Chile is one of the most extraordinary and diverse countries on the planet. It is a long and narrow sliver of land, stretching along South America's western edge and with more than 6,000km of Pacific Ocean coastline. The contrast in the landscapes to be seen within this country are astounding, from the Atacama Desert, one of the driest deserts in the world, to the millennial glaciers and fjords of Patagonia in the south. This is the only country in Latin America to span three continents - America, Antartica and Oceania. There are magical lakes and volcanoes to be found, where ancient civilisations and tribes have found their homes. The metropolitan hub of Santiago is well worth a visit, as is the hilly port city of Valparaiso. Another popular spot is the legendary Easter Island, a remote volcanic island in Polynesia.