San Antonio, Chile

Capital City

Eighty-six thousand residents call this Chilean port city home, but don't let the quaint fishing town facade fool you. San Antonio has become the country's main freight hub, surpassing even Valparaíso. A recent earthquake devastated 80% of the city, and the port was shut down for weeks after. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city administered by an alcalde and six councilors. On the plus side, the Mediterranean climate is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 19°C in the summer to 8°C in the winter. For those drawn to the region's emerging culinary and wine scene, San Antonio could be an intriguing - if occasionally frustrating - landing spot.