Study Abroad in the Americas, Chile, British Columbia

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Odysseus Never Had It So Good: Other Odysseys

If you choose to stay on this side of the globe and study in the Americas during your year or semester abroad, believe it or not, there are exotic sun and ski adventures here, too! Even if you don't go abroad, but are at school in the United States, why not head to Canada or South America for spring break? Both places have very affordable adventure options.

Cachagua, Chile

Cachagua, a beautiful seashore town located along the central coast in Chile, is a great place to see some penguins! On Cachagua Island, the Santuario de la Naturaleza protects Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, which are warm-weather penguins about a foot tall.

Las Cujas is a small beach next to Cachagua, made out of crushed shells and surrounded by rock. The rocks close to the beach are not good for climbing, but two trails lead north and south of the beach along the rocks. The south path goes all the way to the sand beach at the south end of Cachagua and has some climbing close to the ocean. At the end of the north path is a climbing wall with many different kinds of rock. If you want to climb here, take along a brush because the rock is covered in sand and salt.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver, located in the southwest corner of British Columbia, boasts the mildest weather in Canada and is an outdoor adventure haven. Spring arrives in early March and warm sunny days stay through the end of October; winter is generally the rainy season. Vancouver is an extremely bicycle friendly city with many bike paths and routes, so one of the best ways to explore this city is on a bike! You can hike or bike through some of Vancouver's mountains: The Lions, Mount Hollyburn, Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour, Golden Ears, Cypress Mountain, and Garibaldi Provincial Park. Rent rollerblades to cruise through Stanley Park or the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve.

A few sports that may not immediately spring to mind when thinking of Vancouver include white-water rafting, windsurfing, and scuba diving. The Thompson, the Nahatlatch, the Squamish, the Elaho, and the Chilliwack Rivers are all perfect for white-water rafting. Vancouver is a great place to learn how to windsurf because it doesn't have consistent winds. At English Bay or on Jericho beaches beginners can rent windsurfers and take lessons. Experienced windsurfers looking for high-wind sailing can head to Squamish. While Vancouver is located far away from the tropics, it does have some amazing cold water scuba diving between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Or try the Sunshine Coast, where near the jagged coastal fjord of Jervis Inlet you can find a sunken mermaid that has been submerged by local divers.

Vancouver rarely sees snow, but there is fabulous downhill and cross country skiing minutes from downtown Vancouver at Grouse Mountain, Cypress Bowl, and Mount Seymour. If you have the time, make the two hour trek north to Whistler and Blackcomb ski resorts. You can downhill ski, helicopter ski, or for the really adventurous, hire a guide and climb up the mountains before skiing back down.