Chile boasts dramatic mountain peaks, sparkling lakes, and abundant wildlife. It has great skiing in the winter and lush alpine valleys in the summer. Chains of islands and charming fishing villages lend character to the south, while wide expanses of desert dominate the north. Its clean cities offer a First-World infrastructure, and the government is one of the best-organized and most stable in the region.

Chile has the lowest level of corruption in Latin America, as well as the strongest economy, highest standard of living, and lowest level of poverty. You can drink water from any tap in the country, and it has modern telephone and cell service, high speed internet, and cable television. The primary and secondary roads are well-maintained from one end of the country to the other.

And Chile is especially well-suited to North Americans and Europeans, partly due to its clean and honest culture, but also because its seasons are reversed from those in the northern hemisphere; so expats with a second home in Chile can enjoy their favorite seasons twice a year. How perfect is that?

From the expat’s perspective, coastal Chile is perhaps the most overlooked part of the country. In fact, even Chileans didn’t tend to buy coastal homes – that is, until now, thanks in part to the recent availability of reasonable second-home mortgages. And a beautiful coast it is. The desert environment of the north gives way to a Mediterranean climate with seasonal rains on the central coast, with temperate weather being the norm in the south. The coastline alternates between rocky cliffs and wide, sandy beaches; from small villages to huge resort communities; from colonial cities to surfer towns…each with its own ambiance and character.

The weather on the coast is largely moderated by the southern Pacific Ocean, which helps keep temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In some areas, the cool ocean waters can cause a late-morning fog that keeps the sun’s full strength off the beaches.