Chile is one of the most amazing destinations in the world for travelers, interns, and digital nomads. If you ever have the chance to live in Chile, don’t pass it up! The capital of Santiago is a perfect place to hone your professional experience, or even launch a career. Chile is also home to a huge international community. That makes it easy to meet other interns and travelers, find out about events, and get settled right in.
If you’re interning in Chile, you’ll probably spend a lot of time traveling. It’s truly a dream destination for anyone who loves adventure. World-class backpacking, rafting, hiking, biking, and more can be found all around the country. However, if outdoor adventure isn’t your thing, don’t worry! Chile has something for absolutely everyone. Food lovers can taste Chilean delicacies, including seafood and barbeques. Those looking for relaxation can check out gorgeous hot springs. Wine lovers can taste some of the best wine in the world, just outside Santiago. Take a road trip, relax on a beach, or explore some truly amazing museums.
Most interns heading to Chile will live and intern in the capital city of Santiago. Santiago is the largest city in the country. It sits in a valley between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It’s important to know that Santiago is enormous – home to more than 5.5 million people from around the world. The city sprawls in a wide area, and neighborhoods can be very far apart from each other. The good news is that it’s easy to get around the city on either the metro or the bus, both of which are extensive and relatively easy to navigate. Santiago is also an international hub for business, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and just about anything you could want to pursue. It’s one of the most economically influential cities in South America, and is increasingly becoming a destination for businesses and industries from around the world.
The Patagonia region includes land in both Chile and Argentina, and is one of the most visited destinations in Chile. The Chilean side is home to fjords, glaciers, immense stone cliffs, and national parks. Keep in mind that Patagonia is extremely far south – almost as far south as you can go. That far south of the equator, it gets extremely cold. That means, if you’re planning a trip to Patagonia, make sure it’s during Chilean summer, ideally between December and February. There are many ways to explore Patagonia – backpacking, hiking, road-tripping, or even biking. You can visit on a budget – take the bus, stay in hostels, or plan a luxury vacation – even inside the national parks, there are excellent hotels and restaurants.
Interns in Chile will probably want to visit the northern part of the country, which is incredibly beautiful and unique. It’s home to the Atacama Desert, among the driest deserts in the world. The terrain here is truly otherworldly, and you can see ancient petroglyphs and other designs, some of which are more than 1000 years old. Another top destination in Northern Chile is San Pedro de Atacama, where you can visit Valle de la Muerte (Valley of Death) and Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon.) You’ll also find volcanoes, geysers, a salt lake, and even flamingos.
Fiestas Patrias is Chile’s Independence Day. It’s celebrated over around a week in September, but the specific holiday is September 18th. It commemorates Chile’s independence from Spain in 1810. If you have the chance to be in Chile during Fiestas Patrias, it’s something you won’t ever forget. Every city in the country celebrates, and you can expect dance competitions, enormous cookouts, music festivals, competitions, and concerts. Many people have multiple days off of work, and attend multiple parties and events. Fiestas Patrias is one of the best times to witness traditional Chilean dances and clothing, to try traditional food, and to get a true sense of Chilean culture.
Photos:
1 Downtown Santiago, by Juan Pablo Ahumada on Unspalsh.
2 Guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, by Alex Wolowiecki on Unsplash.