As complete a city in South America as you will find, the capital of Chile is a tourism destination on the verge of explosion. We mean that of course, in the most metaphorical sense. The truth of the matter is that after years of status as a diamond in the rough and gem under cover, more and more “mainstream” tourists have their future focus set on a possible trip down to the south of South America, where the wine is luscious, the culture is prolific and the cityscape is as dramatic as any on the exotic continent.

Santiago, home to over 6.4 million people, is technically, a conurbation in Chile. What that denotes is the fact that the metropolitan area is at present, a vast collection of suburbs and towns that surround one big urban heart. The manifestation of unprecedented economic growth and development in the wake of Augusto Pinochet’s military junta’s demise, Santiago is now one of the most vibrant national capitals in the world, let alone South America. A number of important achievements in the spheres of architecture, city planning, rapid mass transit and infrastructure have reached their zenith in the past twenty years in tandem with the blossoming of a wonderful arts and culture scene.

The exuberance and hopeful optimism of Santiago’s young people has had an infectious effect not only on tourism but also on the mindset of the country and indeed, Latin America as a whole. The election of moderate Socialist Ver?nica Michelle Bachelet Jeria as President of Chile in 2006 played an enormous role in this turnaround. A former victim of Pinochet’s oppressive tyranny, the surgeon and military strategist has initiated a wave of reforms to reduce the substantial gap between rich and poor in Chile and bolster the country’s free market policies. Without delving deeper into a political treatise, suffice to say that the first female leader in Chile’s history is not only the result of a quasi-Renaissance in the nation but now a major contributor to it as President. All of this goodwill, joviality and pride is evident in Santiago. It’s just one great reason to visit the city and revel in a genuine spirit of hospitality and openness.

Other more tangible attractions include the Palacio de La Moneda. As the home of the national government since 1784, the formal and dramatic neo-classical structure is the seat of the President, Cabinet and the Republic of Chile.

Just across from La Moneda is a relatively new addition to the Santiago skyline. The Centro Cultural Palacio is a grand facility whose express purpose is to showcase the eclectic heritage of Chile, in myriad exhibition halls.

Santiago’s Fine Arts Museum is one of the best in South America. Known as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the oldest museum dedicated to fine art on the continent has a consistent record of delivering world class exhibits to the people of the capital.

Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda’s house, affectionately called La Chascona or “the uncombed” is a popular tourist draw with fans of the famous Chilean poet. Now a museum, the house contains many artifacts and documents from the matchless 20th century scribe’s life and career.

The Barrio Bellavista, where Neruda’s house can be found, is one of the best places to experience authentic Santiago life and get an accurate pulse on the citizenry. Somewhat bohemian, hipsterish and arty, the barrio has a lot of terrific spots to chill out with a light meal, glass of wine or cup of good, strong coffee. The nightlife ain’t half bad either.

With Santiago in the middle of the biggest fertile valley in Chile, the mountain scenery that surrounds the urban center is pretty impressive. Of course, if you want to experience the peaks and not just gape at them, a number of world class ski resorts are a short drive away. The best of the lot are Valle Nevado, Portillo and La Parva.

Forestal Park, on the lush shores of the beautiful Mapocho River, Santa Luc?a Hill and San Crist?bal Hill, are perhaps the best recreation and leisure spots in Santiago. When you want a break from pounding the pavement, as fantastic as the city is, these are the places to escape to, particularly with some local snacks and a good bottle of native Chilean wine.

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