The exceptional geography of Chile gives shape to a wide variety of climates and landscapes which induce visitors to open new horizons and explore the depths of a country that never cease to amaze. In fact, Northern Chile is a land of extreme contrast where two uniquely Andean environments, the Altiplano and the Atacama Desert, combine with unpredictable and overwhelmingly beautiful results. It is said to be the driest desert in the world but with plenty of life. All of Chile is a country of contrasts. The central-south area is famous for its spectacular scenery of deep Blue Mountains, lakes, snow-capped volcanoes, pristine beauty of alerce (larch) forests, popular resorts, year-round sports, a traditional folklore, handicrafts and legends. In the southern end of Chile there are ancient glaciers with its unique animal life and beautiful landscapes. Here you can find Torres del Paine, a UNESCO WorldBiosphereReserve National Park, is filled with turquoise lakes, sprawling glaciers, dense forest and abundant wildlife. It is really the finest park in South America. Three Thousand Five hundred kilometers from Santiago, the capital of Chile to the west, you can find Easter Island one of the most isolated places in the world in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. So enigmatic and beautiful with plenty of archaeological mystery.

When God blessed Chile with a little of everything on earth, the country was given exclusive wine valleys endowed with the right mix of soil, sunlight, exposure, temperature and humidity conditions to grow grapes that would produce wines to delight the taste buds of the world. The far country's wine industry continues to grow upwards, with new wines from new grapes, new areas and new producers. Chile's wines are now getting sold all over the world, including  US, Europe, Japan, China and of course Turkey.

The Chileans did not leave their wine producing to God and nature alone. Expertise of enologists and good practices in this field have produced world-class products. A market-oriented wine industry and excellent conditions have led to the production of both red and white wines. The natural isolation also turned Chile into an international asset. Vast areas in the 19th century were planted in premium grape stalks. Soon after, the phylloxera blight destroyed global grape stalks except those in Chile, which helped other wine regions recover from their disaster.

As Chile's free market economy gained momentum, outside money, expertise and equipment began to pour into its wine industry. Local growers adapted international wine standards making Chilean red wines leapfrog in quality. Even though 11th in surface area and 10th in output, Chile is the fifth largest exporter of wine and this year the total value exported  will be more than one billion US dollar.

The clean and rich waters of the Chilean coasts runing along more than 4,270 kilometers with the Pacific Ocean running down the western side covering an array of different climates and the cold Humboldt Current that runs from the Antarctic Ocean  offer a broad variety of outstanding fish, crustaceans and shellfish in terms of their flavor, texture and size. Chile's seafood is uncomparable in variety and quality.          To name a few….mussels, clams, urchins, oysters, scallops, turbot, salmon, trout, sea bass, and the wonderful  abalones and King Crabs.

Seafood is a part of the tradition and culture in Chile. Important part of its culinary is based  on seafood and fish. Chile's Nobel prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda thought so. -- He once wrote an ode to a Chilean fish chowder.

Its 2004 catch positioned Chile as the seventh-largest fishing nation in the world. More than 76 percent is shipped to over 100 markets, notably Japan, the United States and Spain. Salmon and trout are the undisputed leaders of Chilean seafood trade. Great natural conditions in the South of Chile, notably proper water temperature and ph balance, copious rainfall and abundance of high-grade feeds have propelled Chile to the second place among world producers of these products. Current export figures for salmon and trout has reached more than $ 2 billion dollars. Thus, Chile has become the second largest producer  and exporter of salmon in the world.

The excellent phytosanitary quality of Chilean fruit products is known throughout the world and gives the country a significant competitive advantage in its export trade. Chile is in a very privileged fruit production zone because of the naturally isolating effects of the country's landscape - the Atacama Desert in the north, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the ice-fields to the south.  These extraordinary natural conditions create a "phytosanitary island" which has enabled Chile to develop a fruit industry almost immune to plagues and viruses, problems that have limited other countries in their efforts to develop fruit exports. These special conditions have allowed Chile to exercise a high degree of control over land use practices employed by its growers as well as over packing house conditions. More than 2 billion US dollar are exported yearly from Chile to near  about  hundred countries, mainly USA, EU, Japan and China.

