BudgetTravel

New York, N.Y.: Hi! I'm going to Chile in November for a wedding. I'll stay in South America for five weeks. Can you give me a top ten list of places I must see?

Wayne Bernhardson: Sorry I'm on board a little late, but I had a computer glitch.

South America is a big continent--Chile is about the size of Texas and Argentina the size of India, so it's not easy to recommend widespread sights for practical reasons. However, in Chile I would say Torres del Paine National Park, the city of Valparaíso, and the Atacama desert would be the top sights for a first-time visitor.

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Norfolk, Va.: I am planning a round-the-world trip and would like to include Patagonia as a destination. The way I have it planned right now, I'll be there in September. Is that too early to arrive and still have the place comfortable and navigable? Also, the majority of my destinations are going to be in more hot, humid, and tropical places so I won't have the luxury of bringing the technical fleeces and other such gear with me. Any advice or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks

Wayne Bernhardson: It depends where you're going in Patagonia--September, for instance, is ideal for seeing wildlife at Argentina's Peninsula Valdes. Generally, the weather is drier on the Argentine side than the Chilean side, but it can still be blustery anywhere in Patagonia. In the more remote areas, services can be limited in September--the season really starts in October and runs until April, with the peak in January and February.

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Bremerton, Wash.: I am flying into Santiago, Chile in early January 2008. I will be visiting the Lake District with a group of about 45 seniors later that month. What are the good spots to visit? Afterwards I will be staying to travel around Chile by myself on the way to Peru. What are the sites that should be seen while visiting Chile?

Wayne Bernhardson: Much depends on how much time you have, but I would say that the town of Puerto Varas, on Lago Llanquihue, makes an ideal base for visiting several national parks and the island of Chiloé. Lago Villarrica and the resort town of Pucón are also popularly. Remember that January is peak season, with more expensive prices and hotels often solidly booked.

If you're traveling overland to Peru, try to visit the city of Valparaiso, the wine country of central Chile, and the village of San Pedro de Atacama.

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Castle Valley, Utah: My wife and I are retired with a flexible schedule but not flexible finances. We want to visit Chile for a month or so and find a central location from which we can see different parts of the country. Where should we locate? Which parts of the country should we visit? What time of year should we visit?