Chile's central region

Description: Central Chile is the cultural nucleus of the country. All of Chile's largest cities are located here, as are most of its universities and industries, its vineyards, finest agricultural lands, colonial and early republican architecture. In fact, central Chile is something of a microcosm of the country, balanced between deserts to the north and forests to the south, with the capital poised between the highest peaks in the Americas and a host of premier beach resorts. Santiago, the capital, is a focal point of Latin American commerce and the point of entry for nearly all international arrivals. Clean and modern, Santiago sits in a basin between the Coast Range to the west and the Andes to the east. World-class ski areas in the central Andes lie only forty-five minutes away, up steep switchbacks which climb over 7500 feet in twenty-six miles. Numerous vineyards surround the capital; hotsprings, seventeenth-century colonial haciendas, and national parks in both the Andes and the Coast Range, all make easy day trips. At night, visitors may choose from a variety of restaurants serving all types of regional and Ethinc cuisines, and excellent hotels assure a good night's sleep for business or pleasure.
^(excerpt from "Tourism Promotion Corporation of Chile")
Destinations within the Central region include: Santiago, Maipo Valley, Vina del Mar and Valparaiso
Businesses operating within or based in the Central region
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Santiago: with a population of about 5 million people Santiago is the largest and most important city in Chile. Santiago has a modern subway system that make getting around this big city a lot easier. Find out what Santiago Chile has to offer.
Cajon del Maipo: To the south-east of Santiago is the Cajón del Maipo, one of the preferred destinations for those wishing to escape the city in exchange for the tranquility of the mountains. An impressive view of the Andes can be obtained from Lo Valdes (about 90km from Santiago): San José Volcano (5900 m), to the east, and , Mount Morado (foto left, 4800 m) to the north, the jewel in the crown of the National Park of the same name. Continuing along the Morado Canyon is a glacier and other important peaks like Mesón Alto (5300 m). There are hot springs in almost all the valleys, Baños Colina, 12 km from Lo Valdés, is particularly easy to reach.
Viña del Mar is a great place to take a vacation if you like to go to the beach and relax. It is only a little over an hour from Santiago, the Capital of Chile, so if your are in Santiago for a few days and have some time off you won't want to miss Viña del Mar. Viña del Mar is one of the most modern cities in Chile. It truly is a pretty city. Bring your family and enjoy the sun and the sandy beaches near Viña del Mar. Go sailing on the Pacific blue waters. Enjoy the view from your room.
Valparaiso: Valpo is Chile's principal port and second-largest city. Despite its size, it is Chile's most distinctive city and one of South America's most intriguing. Occupying a narrow strip of land between the waterfront and the nearby hills, its convoluted centre has distinctive, sinuous cobbled streets, and is overlooked by precipitous cliffs and hilltop suburbs which are accessed by funicular railways and stairway footpaths.