CHILE TRAVEL TIPS
A collection of important information that can make your trip more enjoyable.

Chile is a long and narrow country in South America, with the Andes mountain range bordering one side and the Pacific Ocean bordering the other. It is over 4,000 km long and has an extremely diverse flora, fauna, scenery and climate. Chile is divided politically into 12 regions, plus the metropolitan region, which can be found in the central part of the country.

CHILE GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 756,096 sq km (291,930 sq miles). Population: 15,589,147 ( as of 2002). Population Density: 20 per sq km. Capital: Santiago (de Chile). Population: 4,668,473 (2002). Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1810. Head of State and Government: President Ricardo Lagos Escobar since 2000. Language: The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.

Religion: Predominantly Christian, of which 72 per cent are Roman Catholic.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs and screw-type bulbs are used.

GEOGRAPHY: Chile shares a border with Argentina to the east and to the north with Bolivia and Peru. To the west is the South Pacific. With its great length it has many different geographic features including deserts, snow capped mountains, deep canyons and fjords and glaciers. It also posses Easter Island to the west and lays claim to territory in the Antarctic some of which overlaps claims of Argentina and Britain.

CHILE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To enter Chile you need a valid passport and tourist visa. Note: legal requirements can sometimes be complex in Chile, particularly for non-Spanish speakers. Whenever you fill out any form in Chile, make sure you get a copy of what you have completed. In every case, be sure to take all legally-issued documents with you when applying for visas, permits or other official certificates. Click here for Visa informations

GETTING AROUND CHILE

Travel within Chile is easy. Fast, punctual and comfortable buses travel the main highways, and flights are reasonably priced; the long-neglected railways have improved in recent years. Competition has lowered domestic air fares, and regional airlines and air taxis traverse the country's long extent. Air passes are particularly attractive. There is a tax of 5.00 payable on domestic flights.

CHILEAN CUSTOMS - GENERAL INFORMATION

ll international travellers must pass through customs on entry into Chile; the following regulations apply.

What you can bring into Chile

What you may not bring into Chile

Animals

Temporary import of vehicles

Information on the domestic electricity supply in Chile.
Electric current in Chile is supplied at 220 Volts, 50 Hertz. Most transformers are suitable for North American appliances, and notebooks and laptops usually come fitted with an internal adapter.
Three-way adapters should not be used, but two-way adapters may be purchased in any electrical goods shop.

CHILE COMMUNICATIONS

Mail - Correos de Chile is the company responsible for the postal service. Mail delivery is fairly safe and responsible, but a bit slow. The services offered by the company include letters, parcels and money orders, both within the country and abroad, with varying costs and delivery times.
Post offices are open throughout the country Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 12 noon.
There is a registered postal service which guarantees the delivery of letters and is not very much more expensive.
Packages of up to 30 kgs in weight may be sent by the parcel service.
Letters from overseas, for example from Europe or the U.S., normally arrive in seven to ten days, while mail posted in Chile takes two weeks or more to arrive at overseas destinations.
The best way to send parcels within the country is by the long distance bus companies. They charge according to the size of the package for this service.
Visit Correos de Chile

Fax - Fax services are available throughout Chile through a number of telephone companies, e.g. Entel, Telefónica, VTR and Telex-Chile.
Telephone
Chile has one of the most modern digital telephone networks in Latin America.
Any call - local, long distance or international - may be made from a public telephone in the street or from a call centre (centro de llamadas).
To make a call from a public telephone you will need to purchase a card or have a sufficient number of $100 coins to hand. Cards (tarjetas de llamadas) can be purchased at kiosks in the street or in call centres.
Calls made from a hotel may be charged separately, depending on the rules of the establishment. You should check before making a call.
Long distance and international calls are made using a carrier company. You should dial the three digit code for the carrier before dialling the number you wish to call. There are always special offers available for calls made with these carriers.
In remote areas such as Patagonia you should always carry an ENTEL card, since telephone service is only available in these areas using the ENTEL satellite service.
To find the number of a shop or business you can consult the yellow pages, which contain a huge range of businesses offering different products ands services.

