Chile

A country in western South America. It occupies a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Chile has a landscape of contrasts and the tranquility of vast sandy esplanades and intense sunshine contrast with deep blue lagoons, and small towns with native customs. The explorers can earn their stripes by venturing far out to sea to Easter Island, with the famous and enigmatic statues that have puzzled archaeologists for centuries, or head into the vast nature reserves of Chilean Patagonia to experience one of the most remote and pristine wildernesses left on earth.

Highlights

National parks

Dan Lundberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via flickr

Landscapes and natural wonders

Freddy Alexander Bugueño Tolmo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Javier Vieras, CC BY 2.0, via flickr

Mystical islands

Diegosanchezmonroy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Winelands

Dvparra, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fsanchezs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bustling city life

Volcanoes and geysers

Wildlife

When to go

The best time to visit Chile is very difficult to say due to the large geographic scale and shape. It is important to explain that the seasons in South America are the reverse to Europe. In the north there is hardly any rainfall and conditions are very hot and arid. The climate in central Chile is Mediterranean, with cool, wet winters. In the extreme south the weather is cold and wet most of the year, with snow covering the mountains and the sky cloudy. However, in every season the country has something to offer that makes it a year-round travel destination, but the high season will be between November to February.

Snorkelling and Diving: is a spectacular scuba diving destination. With so much coastline, it offers many diverse dives and wildlife watching, from penguins around Punta Arenas to the deep blues of Easter Island. Destinations within continental Chile, Iquique is known for pleasant temperatures and weather conditions where diving can be practiced all year long. Known internationally as a diving location, the volcanic origin of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, the archipelago’s water temperature reaches 20C° between December and March, which is the best time to visit.

Central Chile (Santiago and winelands): the Chilean heartland enjoys a generally warm climate similar to the Mediterranean or the Pacific Northwest, with moderate year-round temperatures. The Atacama Desert is the highest, driest desert on the planet, daytime temperatures can get up and night-time temperatures can fall below freezing. Although there is never a bad time to visit the Atacama, but if you want to avoid the extreme heat, then avoid the summer season.

The Coast (Valparaiso, Chiloé, Pichilemu): the most popular time to visit the beautiful Pacific beaches is during the summer, from December to February. Although there are heavy crowds.

Easter Island: just beneath the tropics in the Pacific Ocean is Easter Island, which ranges from 18º-28ºC, making it a great place to visit at any time of the year. If you are planning to go during the high season, making your reservations and booking your flights in advance.

Winter sports: the best time for hitting the ski resorts is June to mid-September, when the snow is abundant. This is also a good time to visit the north when the tourists slim out a little. There are, however, few services on the Carretera Austral, particularly as mountain passes can be blocked by snow.

Chilean Patagonia: the more extreme the weather conditions become with strong, persistent winds being more prominent from December to January. Some areas become totally inaccessible especially in autumn and winter months (June to August) is best avoided as temperatures dip to as much as -15C and some parts see snowfalls. Generally, summer from November to March is considered the best time to hike in Patagonia.

Wildlife watching: Whales, in the Golfo del Corcovado flowing between the mainland of Chile and Chiloé Island has been a famous tourist destination among wildlife lovers, from December to March appears to teem with these sea mammals. Penguins, from September to March begin to arrive to Colonies in Southern Patagonia in late September to mate. Chicks are best seen in December, January and February. Pumas, year-round, these elusive creatures are easier to track during the winter season, but the summer season offers more daylight which can also increase the chances to spot them. Birds, year-round, from flamingos in the Atacama Desert, the Andean Condor throughout the country, and exotic woodpeckers and hummingbirds in Chilean Patagonia.

Practical information

Currency

The Chilean peso is the official currency. Typically, 679 to 950 per Euro and 643 to 842 per US Dollar.

Language

Spanish is the official language spoken in Chile. It is useful to have a basic grasp of Spanish before you travel because in some places very few people speak English and not all hotel and restaurant staff will do.

Visa

Several foreign nationals, including citizens of EU Member States and the United States, can travel to Chile without a visa if their stay does not exceed 90 days. However, if your stay exceeds 90 days, you must apply for a visa. Visa-exempt countries include Argentina, Bolivia, New Zealand, etc. You can travel to Chile without a visa if you are a visa-exempt national. When you arrive, Chilean immigration officers will give you a Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turismo) that specifies the number of days you can stay.

The Tourist Card is printed on A5 paper and must be kept safe because it must be presented to immigration officers when you leave the country.

