Food and drink are also a big part of the trip experience, if you're anything like us — and you're in luck, because Santiago has a fantastic food scene. It isn't just the food that makes Santiago such a great destination for eating out; it's the atmosphere of each café and restaurant. Thanks to the dry climate, most cafés have outdoor seating, so you can enjoy the summer heat and people-watch while you eat. Be sure to try the refreshing local drink mote con huesillo, made from peach juice and husked wheat. For a proper foodie stop, head to the Mercado Central (above), a Victorian-era cast-iron market hall shipped over from Glasgow and opened in 1872; it's the city's shrine to Chilean seafood, with stalls selling everything from giant abalone to sea urchin, and a ring of lively restaurants serving fresh-caught fish stews and seafood empanadas. If you're looking for cafés favored by locals, try Silvestre Bistro, an unpretentious eatery with a lovely garden, tucked away in the neighborhood of Ñuñoa, serving only locally sourced ingredients.

Read more in Tripatini contributor Marcos Stone´s post Santiago, Chile, South America´s "Bohemian" Capital.

Pablo JC Nogueira