03 February, 2020
27 December, 2019
Destination Profile
The beating heart of Chile is in Santiago. A capital tucked between two mountain ranges, dashed by ramshackle barrios, and skewered by steel-clad skyscrapers, this is the place to go to get into the Latin spirit of South America's longest, thinnest nation. Morning strolls wandering the blooming botanic displays of the Parque Metropolitano can merge with afternoons of food shopping in the Mercado Central and evenings of Cueca dancing in cantinas on the plazas. But of course, those 5,700-mile trips across the Pacific Ocean aren't just for a city break. Cheap flights to Santiago de Chile from New Zealand can also open up trekking in the Andes, the penguin-peppered isles of Patagonia, and the blustery dust bowls of the wild Atacama Desert!
From the shimmering swimming pools on Tupahue Hill to the wild enclosures of the Chilean National Zoo, the Parque Metropolitano is a great place to escape the buzz of Santiago.
Keep an eye out for the Neo-Classical decorations of the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral and the daffodil-tinted Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago on the central Plaza de Armas.
The Andes are the great backbone of Chile. Near to Santiago, they have ski resorts like Valle Nevado and La Parva, not to mention endless hiking trails in the Cordillera Yerba Loca Park.
LATAM Airlines fly direct from New Zealand to Santiago.
The best airline to fly between New Zealand and Santiago is Qatar Airways. For non-stop flights then LATAM Airlines is best.