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The Norte
Chico (Small North) is the
country of the clear skies where the Andes mountains merge
with the Coastal mountains range, multiplying the uneven landscapes.
A dry but fertile ground which comes to life thanks to irrigation
and where the morning camanchaca
(sea fog) feeds lively forests like the Fray Jorge National
Park. |
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| The most important
astronomical observatories are placed in the mountains
of this region: La Silla and El
Tololo. In the middle of this wild geography,
in the town Vicuña upon the Elqui river was born
Gabriela Mistral, the first woman and the first Latin
American to receive the Nobel Price for Literature, in
1945. |
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Elqui Valley |
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El Tololo Observatorium |
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Vicuña |
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Fray Jorge National Park |
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This is a destination
related to the mining in the Chañarcillo silver mines
in the 18th century.
A place much liked by adrenaline and sport lovers: there are
spectacular dunes for off-road and sand-board practice. |
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| In the Andes, the
mountains “Nevados de Incahuasi” and “Tres
Cruces”, and the volcano “Ojos del Salado”
are a challenge for mountaineers, with heights ranging
from 6.600 to 6.900 m.a.s.l.. Ojos del Salado is the highest
active volcano in the world and the highest mountain in
Chile, with permanent glaciers and snow on its top. |
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| Near the mountains
is the Tres Cruces National Park, which includes the Maricunga
salt lake and the “Santa Rosa” and “Negro
Francisco” lakes at 3.500 m.a.s.l., inhabited by
various highland bird species including the rose flamingos
and varieties of goose and duck. The presence of guanacos
and vicuñas enrich the lakes environment. |
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| Following this
varied tour, the Copiapó valley shows its agricultural
activity and green vineyards, with an active city that
offers many tourism services. In this region you may have
the pleasure of seeing the “desierto florido”
(blossoming desert), a phenomenon that takes place only
in very rainy years in the months August, September and
October, showing a multicolor carpet of flowers. |
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| La Serena
has three architectural characteristics: colonial, mining and
neo-colonial. The ordering in square house blocks is conserved
around the main square. The prosperity brought by the mining
peak caused the rising of many churches and houses and then,
the so-called Spanish style was imposed for the building of
public and private buildings. |
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| It is characterized
by the great quantity of services for the tourists, especially
in the sector of the “Avenida del Mar”
(Avenue of the Sea). This is one of the most visited walks
in La Serena. Located 5 minutes of downtown, the Avenue
of the Sea whose beaches extend from the Monumental Lighthouse
to the beach Song of the Water in the limit of Peñuelas,
conforms one of the most attractive walks in the city,
which has countless tourist services, as apart hotels,
camping, pubs and discos, restaurants, motels, children
entertainment facilities and modern department buildings.
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| The Valle
del Elqui (Elqui river valley) is the growth
place of the Chilean Poet Gabriela Mistral, the ground
for astronomical observatories and the production of the
best “Pisco” (typical alcoholic distillate).
To go into it let you to appreciate the diverse contrasts
of blue skies, pure air, immense vineyards and papaya
trees among high arid mountains. |
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| The Valley of
the Elqui gives peace, rest, entertainment and an irresistible
attraction to know each town of its interior with its
churches, vineyards, squares, adobe houses, crafts and
the villagers' customs. It is ideal if you want to move
away from the noise of the city, since you only listen
the blow of the wind among the trees while you walk around.
It is also very well-known for its “magnetic vibrations”,
what has made many tourists to only visit the valley with
the intention of practicing yoga, to relax and to meditate,
to take a natural life and to take advantage of the “energy”,
almost perceptible, in each one of the daily tasks. Also,
their clear skies attract travelers to visit the Tololo
and Mamalluca observatories. Other important
attractiveness is its warm climate, sun, fertile lands,
escarped summits and torrentous rivers. There is no exact
route to travel this beautiful valley, therefore, each
visitor has the option of choosing the itinerary that
interests him/her more. |
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