/countries/show/chile/1.rss en-us The Atacama Desert in Chile is well documented as the driest place on earth. It is also the site of the world-renowned Atacama Giant geoglyph (geoglyphs are large designs or motifs etched into the earth), located at Cerro Unitas. Chile’s Atacama Giant stands 390-ft tall and was a deity for the Atacama people who existed in 1000 CE. It is also believed that the Atacama Giant was used as an astronomical calendar so people could tell when the moon would set. They could tell the time of the day, the crops cycle and the various seasons. It was a strange science that these people followed by using the sides of the Giant’s figurative head to interpret the season based on its alignment with the moon. Seasons have always played a very important role in the lives of the Atacama people. Receiving the rains was a form of blessing from this deity that they regularly worshipped, and they waited for rain throughout the year in Chile’s barren Atacama Desert. There are more than five thousand glyphs in the Atacama Desert, but the Atacama Giant is the king of them all. Unlike the Nazca Lines, the Chilean glyphs are more varied in style. They also cover a huge region that is big enough to dominate the entire U.S. state of California. The Atacama Desert glyphs had symbolic meaning to rituals. However, the exact reason as to why these glyphs were built is unknown. Most of them still remain as theories. Based on the quality of construction, these Chilean glyphs of the Atacama Desert have been segregated into various categories. What’s interesting is that some were built using additives and external material that were not available in the desert. The Atacama Giant is unique because of its isolated site. It is the only glyph that stands tall in an area spreading thousands of kilometers. To see the giant you have to come to Cerro Unitas where it is found on an isolated hill on the Western slope. It is also called the “Lord of the Atacama,” and may represent the supreme Inca deity called the Wiracocha, because they look similar. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:21:32 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/atacama-giant http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/atacama-giant Located on the borders of Peru and Bolivia, the Arica Parinacota region of Chile boasts a diverse natural landscape that includes deserts, lush green valleys, and the breathtaking vistas of the Andes. In addition to its natural beauty, the Arica Parinacota region in Chile has a diverse culture that is represented by thirty churches, most of which were constructed in the mid 16th century. These churches reflect a combination of traditional Andean culture with Spanish architecture and religion. Conquerors from Spain travelled to Chile in the mid 16th century, and the influence of European culture is evident. Each church is unique, but they all feature an adobe dome, a bell, and a cross. All thirty churches were placed on the World Monuments Fund watch list in 2010. When you travel to Chile to take in the Churches of Arica Parinacota, you will find the churches scattered across Chile’s diverse landscape. There are several local myths attached to Arica Parinacota’s churches, which reflect the indigenous Andean culture. The Churches of Arica Parinacota contain a legendary table that reportedly moves in the night and stops in front of the house of someone who is about to die. Some travellers have vouched for this phenomenon, claiming that the table was tied up but that it still moved. Regardless of these incidents, it is not believed to be haunted, and you will find several such legendary stories in the churches of Arica Parinacota. Another myth is that if you are single and you ring the bell, then you will never get married. Perhaps the most famous church in this region is the Parinacota Church that was built in the 17th century. It features beautiful frescoes that were painted with watercolours in the interior of the structure, and is located in the small town of Parinacota, which sits at an altitude of 4,400 metres. In addition to the Churches of Arica Parinacota, there are also many beautiful churches on the island of Chiloé. When you travel to Chiloé you will find churches constructed in a traditional wooden architecture, and sixteen such churches of Chiloé were listed as a World Heritage Site in 2000, and are primarily clustered in the central east of the island. Even though Chile is engaged in a border dispute with Peru, much of the region is safe for tourists. This region is not highly commercial, and so it is best to expect your travels to focus on cultural heritage and exploration. Many people from this region have emigrated to other parts of Chile and South America to find work, and the climate in Arica Parinacota is primarily desert, so you should carry sunscreen, sunglasses, and light clothing at all times. The churches are scattered around the region, so expect to travel between sites. Touring the Churches of Arica Parinacota offers a cultural history of the diverse landscape that you will find throughout your travels in South America. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:42:27 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/churhces-of-arica-parinacota http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/churhces-of-arica-parinacota Rivetingly pristine, the landscape at Torres Del Paine National Park is beyond beautiful. The land is a mix of staggering granite mountains, glaciers, deep blue lakes, and rolling fields. The 598,000 acre park showcases some of the most impressive peaks of the Andes mountains, with the most famous set being the Cordillera del Paine. The best way to see the sights is by foot which offers hikers a choice between two popular routes; the circuit which is the full park expedition and takes approximately 8-10 days, or the "W" route which takes about 5 days and includes majority of Torres Del Paine's must sees. Entry fee into the park costs about $30 Canadian. This experience is for those who truly appreciate nature, so tenting it is the recommended route, and for those not so nature friendly there are around seven refugios/shelters throughout the park, but these can be crowded or cost money. If you want to live more indulgently you can stay at a local hotel at lodge on the outskirts of the Park. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:54:11 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/torres-del-paine http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/torres-del-paine The Tapati Festival of Easter Island is an experience that peers into a remote culture with traditions such as chanting, dancing, parades, customary body decoration, and spear fishing competitions, all originating from a civilization that was one of the youngest inhabited territories on earth. Easter Island also known as Rapa Nui, is a Polynesian island that lies off the coast of Chile, and is one of the worlds most isolated populated islands on earth. Theory has it, that at its peak, the Rapanui people found themselves trapped in an environment that was unable to sustain their population and a rapid crash in their civilization followed. Best known for its massive stone statues called Moai , Easter Island is home to over 887 of these world famous carvings, of which some 360 still span the island coasts, while others are now in museums or buried under shifted soil. The period in which these stone monoliths were created is still debated, with estimates of 100,00 CE to 170,00CE. What is know about these artifacts is they were created from volcanic tuff by hand and from there laboriously moved to various places on Easter Island. The design of the Moai statues share a fairly standard design and range in size from 23 feet high and 200 feet long, to some just 6 feet tall. There are several sites on Easter Island to check out, one of the most popular is Rano Raraku which is at the base of the volcanic crater. What many people don’t know about these Moai statues is that this was not their intended resting place. Rather they were abandoned scattered about before being moved to traditional platforms called "ahu" where they would be placed to over look ceremonial areas and villages, with their backs to the sea. Another popular site is Ahu Akivi, which unlike other sites is found inland and features statues with red scoria headdress’s known as Pukao, carved from red lava rock. Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:22:35 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/easter-island http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/easter-island