If hiking is one of your favorite past time activities then you are probably always in search for new places to go on your next trip. If you are an avid hiker then it is very likely you have already been to Chile. If you haven't, here are some great reasons why you should go there, and you if you have, this is why you should go back. What makes Chile such a great destination for a trek is its diverse climate and relief. The country spreads across the southwestern coast of Latin America. It is basically a strip of land about 4 300 km long and 175 km wide. This rather peculiar shape accounts for the variety of the environment and climate: dry desert in the north, Mediterranean weather in the center, lakes, fjords and glaciers in the south.

Chile has an impressive official trail network that includes sights of salt flats, volcanoes, canyons, beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and even fields of desert flowers. The most famous places to visit and the official national hiking areas are the Atacama Coast, the Valdivian Forest, Iquique and Tarapac, the Central Andes, Patagonia Ays©n, the Andean Araucan­a, Alto B­o B­o, ltima Esperanza and Calama. But there are also unmarked trails in the Andes created by the locals to lead their herds to pasture. Although these cannot be found on regular maps or signposts, some passionate hikers have uploaded GPS directions to such trails on dedicated forums and websites. So if you are feeling extra adventurous you can choose to follow one of these tracks. Whichever way you want to do it, you will not be disappointed with what Chile has to offer: breathtaking landscapes, specific flora and fauna, precolumbian vestiges, ancient and sacred places, a taste of fascinating cultures and lifestyles.

Now that you are considering Chile as your next hiking destination you don't want to spend your entire yearly savings on the plane ticket. Here are some tips and things you could do in order to get cheap flights to Chile. Plan the trip well ahead, 3 to 5 months is said to be the best before time to start looking. Sign up on Yapta or AirfareWatchdog and you will get an e-mail alert whenever a deal on the tickets is available. If you don't want to wait that long, consider that prices are usually higher on the weekends because that is when most people plan their vacations, so try to get on a Tuesday or Wednesday flight. Also, a company that offers great flights to Chile and other south American countries is LAN airlines so be sure to keep an eye on them and get ready to enjoy the trip of a lifetime in Chile!