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Going Places: 5 Things Not To Miss In Chile And Argentina

Travelers from the United States spend a lot of time abroad, mostly in Europe. Far fewer head to South America. KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley has five things everyone should see and do in two South American countries — Chile and Argentina:

1. Walk Around Santiago

There are great markets here, and some incredible parks, including Parque Metropolitano, which offers sweeping views of the city. A good place to acclimate to South America.

2. Visit Wine Country

Chile features hundreds of miles of vineyards. “These wine estates are so amazing,” Brumley said. “Wonderful old historic buildings that date back to the 16th century.” Try in particular the old estates in Santa Cruz. Also look at wines in Valparaiso and Casablanca.

The drive between Argentina and Chile brings you face-to-face with Mt. Aconcagua, the tallest mountain outside Asia.

3. Take A Bus From Chile Into Argentina

Get up at sunrise and take the all-day trip. It’s six or seven hours, but with views of Mt. Aconcagua on a clear day, it’s an astonishingly beautiful route, and you’ll quickly lose track of the time.

4. More Wine — And Food — In Mendoza

You’ll find life on the Argentine side of the border slightly more relaxed than in Chile, Brumley said. A perfect place to relax with a nice dinner. Argentina produces its famous Malbec wines in Mendoza. It’s also famous for its steaks.

5. Spend A Couple Days In Buenos Aires

It takes less than two hours to fly there from Mendoza. Brumley calls it one of his favorite cities in South America. “It’s like a cross between New York and Rome,” he said.

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"Going Places" is 88.5's weekly exploration of travel. Matthew Brumley is the cofounder of Earthbound Expeditions, which provides small-group travel to clients including knkx.

Ed Ronco is a former KNKX producer and reporter and hosted All Things Considered for seven years.