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Where to For 2018? Viva Expeditions Say South America!

Thursday 7 December 2017, 7:04PM

By Beckie Wright

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If you are wondering where you would like to travel to in 2018, Viva Expeditions would like you to consider travelling to Latin America. To start with, Lonely Plant has ranked Chile as the world’s number one travel destination for 2018, as one of the most contrasting, rewarding and action-packed destinations in the world.

Chile is conveniently compact, being a narrow strip of amazing landscapes squeezed in between the mighty Pacific Ocean and imposing Andes mountain range, offering much to the active traveller, the curious historian, the culture-nut and, let’s not forget, the dedicated foodie.

With its strong economy and stable politics, this has been the hub of choice for those who wish for an exotic Latin American experience, but one that also offers enough glitz and glamour to round off a stellar, adventure-filled journey. Viva Expeditions takes you to some of Chile’s best bits you shouldn’t miss.

Their Wild Patagonia tour brings you the best of both worlds, and the

sensational splendours of the Torres del Paine National Park have been attracting serious hikers and nature lovers to Chilean Patagonia for years. Aside from the mesmerizing vastness of it all, visitors are enthralled by astounding granite peaks and impressive wildlife density. All of this helping to make Torres a much revered one-stop all-encompassing destination.

The Atacama Desert, in the northernmost border, is renowned as one of the world’s best stargazing destinations and is a totally alien world onto itself. An ethereal, fascinating world of crumbling peaks and endless red horizons, the Atacama boasts desert-dwelling towns, geysers and salt plains. The Atacama is strategically located, right on the border with Bolivia’s fabled Uyuni Salt Flats.

For an injection of glitzy big-city life, you can’t go past Santiago, arguably the most live able capital in South America. Santiago has it all: great architecture, amazing food, fascinating museums and – perhaps more importantly – an impressive array of brilliant destinations just outside its front door. The best wine regions and some of the world’s most coveted (like the Maipo Valley) are just outside the city’s borders, and make for delectable day-trip options. And if you head there in winter, you could be zooming down picturesque snow-covered slopes merely an hour after leaving town.

For itineraries and bespoke tours and for more information on Patagonia tours, Amazon jungle tours and tours of Argentina please go to www.vivaexpeditions.com .