San Fernando, Chile

San Fernando is the capital of the province of Colchagua, in central Chile, and the second most populated urban center of the O'Higgins Region. Located close to the Tinguiririca River (a tributary of the Rapel) in a fertile valley, San Fernando sits 1,112 feet (339 m) above sea level. Founded in 1742, it became the provincial capital in 1840.

Culture life

San Fernando is famous for its rodeos, thanks to its location in the heart of Chile's "huaso" ("cowboy") country. The surrounding region yields wheat, forage crops, rice, legumes, and grapes. There is also a brand of Chilean wine called "San Fernando".Both the Pan-American Highway and Chile's main longitudinal railroad run through San Fernando.

San Fernando is located at the northern tip of Chile's Colchagua Valley. This region is more popularly know as the heart of Chilean agriculture. Here one can find the "wine route" which will take visitors on a journey from San Fernando to Santa Cruz, visiting some of Chile's most productive vineyards.

Some major attractions in and around San Fernando include Casa Silva, a hotel, vineyard, and winery. Hacienda Los Lingues, a traditional Chilean-style, colonial home of a hacienda "patron" or owner that has been turned into a hotel and restaurant. The hacienda offers horesback riding adventures into the precordillera of the Andes.

Most major producers of frest fruit for export are located in and around San Fernando. These include: Frusan, Unifruti, and Agricola Panagro. Within the orchards and farms of the region one can find almost every type of fresh produce; from citrus to premium quality fresh cherries.

San Fernando is also the point of departure to begin a trip to "Las Termas Del Flaco" (The thermal baths of Flaco). Flaco can be reached by travelling east of ruta 5 on the road to Puente Negro. "Las Termas" the baths are open from mid-December to April and are located in an area famous for its large populations of Tricahues, a type of native parrot, and fossilized dinosaur footprints.

External links

* [http://www.panagro.cl]
* [http://www.vi.cl Information about San Fernando] In Spanish