Jill Fagalde, Atlanta: "Lived [in Chile], had my children there, traveled there and will retire there on an almond farm. A beautiful gem. The winery tours and the cruises are lovely, but not the true essence of Chile. That can only be found in two places.

"First in the north in a town called Vicuña, where the desert meets the stars. A late-night tour to the observatory led by astronomy students is an awe-inspiring experience. The northern Chilean skies are the clearest in the world.

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"The second is in the south in the Lakes Region (Villarrica, Frutillar, etc.), which should be called the Volcano Region since each lake is towered by a volcano. In Pucon, the volcano is still active. In Petrohue, you can follow breathtaking paths along the base of the Osorno Volcano above emerald green rapids and meditate on a lava beach by the Lago de Todos los Santos before crossing over by ferry to the Argentinian side.

"The people, the food all enhance these remarkable adventures. The purity of nature and spirit soar these destinations to a whole different plateau."