Middle Chile Travel Guide

Atacalco isn't a city or a town. It's a very big estate, owned by german-descendants born in Chile, who raise cattle and timber. The place is a mountain valley near the border with Argentina, in middle of the Andes. It has a landing strip, a very impressive traditional "frontier" big house, and a cabin for guests. Only personal friends or the ocasional scientist are allowed to stay in the cabin. If you happen to somehow end in Atacalco, the scenery will amaze you. The water in the river that runs down the valley is indeed pure, but very cold. In summer, the climate is pleasant and the place is really quiet. Bring warm clothes, a good tent and enough food (there is no supermarket up there).

Concepción lies on the river Bío Bío, 510 km south of Santiago, and is the commercial center for agricultural products of the fertile surrounding region. It is home to 327,000 inhabitants, and was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550.
Its industries include processed food, iron production, steel, oil refineries, sawmills and chemicals factories, paper, glass, as well as the production of hydroelectric energy in the Bío Bío River.
You can visit the Plaza of Independence, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Conception, the Popular Art Fair, the art gallery of the University of Concepción, the Metropolitan walk and the Llacolén Bridge, the second longest in Chile.

Se ubica a 16 Km. al noreste de la ciudad de Concepción en la bahía de Talcahuano, posee 277.752 habitantes y es un puerto en la Bahía de Concepción y uno en la de San Vicente. Es el puerto militar, industrial y pesquero de la zona sur del país.
En Talcahuano se encuentra la principal base naval chilena, cerca de la Academia Naval.
Podrá conocer en Talcahuano y sus alrededores la costanera Ventana al Mar, el coliseo monumental La Tortuga, el Remolcado de Alta Mar Poderoso, declarado Monumento Nacional, el monitor Huáscar, playas de Ramuntcho, Rocoto, Museo y Parque Hualpén y el mercado pesquero.