Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing attacks into eastern Chad, despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007, and the capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.

Santiago de Chile is the capital and economic center of Chile.

Parque Metropolitano

This vast park is home to Cerro San Cristóbal. From the top there is a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. The summit can be reached by funicular ($900 one way, $1600 return), cable car, or a long hike. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools. Pope John Paul II visited its summit in 1987.

Plaza De Armas

The capital's main plaza, also the site of the national cathedral and main post office. Not very clean but otherwise an interesting area of major historical importance.

Santiago Centro

The Centro (Downtown) area is a nice place for a stroll down some of its major Paseos (streets turned pedestrian walkways), but be aware of pickpockets.

Cerro Santa Lucia

A park with fountains and stairs leading up to the top. The summit has a great view of all but the skyscraper-obscured city center. Charles Darwin visited this peak at one point in his travels.

La Chascona

One of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman, after his third wife) is in the artistic Bellavista neighborhood. The house is filled with lots of quirky artifacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends. Tours are given in English, French ($3500) and Spanish ($2500).

La Moneda Palace

Presidential Palace, guided one-hour tours are free, unfortunately with a reservation of at least 15 days in advance.

Parque Forestal

A long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art Museum.

Theatre & Dance

Santiago offers much in the performing arts, most takes place Friday & Saturday, check listings in El Mercurio. $500-5000 CLP, most offer discounts with student ID, even to foreigners, just ask.

Centro Cultural Matucana 100

Inaugurated in 2002, Matucana 100 is an excellent exhibition venue for a variety of arts. From Metro Quinta Normal, walk south on Matucana (towards Alameda), M100 is on the left hand side.

Teatro Municipal

Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside.

Jazz Clubs

Santiago is home to an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city. The Club de Jazz de Santiago is arguably the best. Located in the northern part of the Nunoa neighborhood, this small club routinely brings in some of the best local, national, and international artists specializing in everything from latin jazz to blues to bossa nova.

Festival de Jazz de Providencia

A very good jazz Festival takes place during summer (typically each February) in Providencia. The Festival de Jazz de Providencia takes place each year in Mapocho's riverside and showcasts the best local bands and some international guests. Tickets are cheap (from about 3 USD in the 2007 edition), so it's a good alternative for summer nights.

Parque Bicentenario

Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue, vitacura. Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue. Beautiful park, still in construction. Large extension of grass, children games, dog games, a very nice pond with black neck swans. There is also a restaurant, a cafe (Le fournil) and Vitacura's city hall. Trails for wailking and bikes

Iglesia y museo de San Francisco

Av. Lib. Bernardo O'Higgins 834. The oldest church in the city. On the place, in front of the church, there is a Moaï from Easter Island. Museo: $1000. No pictures inside.

Palacio Cousino

438 calle dieciocho. Old palace owned by a wealthy spanish-portuguese family. The architecture is a mix of spanish and french style. $2100. Guided tour only.

Arica

Cathedral of San Marcos

Designed by Gustave Eiffel (of the eponymous Tower in Paris). It's a popular attraction. Entry is from Plaza Colón.

The views from el Morro is superb. One can follow the work being done in the harbour closely or gaze at the mountains gradually turning into the altiplano in the east. The hill looks like a giant sand dune from a distance but it is in fact made of solid rock. The paved footpath visible from anywhere in town starts at the south end of Calle Colón. Allow 10 minutes for walking up and enough time for philosophic discussions on top. There is a war museum on the hill for those into uniforms and cannons from the 19th century. Beware of the dishonest Coca Cola vending machines, bring water and snacks from town.

Iquique

Baquedano Street

A cobbled, old-Western style street with plentiful tourist and artisan activities. Buildings around constructed during the 19th century offer interesting architecture mainly in Georgian and Victorian Styles adapted to the coastal desertic climate.

Historic sites

Historic sites can be found along the city and nearby the coast and desert, most of them related to the Pacific War against the coalition of Perú and Bolivia during the 19th century and with the the massacre by the government against miner workforce demanding social and economical rights, known as "the Santa Maria School massacre".

Iquique's 19th century architecture

Iquique's 19th century architecture can be visited mainly downtown. Its origins are linked with the mining activities during that century, when European entrepreneurs became rich with the extraction of saltpetre and established their homes in the city. Many of them constructed big houses in different styles that predominated during the period and grouped in colonies with their respective buildings, with special stylistic, material and constructive adaptations to the climate of Iquique. The most emblematic house is The Astoreca Palace, that actually belongs to Arturo Prat University as an extension centre. Other important examples are The Spanish Casino, The Croatian Casino, The Chinese Club and The Municipal Theatre, one of the most important nationwide.

Antofagasta (city)

Sea lions, pelicans and smaller birds getting fed on fish waste in the fishermen´s harbour.

The sunset from the seafront walk to the south.

