Been There – Chile

Starbucks Been There – Chile is one of my favorite mugs from South America probably because of the color palette they chose for it. Here are some symbols and points of interest for this country that can be found on the mug:
– The Andes or Andean Mountains (Cordillera de Los Andes) – are the longest continental mountain range in the world with the length of about 4300 miles spanning across seven countries! Aconcagua is the highest peak being 22,841 ft high. While it’s still not 100% proven, it seems that the word “Andes” comes from the Quechua word “anti”, which means “east”.
– El Tatio is a geothermal field with geysers and hot springs. This place is a major touristic destination and financial resource of the region. There are between 450 and 500 visitors a day on average, who enjoy the views and take a bath in hot waters. When visiting El Tatio stay alert as hot gases and boiling water should definitely be taken seriously.
– Stilt houses (called Palafitos in Chile) are houses placed on piles above the soil or water. Many of these can be seen in Lake Region (Los Lagos) and especially the city of Castro on Chiloé Island. This area is worth visiting by boat or cruise ship, as it allows you to enjoy the best views of the mountains from the sea.
– Osorno Volcano is often called the “Fujiyama of South America” for its perfect cone. It is 8,701 feet high and is located on the shore of Llanquihue Lake (the second largest in Chile). This position allows for some stunning photos of the volcano with the waters of the lake in front of it. The tip of the volcano is almost always covered in snow, which adds extra beauty to it. Btw, it is still active, with the most recent eruption happened in 1869.
– Moai sculptures are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island. There are more than 600 of those, created between the years 1250 and 1500. Even though it is six hours flight from mainland Chile, it might be your once in a lifetime experience should you decide to visit this island, which is considered one of the most isolated places on Earth (still being inhabited)
– The Chilean flag is also known in Spanish as La Estrella Solitaria (The Lone Star). It was adopted on October 18, 1817.
– Maipo Valley is not just a picturesque region of Chile, but also a producer of one of the best wines in the country. Cabernet Sauvignon varieties are prevailing here due to climate and location. I also suggest trying wine from Carménère, a dark-skinned grape variety, which is considered to be an ancestor of Merlot grape.
– Lapageria (Chilean bellflower) is a national flower of Chile. This is an evergreen climbing plant growing on trees. Interestingly enough, its vines twine counterclockwise in the Southern hemisphere and clockwise in the Northern hemisphere.
– The Huemul Deer, a.k.a. the South Andean deer is the iconic animal of the country which can be found on Chile’s national coat of arms
– Poncho and Chuppalla hat are traditional elements of huaso’s (Chilean cowboy’s) costume. These are still very popular in rural areas, while city dwellers wear them on holidays.