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Chile Travel Guide

Chile - Valley of the Moon JDuk.jpg
A Chilean legend maintains that after God had created the wonders of the world he had many pieces leftover. He had raging rivers, sprawling glaciers, valleys and soaring mountains, snow-capped volcanoes, sparkling lakes, beautiful forests and deserts, icy fjords and sandy beaches. Rather than let all this beauty go to waste, he put them together in a remote part of the world, and so Chile was born.Shaped like a long narrow strip and making up the western part of South America's tail, it is 2,610 miles (4,200km) in length and at most 115 miles (180km) wide. Travellers are drawn to this country because of its multitude of natural attractions, from the northern desert to the Lake District, and the mountains and fjords of Patagonia in the south. It has some superb National Parks, including Easter Island famous for its mysterious giant statues, and numerous activities for outdoor enthusiasts.Chile's European heritage is evident throughout the country and travellers here are likely to feel more familiar with its culture than those of the neighbouring countries, with their strongly indigenous lifestyles. There are still local traditions persisting in parts of Chile however, and together with the European influence this makes for an interesting juxtaposition, providing a distinctive culture. The people are resilient, cordial and warm, from the fashionable capital city of Santiago to the isolated island of Chiloé, and Chilean hospitality is renowned.Besides natural beauty and an interesting blend of cultures, Chile offers the visitor excellent wines and seafood, unique handicrafts and shopping, and a variety of characteristic architecture, making it a beautiful and memorable place to visit.


Chile Climate and Weather

Much of the country has a mountain climate with snow in the higher reaches. The north is desert, warm during the day but very cool at night. The central part has a Mediterranean climate with a rainy season between May and August. The south is cold, bitterly so in winter, and often wet.


Chile Currency

Money: The local currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP), which is divided into 100 centavos. Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and to a lesser extent, American Express, are accepted in most large shops and hotels. Travellers cheques, particularly in US Dollars, are welcome in major towns, where there are banks and cambios offering currency exchange services. ATMs are widely available.

Currency Exchange Rates

CLP 1 = US$ 0.20£ 0.10C$ 0.19A$ 0.22R 1.32EUR 0.14NZ$ 0.26

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.



Chile Health Overview

There are no vaccination requirements for entry to Chile, but Hepatitis A immunisation is recommended. Dengue fever is on the increase and visitors should take precautions against mosquito bites. All water should be treated as if contaminated; bottled water is available. Santiago is severely polluted and this could cause respiratory problems or eye irritations. Travellers visiting the Andes Mountains should be aware of altitude sickness, and if possible ascend slowly to allow the body to adjust. Health care in urban areas is adequate, but hospitals and clinics are extremely expensive and usually require payment in cash. Health insurance is strongly recommended.

Chile Passport & Visa Requirements

Entry requirements for Americans: No visa is required by US nationals for visits of up to 90 days, but a US$100 reciprocity fee, payable in USD cash on arrival, will be charged for tourists. The receipt is regarded as a multiple entry visa and is valid until expiry of passport. A passport is required for travel to Chile.
Entry requirements for UK nationals:UK nationals do not require a visa for visits of up to 90 days. A passport is required.
Entry requirements for Canadians:No visa is required by Canadians for visits of up to 90 days, but a US$132 reciprocity fee, payable in USD cash on arrival, will be charged for tourists. The receipt is regarded as a multiple entry visa and is valid until expiry of passport. A passport is required for travel to Chile.
Entry requirements for Australians:No visa is required by Australians for visits of up to 90 days, but a US$56 reciprocity fee, payable in USD cash on arrival, will be charged for tourists. The receipt is regarded as a multiple entry visa and is valid for three months. A passport is required.
Entry requirements for South Africans:South African nationals most hold a passport. A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals:Irish nationals must hold a passport, but a visa for a stay of up to 90 days is not required.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders:New Zealand nationals must hold a passport. A visa is not required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Passport/Visa Note:Passengers must hold a Tourist Card (issued free of charge on arrival for 90 days) and sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay. A return or onward ticket is not required if holding a credit card or sufficient funds to purchase a ticket. Passengers with a passport from Australia, Canada, United States or Mexico are required to pay a reciprocity tax on entering Santiago airport before passing through Customs. Fees are US$56 for Australians, US$132 for Canadians, US$100 for US nationals and US$15 for Mexican passport holders. This tax must be paid in US dollars cash; it is paid once and remains valid until the passport expires (for Canadians and Americans) or for three months (for Mexicans and Australians). Since January 2007 all US citizens travelling to and from Chile by air require a valid passport; by 1 January 2008 the requirement will be extended to include all land and sea border crossings as well.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.