For more information about entry requirements, you can check this website

ATM & credit card

In Chile, ATM´s are widespread, easily found at banks, in shopping centres and at gas stations. Even in rural areas, it should not be too hard to find an ATM when you need one.

Most of Chile’s ATMs operate on two main networks: Redf and Redbanc. Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and to a lesser extent, American Express, are accepted in most large shops, hotels and restaurants.

Opening times

The opening hours for banks in Chile are from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., shops, small businesses of district, from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and shopping centres, from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Supermarkets: every day from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. big supermarkets and shopping malls are often as well open on Saturdays and Sundays, during the whole day, bars and restaurants from 10am to 10 pm.

Time: GMT -3 hours and Easter Island GMT -5 hours.

Main airports

Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (is located in the northwest of the city, the distance from the airport to the centre of Santiago de Chile is 18 kilometres. By car, it takes 30 minutes)

Aeropuerto Internacional Diego Aracena Aguilar (the airport is located 45 km to the south of the city of Iquique, by car takes 30 minutes)

Aeropuerto Internacional Mataveri (is located in the south of Hanga Roa on the Rapa Nui Island, the distance from the airport to the centre of Hanga Roa is 1,6 km, by car takes 9 minutes)

Public transport

A reliable and developed transport, getting around Chile is easy and inexpensive. Santiago and Valparaiso have an efficient metro, while buses and trains link all major towns and cities.

By bus, is one the most common way of getting around Chile, fortunately, most Chilean buses are clean and efficient and an excellent choice for traveling shorter distances. Within the cities, buses travel regularly along fixed routes, and give you a quick and inexpensive way to get around. A typical bus journey is around 300 Chilean pesos. The main bus companies in the country are Pullman, Expreso Norte and Cruz del Sur . If you decide to travel for long distances, it helps to know your options. Standard buses go by the name clásico or pullman. An ejécutivo or semi-cama is a little like business class, lots of legroom and seats that recline. Another good option is the “salón cama”, which features seats that fold out into beds. A salón cama is an excellent way to get to a region such as the Lake District, as riders sleep all night and arrive in the morning. Fares are moderately priced and seats fill up fast, so buy a ticket as far in advance as possible. Ask what is included with your fare.

By train, because of Chile’s mountainous terrain, trains are not a particularly important or efficient means of transport depending on the part of the country. Although there are trains connecting a few cities, they often take longer than buses, offer a similar level of comfort, and are more expensive. The company Empresa de los Farrocarriles del Estado (EFE) offers high-speed train service from Santiago to Chillán aboard modern and comfortable coaches, stopping along the way in Rancagua, San Fernando, and Talca, and passing through beautiful landscapes along the way. You can check the website for the timetables and different routes here.

The MetroTren in Santiago is a subsidiary of EFE. It is a light rail system with two lines, the MetroTren Nos and the MetroTren Rancagua, and 28 stations. Also, Santiago and Valparaiso, have metro system, it can become in the most convenient and cost-effective way of getting around the cities, avoiding congestions that are common during the peak times. The price for a trip is low, and includes transfers. A single trip ticket costs between 520 and 620 Chilean Pesos, depending on whether you are traveling during peak times or off-peak times. For more information about the Santiago`s metro, you can visit this website.

Taxis, are generally a safe way to travel in Chile, provided you use caution and common sense. They can be identified by their black exterior and yellow roof. Typical rates are around 700 pesos per kilometre. Make sure to check that the meter is running and that the rate seems reasonable. For longer trips, you can negotiate a price beforehand, and get a slightly better deal than using the meter.

“Collectivos” are taxis that run a fixed route. You will pay a lot less, but you will also find yourself packed into the vehicle with quite a few other travellers. These taxis normally offer set prices and run regular fixed routes that are displayed on signs on their roofs, although, at night, for an extra fee, they may drive to a specific location. For short trips, though, they can be a great way to save money.

By private car, Chile has a good road network, although, some remote routes and mountain passes may be in disrepair. Highways connecting towns and cities are called “rutas nacionales”, and are identified by numbers. The Pan-American Highway is a fantastic example route, specifically, the “ruta 5”, is part of this highway and the Chile´s longest route. Car rentals for Santiago are totally unnecessary, but they do offer immense freedom if you are in the Lake District or wish to drive along the coast. Weekly rates for a compact vehicle, rented from and returned to the Santiago airport, average about $280 to $375.