With a life expectancy of 77 years old, like that of a developed Country the highest percapita GDP in Latin-America of   US$ 8.900 and its  ranking  as the 11º most open economy in the world,  makes Chile’s presence felt an international trade and foreign investment scenario. It has entered free trade agreements all over the globe - ranging from countries in neighboring Latin America to economic super powers like the US and the European Union.  Over the last 16 years Chile has managed an annual average growth rate of 5.7 per cent.

2007 World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development gives it 27th ranking, clearly recognizing the growth momentum of the economy. The secret of Chilean economic success are the public policies wich are imaginative and have been more or less consistent despite changes in government. The policies have been made by social scientists keeping in mind the specific socio-economic conditions of Chilean society.

What has also added to Chile’s competitiveness is that the ruling Centre-Left coalition – the Concertacion – which is a coalition of four political parties, has been ruling the country since 1990, thus providing stable policies and a clear direction to the country. President Michelle Bachelet, who came to power in January 2006, is the fourth President from the coalition as also the first woman President of Chile.

Foreign investors see Chile as a country with political and economic stability and a strong and transparent business environment where economic growth has been accompanied by low inflation, drop in public debt, stable external accounts and strong international reserves.  Chile believes in the competitive dynamics of the market economy and its commitment has focused on economic liberalization and free market policies thus maintaining sound and responsible economic management and creating a fairer society in which all citizens may benefit from economic development. Chile is not only attractive for its natural resources and its domestic market but also  for its quality of being a springboard for potential investor for penetrating Latin American & overseas markets.

Few months ago The Economist Intelligence Unit, elaborated a Global Peace Index Ranking and Chile appear in the sixteen position close to Germany and better than Spain, Netherlands and the  peaceful Bhutan.

Chile constantly is associated with flavor because it is after the name of one of the most known and used spices in the world.
This narrow and long country has a lot of different climates and environments giving way to  a splendid  and top quality range of foods and beverages.   At present, Chile exports foods to everywhere in the world.  Fresh fruits, salmon, sea foods, olives, avocados, dry fruits, seaweeds, delicious lamb from Patagonia, liquors and wines; besides the large variety of cheese and  hams,  spices like oregano and merken; herbal tea like boldo and processed food like manjar are famous all over the world.  We cannot forget the fresh-baked bread in a variety of styles and a surprising variety of rich sandwiches.
From north to south, Chilean cuisine is as varied and unexpected as the country's marvelous geography.
The variety in Chilean cuisine is a result of the contribution of six gastronomies splendidly well combined: the native Indian, the Spanish (that includes the Arab and the Jewish), the French, the German, the English and the Italian. This kaleidoscope of cultures is nurtured by an abundant repertory of native products from land and sea, which dazzled the Spanish palate. During the centuries when Chile was still a colony, the Spanish and Creole women, cooking with the Indian, produced local versions of their homeland recipes. Adopting and adapting the unknown, the recently arrived unearthed the virtues of the potato, corn, pumpkin, chilies and beans. They even savored the wide variety of the Pacific Ocean seafood. Less meat and more vegetables gave rise to the dishes that form the nucleus of Creole and rural Chilean cuisine. A traditional Chilean meal will always be accompanied by a glass of wine and abundant fresh crusty bread.

Anything and everything grows in Chile. Though seeking out local dishes and specialties is always part of the adventure, there are a few dishes that you'll come across nearly everywhere. for example ………..

Chile's seafood is unequalled in variety and quality. Mussels, clams and urchins, oysters and scallops, salmon and conger, the list of fish and shellfish goes on and on and a morning visit to fish markets anywhere in the country is an overwhelming sensory experience.

The Chilean flavors was also inspiration to the Chilean Nobel Prize Laureate: Pablo Nerura  who wrote  ……..   there it is the essences of Chile,/ and to the table / come, newly wed / the savors / of land and sea,/ that in this dish / you may know heaven.