When I finally decided that Chile would be the country where I would teach English as a Second Language (ESL), I did extensive research on where exactly I would want to call home. If you look on a map, Chile is a very very narrow strip between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It stretches over 2800 miles north to south and 265 miles east to west. Therefore, I felt I had many options across the Pacific coast.

Many ESL teachers end up going to the capital-Santiago. Obviously, it is the largest metropolitan area in Chile, but that also means that there are a plethora of teachers. Since Santiago is a popular and obvious destination for teachers, I have decided to give insight on some beautiful cities I found along the way that were always in need of ESL teachers besides the bustling metropolis of Santiago.

It is also important to keep in mind a couple of things if you are considering teaching ESL in Chile.  If you are open to teaching in the far north (which is the home of the Atacama Desert – known to be the driest desert in the world) or the far south (near the Patagonia), the teaching wages will often be better due to the extreme climates. But, don’t let that deter you, these are also some of the most beautiful parts of the country.

IQUIQUE

Perhaps the northern city of Iquique is number one on my list since this is where I taught, and had such a great experience. But, Iquique is one of Chile’s most visited cities for several reasons. It sits right on the Pacific coast and is home to many surfers and body boarders, the Peruvian and Bolivian borders are very short trips from Iquique, and it is also the starting point for many who plan to take a trip into the Atacama Desert.  Iquique has a population of about 300,000 people, and I found it to be just big enough without being overwhelming. I describe Iquique as city in transition between small and large and new and old.  It is a coastal surfing town with major beach breaks at Playa Cavancha, and also a port city, which really gives it character.  It has an odd collection of blocky soviet-inspired housing, some western European influence in it’s buildings, and modern high rise condominiums going up right along the water. Iquique’s  relaxing beaches and cultural background make it a great place to call home…at least for awhile.

VALPARAISO

Valparaiso sits west of Santiago on the coast, and is home to about 300,000 people who literally live in the hills. This town is built on tons and tons of hills and thousands of stairs along the Pacific coast. People from ”Valpo” characterize it as Paradise Valley and a city full of joy, filled with colors and stories around every corner. I was told that this town was devastated by a hurricane in years past and it had to be rebuilt. To me, it looked as though when they did this, a painters palette was spilt over the entire city. To me this city also seemed like the “San Francisco” of Chile. Valparaiso is also home to one of Pablo Neruda´s homes- La Sebastiana. The people of Valparaiso also say that it is not necessary for the city to express its feelings, because Pablo Neruda has said it all already. My stories of the city could be somewhat endless, but another different feature about the city worth mentioning, is its winding outdoor Museo Cielo Abierto (Open Air Museum) that was along the sidewalks in the hills. A community project that was created some years ago to support the artistic expression of children in the city. This was an area designated throughout the city where the sidewalks were completey painted with artistic graffiti. Between the artistic vibe throughout the city, the sleepless port, and the colorful architecture it would be hard not to find a free flowing amount of energy and inner artistic expression. But, I would also have to call it the city with a thousand stairs! This city is also only minutes away from the popular beach destination Viña del Mar.

VALDIVIA

Valdivia, a charming little university town that is somewhat divided into two parts by a river. One area being the main part of Valdivia, and the other part being called Niebla. This city has been nicknamed The City of Rivers, and truly is one of the most beautiful cities in Chile. Many teachers that are wanting to teach in the southern part of Chile, but not in the extreme southern climate often times find themselves in Valdivia. Valdivia and southern Chile in general has a huge German influence, so you can always find good beer and good chocolate which is reason enough for me to live there!

PUERTO MONTT/PUERTO VARAS

Puerto Montt is considered to be in southern Chile, but it is definitely not as far south as you could go. It is a bustling fishing village, that is one of the fastest growing cities on the continent thanks to the salmon industry. Because of this, teachers are also in high demand. There are artisan markets that line the avenue clear down to the port and a plethora of “picadas”, which are small little restaurants where one could indulge in fresh seafod.  The waters are always filled with fisherman and their boats bringing in the catch of the day. There are fresh seafood markets with clams, crabs, and oysters as far as you can see. This was by far the best seafood I had in Chile.  You can travel 10 minutes by mini-bus to the neighboring city of Puerto Varas which is a beautiful lake front town directly on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, the largest in South America. Puerto Varas also has charming little streets with classic colonial homes from possibly the turn of the century. You can also very conveniently travel to the very popular Petrohue National Park. From the glistening of the many lakes that make up what is considered the lakes district of Chile to the perfect views of Volcano Orsono, The Andes, and not to mention the secluded beaches you can find on the countryside along the way, teaching in these two cities, you would never run out of things to do or see.

PUNTA ARENAS

Punta Arenas is almost as far south as you can go, and you will definitely be on the cusp of The Patagonia. This is also the most prominent settlement on the Straight of Magellan. It has a population of about 120,000 and is only about 1400 kilometers from the coast of Antarctica. If you don’t like cold weather, this would definitely not be the place for you. This is a fairly large city in the south, and there are opportunities here to teach English in a variety of schools. There are tourist in the summer and cruise ships also come and go out of this areas causing a demand for teachers.  Punta Arenas also has an incredbile history. Prior to the opening of the Panama Canal, the families of Punta Arenas controlled all of the transportation of goods from the West side of the Americas to Europe. They built beautiful palaces in the town and brought a very sophisticated lifestyle to a remote outpost which makes the city streets a marvel. In addition, the areas just South of the city are fantastic to explore with the glaciers and all the inland passages. Not very many people have the opportunity to live so close to many natural wonders, which would make this a destination of choice all in itself!

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