By ferry and local cruises, for example, Navimag offers 4×3 night adventure sailing through the Patagonian Fjords, if you sail from Puerto Montt (or 4 nights and 3 days if you sail from Puerto Natales), offers a view of distant glaciers, dramatic cliffs, wind-sculpted forests, and snow-capped volcanoes that reach the sky. The specific route of the ferry varies slightly according to weather and tide conditions. Still, our travellers’ favourite parts of the trip are sailing in the open sea in the Gulf of Sorrows (Golfo de Penas), passing through the English Narrows (Angostura Inglesa), passing by the charming town of Puerto Eden, and enjoying the coast of some of Chile’s most treasured national parks, including Corcovado, Isla Magdalena, and Laguna San Rafael. This crossing is an excellent option for people traveling from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales (or vice versa), particularly those traveling to and from Torres del Paine National Park (Puerto Natales is just 115km away from this attraction).

Navimag is not a luxury liner, but there are berths that provide enough standard comfort for even finicky travellers. For more information about routes and seasons check their website. Transmarchilay S.A., it is a sea freight and passenger transport company, connects insular and continental Chile. It operates exclusively at the crossing of the Chacao Canal to reach Chiloé (Pargua-Chacao route and vice versa), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the year. It has four vessels: Ruende, Trehuaco, El Trauco and Camahueto. For the convenience of passengers, their ships are equipped with cafeteria, passenger lounge, bathrooms, television, on-board Wi-Fi service and electronic invoicing. For more information about the company check the website, Naviera Austral SA provides a connectivity service for passengers, cargo and vehicles that covers the Patagonia of the Los Lagos Region, Chiloé and the North Coast of the Aysén Region. The company carries out this work with technical, operational and service efficiency, in conjunction with the State, thus forming a Public-Private Alliance. For more information check the website.

Things to avoid

Walking alone at night in certain areas

Some parts of Chile drinking tap water contains heavy metals

Expecting everyone to speak English

Smoking or making fire in the national parks

Raising controversial subjects (such as Pinochet, politics and human rights issues), unless they are introduced by your Chilean counterpart.

Food

Chilean cuisine, is a rich mixture of ancient traditions and ingredients used by indigenous people, with a European touch. The relation with the Pacific Ocean adds an immense array of seafood products to Chilean cuisine, with the country’s waters home to unique species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and algae. “Arrollado huaso” (it is a pork roll peasant style, the ingredients include pork meat pulp, slices of bacon, garlic, pepper and cumin to taste; it is then rolled in pork skin), “Curanto en hoyo” (a typical meal from Chiloe Island, curanto, means hot or cooked stone. This is precisely the way to make this preparation: make a hole on the land in which you light up a fire to heat the stones. Then layer by layer, you put different kinds of meat, fish, seafood and potatoes, coating everything with large gunnera leaves and sealing the whole thing with more hot stones), “Chilean empanadas” ( are made of a mixture of minced meat, onions, raisins, black olives and hard boiled eggs), “Mariscos” ( made with assorted seafood; clams, shrimps, oysters and then cooked with seasonal vegetables), “Manjar blanco” ( includes a variety of Chilean milk-based delicacies, these dishes are slowly made by cooking pure (non-homogenized) milk until it thickens., sugar is gradually added, different recipes combine vanilla, citrus juices, cinnamon, and rice).

Electricity and plug types

In Chile, there are two associated plug types, types C and L. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and type L is the plug which has three round pins. Chile operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Health and insurance

Chile has one of the bests medical facilities in South America, especially in Santiago, where healthcare standards are very high. The National Health Fund, or the public health system, is known as FONASA. Members of this system have access to a network of hospitals, as well as some clinics and medical centers. Only people who are registered in the system can be beneficiaries, and their legal dependents must be listed on their profile. Chilean nationals and residents have access to this public healthcare through this governmentally run scheme. Healthcare in urban areas is generally good, but hospitals and clinics are expensive, for this reason is comprehensive travel health insurance is recommended because sudden medical emergencies can occur, if you travel without medical insurance, you would have to pay all expenses out of your pocket.

There are no vaccination requirements for entry to Chile, but vaccination for hepatitis A is recommended and a typhoid vaccine may be recommended for long-term travelers who plan to visit rural areas and eat outside of hotels and restaurants.

Water is generally safe in the cities, but should be treated in the rural areas; bottled water is widely available for drinking.

Santiago is severely polluted and this could cause respiratory problems or eye irritations, particularly between May and August. Travelers visiting the Andes Mountains should be aware of altitude sickness, and ascend slowly to allow the body to adjust.

Other

The majority of the restaurants automatically include a suggested 10% tip onto the bill, as a line item below the total amount. This is not a service charge and you do not have to pay it, but it’s customary to pay it. You do not have to add any more tips beyond this suggested 10% that is already shown on the bill, but if the service was particularly good, you can tip 15%.