampling delicious food and wine in Casablanca Valley, exploring UNESCO World Heritage site Valparaiso and discovering Atacama Desert with its ancient cultures and traditions, this tour offers an in-depth exploration of all there is to love about Chile.

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