Chile is a wonderfully unique place for gay travel that allow visitors to ski the Andes, explore volcanoes, relax on pristine beaches, and hit the clubs in Santiago’s gay district all in one day. The vast and varied landscape and landmarks of Chile include arid deserts, the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, the statues of Easter Island, the Elqui Valley of La Serena (long rumored to be associated with extraterrestrial activity), the Mirador de Chepu Penguin Colony, and old-world churches and architecture throughout the country.

Because of Chile’s unique blend of historic, natural and cultural attractions, visitors have many options for planning gay trips, including skiing or snowboarding trips to Andes resorts, Vina del Mar family beach vacations, wine tasting tours, pilgrimages to important Catholic sites and churches, exploring the wilds of Patagonia and learning of ancient island cultures, or urban adventures in Chile’s capital, Santiago.

As a country that has been deeply influenced by both the Catholic Church and the military, Chile would certainly not be described as a bastion of gay rights; however, as a whole, the country is slowly becoming more progressive and is beginning to become more accepting of the LGBT community. Gay life in Chile centers largely around Santiago, which is where singles, couples and families on a gay vacation will find the most welcoming atmosphere and the highest concentration of gay-friendly and gay-owned establishments. Santiago’s gay community is primarily found in the Barrio Bellavista, which is a trendy neighborhood with charming shops, cafes and eateries and is also home to most of Santiago’s bathhouses, gay bars and gay clubs. Although it is not likely that you will see rainbow flags hanging for rooftops or same-sex couples walking through the streets hand in hand, it is quite common to find gay magazines openly displayed in newsstands and couples sipping coffee at cosmopolitan sidewalk cafes.

The gay-owned Spanish restaurant, Capricho, is a popular first stop for a night out in Bellavista, often followed by drinks a one of the local gay bars and dancing into the early hours of the morning at one of Santiago’s gay clubs. Options for clubbing range from discos much like those found in most large cities to risqu clubs with live sex shows. It is common to begin a night out with dinner around 9 or 10pm, followed by a lively night of escapades that may not end until the sun is coming up. There are also several bathhouses ” often called saunas ” in Santiago, including a more upscale option catering to professionals. As in the U.S., HIV is a concern and precautions should be taken to ensure a safe, enjoyable gay vacation in Chile.

The fact that Santiago is the most accepting city in Chile for a gay vacation, coupled with its central location for ease of exploring all that Chile offers, this capital city is one of the most popular Chilean locales for gay vacations. Whether you are planning Chilean gay adventure travel for you and your partner, your family, or a group of single friends, working with a travel agency that is accustomed to organizing gay holidays in Chile is your best bet for ensuring a safe, fun trip that you will always remember.

Tags: Travel Tips

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