Calama

Get a taxi in the city centre to Chuquicamata. It is an enormous mine open to the sky. There is a free tour to the mine, its worth visiting.

To see the mine you should first sign up at the local municipal tourism office. It's located a few blocks from the main plaza on Calle La Torre between Calle Vicuna Mckenna and Pedro Leon Gallo (more towards Mckenna and on your left hand side as you walk from the plaza). It's in a small building on a market-lined street so pay close attention or you'll walk right by it. They'll take your name and information and direct you to the taxi/collectivo stand that can take you to the mine as of 12:30 PM. The cost of the collectivo is 1500 CLP each way. The tour starts when a bus picks you up near the fire station and ends about 60-90 minutes later. The collectivo is waiting for you at Chuqui when the tour ends. The tour itself is free but you will be asked for a voluntary donation for the children's fund.

La Serena

In the Archeologigal Museum there is the only rapa nui moai head to have toured Europe. Entry CLP$600.

The nearby observatory is also open to the public.

If you are around in early Spring you might be lucky enough to see the desert in bloom. It happens in occasional years and is stunning.

Valparaíso

Cerros Alegre and Concepción

Plaza Echaurren - Serrano Street

Cerro Cordillera

Banking area - Prat Street

Paseo 21 de Mayo (Cerro Artilleria)

La Matriz Church and surroundings

Ascensores (inclines)

La Sebastiana, one of three homes of poet Pablo Neruda

Ex Cárcel, a former jail turned cultural center and concert venue

Vina del Mar

La Quinta Vergara

A beautiful garden with trees from China and Canada for example. In the same place the "Festival de Viña" takes places every year in the last week of february.

Plaza del Reloj

Near the beaches there is a clock where the numbers are made of flowers.

Near the beaches the hotel Miramar is located and if you continue to walk you can see Castillo Wulf, an old castle built by German immigrants and for the locals the famously Paseo Arabe. Bu if you ask any of the locals why it's famous, surprisingly few of the can answer the question.

Near the north end of the beach there is an open air museum of naval artillery. Avoid taking pictures at free, ask the staff if you can do that. Many will think that photographers can be foreign spyes.

Rancagua

Paseo Independencia

The city's commercial backbone is also a nice pedestrian avenue to eat, shop, and stroll. Beware however during the Christmas holidays, when the atmosphere gets dense and pickpockets become ambitious.

Plaza de los Heroés

Located at the east terminus of the Paseo Independencia, this central plaza renovated in 2003 is a nice place to relax anytime. Avoid gypsies who will literally tease the cash out of your pockets.

Concepción

Universidad de Concepción, (Univeristy of Concepción)

A beautiful university with big gardens. Must see La Pinacoteca.

Museo Hualpén, (Hualpén museum)

A beautiful old house that was converted to a museum holding the pieces of Mr.Pedro del Rio Zañartu, a world traveller.

Old mining operations

40 km south of Concepción is an old mining town or Lota that offers tours of an old coal mine.

Chivilingo

Near Lota is the Chile´s first electric plant, today a beautiful museum and picnic area.

The Huascar

At the naval base in Talcahuano, the Huascar is a ship that was captured from the Peruvian navy in a war in the late 1800´s. It is a symbol of Chilean national pride and is the oldest floating historical relic in the world.

Puerto Varas

Church:Sagrado Corazón de Jesus, (on a hill)

Looks very nice. Was built by the german colonizers, it's the third catholic Church that Puerto Varas has had

Quellon

The plaque marking the end of the chilean Panamerican Highway (ruta 5) is just outside of town at Punta de Lapas (also a relatively good beach for this far south). Take any bus on Ladrilleros that says Punta Lapas - 20 minutes and Ch$ 250.

Punta Arenas

Port area

Regional Museum

With historical artifacts and part of the Braun-Menéndez Mansion

Museo del Recuerdo

With an outstanding collection of old steam engines, horsecarts, cars, historic houses furnished in the 1875s style and farm implements.

Maggiorino Borgatello Museum

A Salesian Society museum of natural history and pre-Hispanic ethnic groups.

Punta Arenas Cemetery

dates back to 1840's, with many English and Croatian graves.

The penguin colony

The penguin colony "Seno Otway" north of Punta Arenas is a place where each spring hundreds of Magellanic Penguins come home to their birth place to breed. Many travel agencies offer day trips from Punta Arenas that leave you very little time at the colony, so it's best if you have your own car.

Rey Jorge Island Natural Sea Park (whale observation)

Torres del Paine National Park

Near Puerto Natales.

Seno Skyring

Puerto Hambre

An early Spanish colony which failed and under the name of Port Famine became a Royal Navy base. It was here that Captain Pringle Stokes, the captain of HMS Beagle, shot himself in his cabin due to severe depression and temporary command was given to Lieutenant W.G. Skyring.

Fauna Patagónica "Estancia Lolita"

A beautiful place for watching different species of native animals and birds.