Spanning from the North and Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth, to wild Patagonia in the south— Chile is the land of extremes, containing some of the most dramatic and contrasting topography in the world. You will experience a combination of wildlife, conservation, natural wonders, and rich native culture like no other destination on the planet.

Chile’s diverse environments are home to a wide variety of species. Depending on the area, travelers can spot pumas, guanacos, and foxes. Birding in Chile is equally exciting, as a variety of birds call Chile home— including the Andean Condor and the Magellanic Penguin. Chile’s extensive Pacific coastline, stretching over 6,400 miles and featuring some truly remote and unspoiled scenery, provides a spectacular backdrop for marine life safaris— including viewing humpback and blue whales, dolphins, seals, and penguins.

While visiting Chile, you will learn about the remarkable conservation efforts of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins. In the early 1990s, using personal funds, they decided to dedicate their lives to conserving the beauty and biodiversity of the Chilean Patagonia with the goal of countering both climate change and the species extinction crisis. In the decades since, Fundación Rewilding Chile, a nonprofit foundation that carries on the legacy of the Tompkins, has helped create seven new national parks and expand three others— propelling the vision of the Route of Parks of Patagonia. It has also led rewilding efforts to protect endangered species such as pumas, Andean condor, pampas cat, Darwin’s rhea, and huemul deer. Stretching 1,700 miles from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn, the Route of Parks connects 17 national parks and protects 28 million acres of wild land.

With such variety, Chile is one of South America’s top nature destinations.