This guide to Chile is part of a series of individual country guides on Latin America by the publishers of the South American Handbook. Chile, the ribbon of land between the Andes and the Pacific, 4329 km long and on average no more than 180 km wide, is spectacular in its variety. The landscape goes from desert in the north, through vineyards and chic beach resorts in the heartland of the country to the Lake District and glacial regions of southern Patagonia and Chilean Tierra del Fuego in the south. In addition there are the islands off the mainland, and Rapa Nui or Easter Island. In a period of rapid change, it is important to travel with up-to-date information on all aspects of Chilean life. Portable and lightweight, this handbook provides information on: the latest news on air-passes and reliable information on the bus network; how to plan a trip, and things to do if you have an extra week; where to stay and eat and how to get to grips with the vast range of Chilean seafood; developments in the adventure tourism scene, such as where to ski and go white-water rafting; and insights into many aspects of Chilean culture and life, such as rodeo and Mapuche folklore.