Mobile phones - Mobile phones are very extensively used in Chile; the majority of people have access to one.
Mobile phone numbers consist of 8 digits. If you are calling from a fixed telephone you will need to prefix the number with a 0.
Mobile phones can be obtained easily, and cost between Ch$30,000 and 90,000. They can also be hired. Enquire in the telephone companies

Internet - Internet service is widely used. Most cities usually have plenty of internet cafés, but in small villages they are not so easy to find.
Hotels usually offer internet access in their business centres.
The service is charged on a time basis, sometimes by the hour, sometimes by units as short as 10 minutes. The cost is around Ch$300 to $600 or more.

CHILE BUSINESS PROFILE

Economy: With well-developed industrial and service sectors, Chile has one of Latin America’s strongest economies. However, it still depends on export of primary commodities – metals and ores, fruit, fish and wood – for a large proportion of its export earnings. Chile has a large surplus of fruit and vegetables available for export to North America and Europe but is not entirely self-sufficient in agricultural produce. The industrial base has grown substantially over the last 30 years and now includes steel manufacturing, oil production, ship building, and the production of cement and consumer goods. The mainstay of the export economy for the time being is metals and ores: Chile is the world’s leading exporter of copper and also produces zinc, iron ore, molybdenum, manganese, iodine and lithium. Imported oil and natural gas provide most of Chile’s energy requirements, but coal and hydro-electricity also make an important contribution. The service sector has developed rapidly in recent years, especially financial services, following the government’s introduction in the mid-1990s of a unique comprehensive pension scheme. Chile’s economic performance has been strong since 2000 with annual growth around 7 per cent and low inflation; unemployment hovers just below 10 per cent. The USA is the largest trading partner, followed by Japan, Brazil, Germany and the UK. Chile is a member of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the southern free trade zone (Mercosur), and the Rio Group. This latter organisation, established in 1987, comprises a dozen Latin American countries with common interests in promoting free trade, suppressing corruption and drug trafficking, and other matters. The country was also admitted in 1994 to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum and may be the first South American country to join the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA, presently comprising the USA, Canada and Mexico). A bilateral free trade agreement between the US and Chile was concluded during 2003.

Business: Businesspeople should wear formal clothes in dark colours for official functions, dinners, smart restaurants and hotels. Dress is usually stipulated on invitations. There is a tendency to formality with many Old World courtesies. Best months for business visits are April to December. Business hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1830.

CHILE SOCIAL PROFILE

Food & Drink: Santiago has many international restaurants; waiter service is usual. The evening will often include floor shows and dancing. Examples of typical national dishes are empanada (combination of meat, chicken or fish, with onions, eggs, raisins and olives inside a flour pastry), humitas (seasoned corn paste, wrapped in corn husks and boiled), cazuela de ave (soup with rice, vegetables, chicken and herbs), bife a lo pobre (steak with french fries, onions and eggs) and parrillada (selection of meat grilled over hot coals, often including delicacies such as intestines, udders and blood sausages). Seafood is good. Best known are the huge lobsters from Juan Fernández Islands. Abalone, sea urchins, clams, prawns and giant choros (mussels) are also common.
Chile is famous for its wine. Pisco is a powerful liqueur distilled from grapes after wine pressing. Grapes are also used to make the sweet brown chicha as well as aguardiente, similar to brandy. Beer is drunk throughout the country.

Nightlife: While many restaurants and hotels offer entertainment, there are also a number of independent discos and nightclubs. Casinos: The Municipal Casino in Viña del Mar offers large gambling salons, full cabaret and boîte with Chile’s best dance bands. A casino operates in Gran Hotel in Puerto Varas between September and March. Arica also has a casino operating throughout the year with baccarat, roulette, black jack, a restaurant and late-night cabaret.

Special Events: The following is a selection of special events occurring in Chile in 2005; for detailed information contact SERNATUR (see Contact Addresses section):
Jan Folklore Festival, Angol; Festival of Classical Music, Valdivia; Jornadas Musicales de Villarrica, Villarrica; Festival del Huaso, Olmúe; International Folklore Festival, San Bernado; Feast Day of St Sebastian, Yumbel. Jan-Feb Semanas Musicales de Frutilar (wheat harvest celebrations), Trilla. Feb Festival Costumbrista, Castro; Festival de Jazz, Tongoy; Festival de la Canción de Viña del Mar; Derby Day, Viña del Mar. Mar Los Andes International Fair. Apr Fiesta de Cuasimodo (traditional religious festival). Jul Fiesta de la Tirana. Sep Independence Day Celebrations, Rancagua. Oct Saint’s Day of St Francis of Assisi. Dec 26 La Fiesta Grande, Andacollo.

