The untamed wilderness landscapes of Chile, from the primeval deserts of Atacama through the ancient forest of the lake district and the glaciers of Patagonia, were for long virtually inaccessible to leisure visitors. Roads were rough, passing through fords and over primitive bridges, and accommodation limited to humble guest-houses. Nowadays that has changed – roads are still often lonely, cutting through swathes of barren rock, tight valleys or steppe, but many are paved: journey times have been slashed. Entrepreneurs have as a result been inspired to establish hotels, lodges and resorts of all standards - not so many as to compromise the feeling of remoteness, but giving you the option of discovering this incredible scenery from luxurious accommodation, with highly trained English-speaking guides and gourmet cuisine.