Expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia,
Cape Horn, Falklands & Tierra Del Fuego

On this virtual tour you may see:
Majestic mountains dipped in snow...
Crystalline waterways...
Whales, seals, Soaring Andes condors...
Ice-blue Glaciers that shimmer like jewels..

Getting To Tierra Del Fuego

• Getting to the Tierra Del Fuego via Chile is no problem at all as Airlines fly to Santiago,
  Chile from all over the world.

Safety:

• 
  Chile is one of the the safest, best managed and most stable Countries in the Southern Hemisphere and is considered by many entrepreneurs to be a very good country for investment.
  

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• You may fly into Santiago, the capital first and then on to Punta Arenas, the world's most Southern City.

Punta Arenas, Chile
Tierra Del Fuego is seen across the strait of Magellan

Santiago, Capital of Chile with
Andes mountains in the background

Santiago, Chile's largest city, is also an economic and
cultural center. It is located in central Chile on the
Mapocho River at the northern end of the fertile Central
Valley, with a view of the snow-clad peaks of the Andes.
Santiago doubled in size between 1940 and 1975. In 1989 more
than 5 Million persons or a third of Chile's population
lived there. The climate is mild. Santiago is the center of
Chile's transportation and communication network. Greater
Santiago produces about 50% of the nation's industrial
output. The University of Chile founded in 1738) and the
Catholic University founded in 1888 are in Santiago. Because
of damage from earthquakes, there remains few surviving
examples of colonial architecture. Lack of adequate housing
is a major problem.

This modern city has one of South America's largest zoos,
spacious squares and parks. The main parks are located on
two small hills in the center and are San Cristobal (366
meters above street level) and Santa Lucia (73 meters above
street level). The cathedral which was founded in 1558 is
facing the central square, the Plaza de Armas. Santiago was
originally inhabited by the Picunche Indians. The Spaniard
Pedro de Valdivia founded the city as Santiago del Nuevo
Extremo in 1541.


CHILEAN ECONOMIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK
Economy - overview:
     
Economy - overview:

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1% in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation of the Argentine peso. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in 2003, growing 3.2%, and accelerated to 6.1% in 2004-05, while Chile maintained a low rate of inflation. GDP growth benefited from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct investment. Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. Chile signed a free trade agreement with China in November 2005, and it already has several trade deals signed with other nations and blocs, including the European Union, Mercosur, South Korea, and Mexico. Record-high copper prices helped to strengthen the peso to a 5½-year high, as of December 2005, and will boost GDP in 2006.

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VICTORY ADVENTURE EXPEDITIONS LTD.

Since 1991 Exploring The "Uttermost Parts Of The Earth": The Arctic, Antarctica and Cape Horn
Your Cruise Specialists at the "ends of the earth"

Phone/Fax (56)61-621092, Phone (56)61-621010,Box 70, Teniente Munoz 118, Puerto Williams,
Tierra Del Fuego, Chile 'The Gateway To Antarctica'

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