Note: Dates for special events in Chile change frequently.

Social Conventions: Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Most Chileans use a double surname and only the first part should be used in addressing them. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting local people. It is very common to entertain at home and it is acceptable for invitees to give small presents as a token of thanks. Informal, conservative clothes are acceptable in most places but women should not wear shorts outside resort areas.

CHILE SAFETY

Precautions in Santiago

• Do not wear visible jewellery, this exposes you to the risk of robbery.
• If you are wearing a rucksack, do not have cameras, video cameras or other valuable items in the outside pockets. li>
• If you are eating in a restaurant, do not leave your possessions on an empty chair.
• Do not walk around the streets with a lot of bags. Leave them in a safe place in your hotel or in the left luggage facilities of the bus terminal.
• Never change money in the street. Use an authorised exchange office.
• If you are travelling on your own or a hired bicycle, never entrust it to anyone else.

How to avoid theft from your car

• Do not leave personal documents inside the vehicle.
• Get repairs and servicing done in recognised garages which are authorised by the municipality.
• Do not pass the keys to parking attendants. (They may make copies).
• If possible, ensure that the vehicle has an alarm, a security system or some other means of discouraging delinquents.
• Keep a careful note of the special characteristics and details of the vehicle.
• Make sure the licence plate is properly fixed on.

What to do if your car is stolen

• You should inform the police (Carabineros) immediately. (Phone 133 free of charge).
• Go to the nearest police station to make a statement on the theft.
• Take as much information as possible about your car and the details of the theft.
• Precautions if you go out in the mountains
• If you are going out in the mountains without a guide, you should inform the police (Carabineros) or the mountain Rescue service (Cuerpo de Socorro Andino) of your route (Phone 136 free of charge). Remember that it can be very cold in the mountains, even in summer, and that the weather is unpredictable.

Loss of travel documents

• If your travel documents are lost or stolen you should advise the nearest consulate in order to get them replaced.
• Is it safe to hitch-hike in Chile?
• Hitch-hiking is forbidden on main roads and motorways in Chile, however it is a frequent practice, especially for young people in country areas.
• It will always be quicker and safer to travel by bus; buses can even stop on main roads in many places, so long as they do not hold up the flow of traffic.

As a safety measure women are recommended never to hitch-hike alone. Emergency telephones

• You can dial the following emergency numbers free of charge from any telephone, public or private, in Chile:
• Ambulance emergency service 131
• Fire brigade 132
• Police (Carabienos de Chile) 133
• Mountain Rescue service 136
• Police information 139

CHILE HEALTH

Vaccinations

• At present no mandatory vaccinations or medical examinations are required to enter Chile.

Water

• In general the water in Chile is completely safe to drink.
• It is suggested that people whose organisms are sensitive to changes should drink bottled mineral water for their first few days in the country; this can be obtained in any supermarket or bottle store. Another alternative is to boil the water before drinking.

Consumption of raw foodstuffs

• You are recommended not to eat uncooked vegetables, particularly those which grow at ground level, for example, lettuces, carrots etc.), unless they have been purchased in an established supermarket, where the rules governing the sale of these products are properly observed.
• It is better to eat cooked meat, fish and seafood.
• It is safer to eat cooked seafood, but raw seafood can also be eaten, with appropriate precautions, in established restaurants. Note that the use of lemon juice does not have the same effect as cooking the seafood.
• If you want to buy seafood you should not go to informal vendors as you are at risk of infection, or food poisoning, which in some cases may cause death as a result of the so-called “red tide”.
• Fruit should be properly washed before eating. It should be kept in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.

Public Health System

• The hospitals and emergency services of the Chilean Health Service are obliged to attend any person who requires emergency treatment.

