When you go to Chile or Argentina you understand how big the countries are and how much there is to do and see during a vacation.
The important thing to do at this point is to ensure that you visit the top recommended spots in these places.
Your interests will be paramount in the decision making process.
One example of this is that they both offer various opportunities to go and enjoy nature as well as taking in the metropolitan cultures of the country.
Ideally, you'll have the time to enjoy at least a little bit of both to get a real feel for your destination.
Chile, like Argentina and other countries, has many spots and places that are worthy of your time.
Although perhaps not as well touted as Buenos Aires, Santiago offers a great way to start experiencing the culture of metropolitan Chileans.
Staying here is also a great spot to start from when looking at other tourist hot spots like;so, one of the oldest cities in the country and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Wineries, ski resorts and beach resorts can also all be found near to Santiago.
This is a particularly excellent country for those who are looking for an active vacation experiencing unforgettable landscapes.
The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is a great example of somewhere to visit.
Hiking or mountain biking is available here so that you can enjoy the geysets, salt flats, lakes and thermal pools that are on offer.
Pukara de Quitor is an archaeological site found around here where you can enjoy the ground drawings in the north of ancient geoglpyphs.
The Lake Region is another outstanding wilderness area for trekking as well as horseback riding, kayaking, water rafting, snow skiing and water skiing.
There are, of course, lakes, as well as rivers, forests, waterfalls, volcanoes, and thermal hot springs.
The wildlife might not be up to much but the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.
For great scenery as well as a better chance of seeing some native wildlife, you'll want to go to the Torres del Paine National Park located in the Patagonia area of Chile.
Whether you want to get the tents out and go hiking for multiple days, or just trek for one day and come back there is an array of options.
Along the way, you will see waterfalls, lakes, forests, valleys, and fields of ice - all surrounded by ice-capped mountains.
Guanaco, hares, Andean deer, pumas and birds like the Andean condor can all be seen within this area.
Farther south, it can be worth taking a boat so you can see the glaciers better.
Here, you will also find penguin colonies.
One of Chile's most incredible sights is actually not on the mainland at all.
While many people think of Easter Island when they think of Chile - and, of course, it is part of the country - it is the best part of six hours away on a plane.
This will obviously increase the time and budget requirements of your travel but seeing the many statues with their giant heads that the island is known for is something quite unique.
There were a great deal of these which never managed to be finished, and you can see them in the island's quarry.