Chile Basics

Time: Mainland is GMT 5 (GMT 4 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March). Easter Island is GMT 7 (GMT 6 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are standard.
Language: The official language is Spanish.
Health: There are no vaccination requirements for entry to Chile, but Hepatitis A immunisation is recommended. Dengue fever is on the increase and visitors should take precautions against mosquito bites. All water should be treated as if contaminated; bottled water is available. Santiago is severely polluted and this could cause respiratory problems or eye irritations. Travellers visiting the Andes Mountains should be aware of altitude sickness, and if possible ascend slowly to allow the body to adjust. Health care in urban areas is adequate, but hospitals and clinics are extremely expensive and usually require payment in cash. Health insurance is strongly recommended.
Tipping: Tips of 10% is expected in restaurants. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers but it is usual to round up the fare if they help with luggage. In general tipping small amounts is customary for all services.
Safety: Chile is a politically stable country with very few threats to the traveller. Incidences of pick pocketing and mugging are on the increase and travellers should take care of their belongings, especially around tourist areas and bus stations, and avoid walking alone late at night. Tourists should be particularly cautious in the Lake District as theft is on the increase, and muggings are becoming more common in popular walking areas such as Cerro San Cristobal, Cerro Santa Lucia and Cerro Manquehue. There has been an increase in reports regarding people receiving spiked drinks at nightclubs and bars particularly in Santiago. Avoid any involvement in demonstrations, which take place from time to time. Chile has a landmine problem, mainly restricted to border areas adjacent to Peru and Bolivia in regions I and II, and Argentina in region XII, and also in wilderness areas in those regions. Visitors are advised to stick to marked roads, obey all signs and seek the advise of local authorities if travelling to the border areas of regions I, II or XII.
Customs: Bargaining is not practiced in street markets or stores. It is considered polite for smokers to offer cigarettes to travel companions before lighting up themselves.
Business: Chilean business culture tends to be formal, and this includes dress, which should also be conservative in colour and style. Third party introductions are often necessary to preparing a meeting, and developing a personal relationship is key to success; a social aspect is essential before getting down to business. Chileans stand very close when conversing and it is rude to pull away. Visitors are also expected to re-confirm appointments before arriving at a meeting. Foreigners should be on time for meetings, but it is not unusual for the host to be 15-30 minutes late. On introduction, a firm handshake (between men only) and the exchange of business cards is usual - cards should be printed in both English and Spanish and care should be taken to pay attention to the card before putting it away carefully. Women do not generally hold key positions in business, and visiting businesswomen might have to work hard to gain acceptance in this traditionally macho society. Business hours are generally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with a two-hour siesta over lunch.
Communications: The international access code for Chile is +56. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Santiago is (0)2. Internet cafes are available in the main towns. A number of telephone companies offer different rates for national and international calls, depending on the time of day. Public phones are widely available and international call centres are available in most shopping malls. Mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with most international cell phone companies; otherwise mobile phones can easily be rented. A GSM network is in operation. Internet cafes are widespread, particularly in the big cities.
Duty Free: Travellers entering Chile do not need to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars (large or small) and 500g tobacco; 2.5 litres of alcohol; and perfume for personal use. Meat products, flowers, fruit and vegetables may only be imported if permission is given by the Department of Agriculture in advance.

Chile Airports

Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport

Location: The airport is situated 13 miles (21km) north west of Santiago.
Time: Local time is GMT –5 (GMT –4 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March).
Contacts: Tel: +56 (0)2 690 1752/3.
Transfer to the city: Several bus services leave regularly for the city centre. Official airport taxis are also available from outside international and domestic arrivals.
Car rental: International companies such as Avis and Alamo are represented at the airport as well as several local companies.
Facilities: Facilities at this extremely well equipped airport include Business and Internet Centres, bureaux de change, banks and ATMs, duty-free shops as well as a variety of other retail stores, restaurants, cafes and bars, a post office, tourist information, travel agencies and hotel reservations. There are also plenty of children's play areas available.
Parking: Parking is available 24-hours a day.
Departure tax: Passengers with a passport from Australia, Canada, United States or Mexico are required to pay a reciprocity tax on entering the airport. Australians: US$56, Canadians: US$132, US nationals: US$100, and Mexicans: US$15.