Diseases

• Cholera is an intestinal infection whose symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and colic. Drinking properly treated water, eating cooked foodstuffs and washing fruit and vegetables properly before consumption will all help to prevent it.
• The Hanta virus, which is present in Chile, is a sometimes fatal disease which is transmitted to humans from a wild mouse. Preventive measures are: before entering a cabin or house which is abandoned or has been uninhabited for some time you should ventilate it well for at least one hour; keep food in strong, well sealed containers; keep rubbish in sealed containers; do not leave food lying about. These precautions should help you to have a safe visit or stay in the Chilean countryside.

CHILE EMERGENCIES

If you lose your passport - You should go straight to the nearest police station to report the loss. Then you should go to the nearest consulate for your country, where you will be able to obtain a duplicate. The time this takes may vary. You should always keep a photocopy of your passport in a separate safe place when you are travelling.

If you lose your plane tickets - The airline cannot make you buy new tickets to replace those you have lost. If you lose your tickets you should advise the office of the airline immediately and sign an affidavit. In any case you will normally have to pay a fine, which will vary according to the airline. Some airlines will not make a charge if you have been the victim of a theft or robbery, in this case you will have to fill out a form of indemnity (F.O.I.) giving details of how the tickets were lost.

If you lose your luggage - All airlines now have an international world-wide search system called “World Tracer Management”. When you realise that your luggage has been lost, you should first fill in a “Luggage Irregularity Form”, giving details of the type, colour, size and shape of the lost article, including a sketch. Over the next few days, the “World Tracer Management” (WTM) will come into play, entering your request into the international search system among all airlines. The search will take seven days, although the luggage generally appears within the first three days. If the luggage does not appear in that time, the request is passed to the “Luggae Centre”, which searches for a further thirty days. If the articles are still not found, you can claim indemnity from the airline, which is a standard amount of approximately US$ 20 per kilo lost.

CHILE CURRENCY

Local currency is the Chilean Peso. As of this writing, the exchange was about 451 pesos per 1USD.
The monetary system comprises a series of notes and coins of differing values.

The institution responsible for the printing and minting of these is the Chilean Mint, under the instructions of the Central Bank of Chile, which is also responsible for the circulation of the currency.

CHILE SHOPPING

Special purchases include textiles such as colourful handwoven ponchos, vicuna rugs and copper work. Chilean stones such as lapis lazuli, jade, amethyst, agate and onyx are all good buys. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 1000-2000, Sat 1000-1400. Large shopping malls are open daily 1000-2100.

CHILE TIPPING

Restaurants and bars add 10 per cent to the bill. However, waiters will expect a 10 per cent cash tip in addition.

CHILE TRAFFIC AND DRIVING

Foreign driving licences are generally accepted by car rental companies and at police checkpoints, however for legal purposes foreign drivers should carry an international driving licence issued in their country of origin, with the exception of Argentinian citizens who may drive on their own national licences.
You must always have your driving licence and the vehicle licence with you, as police checkpoints are frequent, especially on main roads and on the edge of cities.
The use of a seatbelt is compulsory in Chile for all passengers (front and back seats).
If you need help finding a street in a city or your route on main roads the police are always ready to provide information.
The speed limit on motorways is 120 kph where permitted. In the city the limit is 50 kph.
Drive on the right.

Vehicle restriction in Santiago

• In the city of Santiago there is a system known as “restricción vehicular” whereby private vehicles may not be driven on certain days, defined by the final digit of their registration plates. Failure to comply with this restriction is punishable by fines established in the traffic laws.

CHILE PEOPLE

In general the chilean people are very friendly and open minded regarding to foreigners. If you have to ask for the way or something else you can be sure to get helped. It´s easy to make new acquaintances and you will really enjoy the affability of the Chileans.

The majority of Chile's population is mestizo, a result of frequent intermarriage between early Spanish settlers and indigenous inhabitants. Many Chileans are also of German, Italian, Irish, British, or Yugoslav ancestry. Three small indigenous groups are still distinguishable—the Araucanians of central Chile (the largest and long the strongest group), the Changos of N Chile, and the Fuegians of Tierra del Fuego. Chile is predominantly urban, with more than a third of the total population concentrated in and around Santiago and Viña Del Mar. Nearly 90% of the people are at least nominally Roman Catholic. Spanish is the country's official language.

