About a month ago, I told you all here that Rio Tinto (RTP:NYSE) was in dire straits… But that was only half the story. The rest I told to the exclusive membership of Taipan Insider. Now, as the mining industry continues to make the news, particularly with China Investment Corp,’s (CIC) announcement that it will focus on natural resource investments - rather than make more investments in the failing sectors of finance and real estate - I want to share the rest with you, because it will lead us up to the current situation.

So here’s your exclusive peek at Taipan Insider…

BHP Billiton (BHP:NYSE) is a leading miner in nearly every metal and mineral in the world, with global operations stretching from Mozambique to Peru… Just look at these statistics:

• 3rd largest copper producer
• 6th largest aluminum producer
• 3rd largest nickel producer
• 4th largest gold producer
• 2nd largest uranium producer
• 2nd largest zinc producer
• 4th largest coal producer

That’s a pretty stacked resume…

Continue Reading »

Well, folks, my canyoneering trip didn’t cure my fear of heights, nor my fear of deep water… But it was certainly an experience.

For one thing, our bus broke down on the way to the Vincente Perez Rosales National Park. That wasn’t a good sign, but once we got to our destination - a couple hours later than expected, mind you - things were looking up.

But then we had to hike for about a half hour, up hill, in a wetsuit.

I’d though I’d left hiking behind in Pucon, but that was not to be… It was well worth it, though. The cool waters were quite refreshing, though the thought of sliding down a three-meter waterfall didn’t sit well with me.

And my impressions didn’t improve as we went along.

It’s okay, you can call me a chicken. I am… And I tried to let my mind wander to other things besides white water and rapid currents.

Like all the “Se Vende” signs we saw on the way to the canyons. “Se Vende” means “For Sale.” Massive amounts of farmland are up for grabs just an hour south east of the fun touristy town of Puerto Varas. You can pick up a parcel of land for between $1,500 and $4,300 an acre.

Then you can buy a pre-assembled home for a cool $12,200. Continue Reading »

While the U.S. markets experiences a near meltdown today, the hot town of Puerto Varas was partying…

It’s about 85 degrees here, with little wind, and the beaches on the Lago Llanquihue are packed with people. The icecream sellers are doing a brisk business, as are the fellows that rent kayaks and canoes.

It’s not hard to find out what the party is all about. The beach has amazing views of two snow-covered volcanos, and a front row seat to the sunset breaking on the Andes. True, the water is very cold, but anyone and everyone, from school kids to couples is enjoying the beginning of summer.

Like Pucon, Puerto Varas is an adventure Mecca. The scenery here is a bit different. There’s more trees for one - the city is surrounded by national forests, and the lake is much larger that Lago Villarica.

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Aside from copper and wine, Chile is home to some of the most amazing scenery in the world.

I should know… I spent seven hours hiking up one of Chile’s most well known sites: the Villarica Volcano.

It is THE attraction in Pucon, and, pardon my French, it kicked my ass.

We hiked up 1,300 meters, but actually walked seven kilometers to get to the top, and the crater was enormous, even though we could only see part of it. The really spectacular part was the views from the top. You can actually see four lakes, one being Lago Villarica, which I told you about in the last posting.

The views were absolutely amazing. Life-changing, almost.

It’s not hard to see why so many people flock to Pucon for this scenery.

Tomorrow, I leave bright and early for the next stop, Puerto Varas. It’s sort of the “next” Pucon, but with even more lakes. I’m due to arrive at about 2:00pm local time, and that’s where I’ll drop my next line.

Until then, enjoy this view from the top of Villarica…