Proudly different from the United States, Canada's major cities each reveal a unique culture mixing French, British, indigenous and immigrants' cultures.

The infusion of American culture into this combination adds yet another dimension and, in cities like Toronto, the mix is about as crazy as they come, with migrants from all over the world bringing their distinctive ways of life to Canada.

Away from the cities' unique fusion of cultures, in the desolate reaches of its Northwest Territories and Nunavut regions, the raw beauty of the Canadian Shield is an unforgettable image. The nation's most famous attraction, Niagara Falls, can hardly match the magnificence of Canada's rugged north.

With such distinctive national icons as the Royal Canadian Mounties and the maple leaf, Canada is a "1-of-a-kind" type of place.

Chile is a land of extraordinary beauty and diversity, weaving along much of the Pacific coast of South America. Santiago, the Chilean capital, is set against the stunning backdrop of the Andes.

Chile also lays claim to one of the southernmost towns on earth, Punta Arenas. And, if that is not enough, it also is a host of the driest places on earth, where no rain has fallen for years in a row. These can be found in the upper north in the Atacama desert. Even larger coastal places like Arica and Iquique see very little rain, due to the cold Humboldt current.


In between these two extremes is a land with beautiful lakes and forests, volcanoes, beaches, glaciers, fjords and some fine colonial buildings in pleasant cities and towns. It is a perfect country for both relaxing as doing some serious activities like skiing, climbing and hiking.

Add to this a range of animals which you don't find anywhere else and one of the best places on earth to watch the stars in the sky, and you will understand why this country sees more and more visitors every year, especially after the dictactorial period of Pinochet had ended.

It is one of the safest countries in Latin America and has one of the best infrastructures, which of course considering the length of 5500 kilometers is not a bad thing.

It was Juan de Balboa who became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean in 1513. And it was the thin stretch of land we know as Panama that he crossed to reach it. Panama's geographic location and shape have been strategic elements in its development as a nation: its narrowness prompted the U.S. to build the Panama Canal, allowing passage between the Caribbean and Pacific.


Today, the Canal is Panama's best-known attraction, though the land has much more to offer. Few, for example, are aware of its fifteen hundred islands; nor of the lovely alpine town of Boquete, near Volcán Barú. And with its thriving modern capital, Panama City, only a stone's throw away from the ancient ruins at Panamá Viejo, Panama promises visitors a wonderfully varied travel experience.