CHILE CLIMATE & CLOTHING

Climate: Ranges from hot and arid in the north to very cold in the far south. The central areas have mild Mediterranean climate with a wet season (May to August). Beyond Puerto Montt in the south is one of the wettest and stormiest areas in the world.

Clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens in northern and central areas. Rainwear is advised during rainy seasons. Mediumweights and waterproofing are needed in the south. An anorak or similar is a useful addition.

CHILE SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

Trekking: One of Chile’s most popular regions for trekking is the Lake District, which lies some 900km (560 miles) south of Santiago, and where several of the country’s national parks can be visited. The Lago Verde Trail in the Parque Nacional Huerquehue leads through beech forests, past waterfalls and offers good views of the Volcán Villarica. The fairly remote Parque Nacional Queulat (characterised by glaciers, fjords and volcanic peaks) is a popular destination for adventure travel package tours. Guided hikes, ecology tours and boat trips are available at Parque Nacional Conguillio. The Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, which lies 400km (250 miles) northwest of Punta Arenas, offers abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery consisting of huge glaciers, fjords, waterfalls and blue lakes dotted with icebergs; the park has a well-developed network of trails complemented by trekking huts. In many cases, visitors intending to trek through Chile individually must register with local rangers or at the nearest CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal) office. At the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, solo treks are not allowed.

Wildlife: Naturalists wishing to follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin (who wrote extensively about Chile’s fauna and flora) may head to the Juan Fernández Islands (located in the Pacific, some 965km/600 miles west of Santiago). The islands contain numerous indigenous plants and animals, most notably the Juan Fernández fur seal and the Juan Fernández hummingbird. The Parque Nacional Lauca (155km/95 miles from Arica) is filled with flamingos, rheas (an ostrich-like bird) and llamas. Guanacos (or llama guanicoe) roam freely in the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (see above), which is also a good place to observe giant condors. Magellanic penguins can be seen at Chiloé Island (485km/300 miles from Santiago), a region of evergreen forests and fjords much admired by Darwin. The abundant coastal wildlife of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego includes large colonies of sea elephants, sea lions and penguins.

Climbing: The Lake District’s Volcán Villarrica and Volcán Osorno are the most popular destinations. Various companies offer guided ascents, but ice gear is required. Guides are compulsory.

Fishing: This is particularly good in the Lake District and in Patagonia, South America’s southernmost region. The lakes near Puerto Montt, a port city whose economy is mainly based on fishing, offer excellent trout fishing.

Whitewater rafting: The Maipo, Claro, Trancura and Bio-Bio rivers are the main destinations and specialist operators can organise week-long trips. The scenery around the Bio-Bio includes hot springs and waterfalls, but the construction of several dams along the river will change conditions.

Watersports: Chile’s coastline is indented by many bays and fjords where various types of watersports, including swimming, diving, water-skiing and boating can be enjoyed.

Equestrian sports: As an alternative to walking, guided horseback trips are widely available in Chile’s national parks. The International Horsemanship Championship is held in Viña del Mar in January. The two main horseraces of the year are the Derby (Viña del Mar, January) and el Ensayo (Santiago, October).

Skiing: Portillo (150km/95 miles northeast of Santiago) is a world-famous ski resort offering both downhill and cross-country skiing and ice skating (on the spectacular Laguna del Inca). Other ski slopes in the area can be found at Farellones-El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado. The best time to ski is August (with the season running from June to September).

Glacier cruises: Departing from Puerto Montt, glacier cruises follow a spectacular route through Chile’s Inside Passage, the Beagle Channel and around Cape Horn, passing through glacial valleys (notably at Laguna San Rafael), fjords and past huge icebergs. Passengers can disembark at various points en route, notably at Puerto Natales and on the Argentinian portion of Tierra del Fuego.

Antarctic trips: Chile’s southernmost city, Punta Arenas (located 2170km/1350 miles south of Santiago), is one of the most widely used departure points for trips to Antarctica.

CHILE TIME ZONE

Mainland and Juan Fernández Islands: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March).
Easter Island: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March).