Chile Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Chile

Former Name

None

Capital City

Santiago

Government Type

republic

Area Size

total: 756,950 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT -4 hours

Climate

Ranges from hot and arid in the north to very cold in the far south. The central areas have a 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.

Geography

A long and narrow coastal Southern Cone country on the west side of the Andes Mountains, Chile stretches over 4,630 kilometers north to south, but only 430 kilometers at its widest point east to west. This encompasses a remarkable variety of landscapes.

Languages

Spanish

Culture

Northern Chile was an important center of culture in the medieval and early modern Inca empire, while the central and southern regions were areas of Mapuche cultural activities. Through the colonial period following the conquest, and during the early Republican period, the country's culture was dominated by the Spanish. Other European influences, primarily English and French, began in the 19th century and have continued to this day. The national dance is the cueca. Another form of traditional Chilean song, though not a dance, is the tonada. Arising from music imported by the Spanish colonists, it is distinguished from the cueca by an intermediate melodic section and a more prominent melody. In the mid-1960s native musical forms were revitalized by the Parra family with the Nueva Canción Chilena, which was associated with political activists and reformers, and by the folk singer and researcher on folklore and Chilean ethnography, Margot Loyola. Chileans call their country país de poetas—land of poets.

History

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

Travel Information

Chile's main airline is LAN (LA), which deals with international flights. Santiago (SCL) (Arturo Merino Benitez). The airport is 21km northwest of Santiago (journey time – 30 minutes). Bus services to the city centre operate from 0530 to 2400 every day. Metro services operate to Los Héroes, Central, Universidad de Santiago, Las Rejas and Pajaritos stations. Taxis to the city are also available; official taxis are blue and have documentation. Airport facilities are bar, ATM, bureaux de change, restaurants, shops, car hire, post office and tourist office. Main port: Empremar in Valparaíso to/from where many shipping lines operate such as Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica (CCNI) and Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV) (from New York and European ports). Some rail connections with neighbouring countries use buses for part of the journey. There are trains running between Arica and Tacna in Peru and La Paz in Bolivia, although this line is unreliable and slow. The Pan American Highway enters Chile through Arica. There are frequent, reliable and comfortable buses that can come from as far north as Ecuador. There are also services from Argentina and Brazil to Santiago.

Accommodation

There are several luxury hotels in Santiago and throughout the country. In all regions of Chile, whatever hotels lack in facilities is made up for by a comfortable, homely atmosphere; Chile's famous hospitality is very apparent in provinces where it is common to see the owner or manager sit down to dinner with guests. Advance bookings are essential in resort areas during the high season. The cost of accommodation in Santiago is higher than in the provinces. Rates increase during the summer holiday from January to March, particularly in coastal resorts. Members of foreign motoring organisations can obtain discounts at hotels by joining the Automóvil Club de Chile (see address in Getting Around section). A tax of 19% is levied on all hotel bills, except those paid in foreign currencies by visitors, for which an export bill is required.

Visa Requirements

A visa is not required by the following: nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for a touristic stay of up to 90 days (except nationals of Greece, who can stay up to 60 days); transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding required travel documents for onward destination and not leaving the airport transit lounge. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA entering Chile for touristic purposes will be charged a processing fee payable on arrival and in cash only. For nationals of the USA, the fee is US$100; for nationals of Canada, the fee is US$132; and for nationals of Australia, the fee is US$56. Passport valid for at least six months required by nationals referred to above. Passports issued to children must contain a photo and state the nationality.

Getting Around

Flights are operated by the domestic subsidary of LAN – LANexpress (LU), and Sky Airline (H2), as well as by a number of air taxi companies. There are regular flights with LAN from Santiago to Easter Island (journey time - 5 hours). Flights fill up quickly so it is essential to book in advance throughout the year. Departure Tax Flights less than 270km: CH$3,509; flights more than 270km : CH$4,607. A network of ferries, including Navimag, operates through the archipelago of the far south. The most popular routes are from Puerto Montt to Chacabuco and the San Raphael glacier, and between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales. Boat services run from Valparaíso to Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island (part of the Juan Fernández Islands) once a month. Empresa de Los Ferrocarriles del Estado (state railway company) runs between Santiago and Temuco in the south. Services are limited by the geography of the country, but there is one daily train each way at 2000, with sleeping and restaurant cars. Children under 1.2m (4ft) in height travel free. Traffic drives on the right. Chile generally has good roads. The Pan American Highway crosses the country from north to south from the Peruvian border to Puerto Montt. It is advisable in remoter areas to carry plenty of water, spare petrol and an additional spare tyre; tyres should be hard-wearing. In some areas with dirt roads it is neccessary to use a jeep or pick-up truck. Intercity buses are excellent, comfortable and reliable. There is a luxury north–south service running most of the length of the country. Taxis should have meters and the fares displayed, but for long journeys, fares should be agreed beforehand. A surcharge of 50% applies on Sundays after 2100. Taxis are black with a yellow roof. Tipping is not expected. Self-drive cars are available at the airport and in major city centres. A 20% tax is added and a credit card is required as guarantee. Santiago has an excellent Metro, as well as bus, minibus and shared taxibus services. Metro fares increase at peak travelling times; 10-journey tickets (carnets) are available. Taxis are plentiful, and can be flagged down in the streets. The buses and minibuses have flat fares. Shared taxibuses can work out cheaper.

Health & Safety

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 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. 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.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year's Day. 6 Apr - Good Friday. 7 Apr - Holy Saturday. 1 May - Labour Day. 21 May - Navy Day. 7 Jun - Corpus Christi. 29 Jun - St Peter and St Paul. 15 Aug - Assumption. 11 Sep - Reconciliation Day. 18 Sep - Independence Day. 19 Sep - Army Day. 12 Oct - Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day). 1 Nov - All Saints' Day. 8 Dec - Immaculate Conception. 25 Dec - Christmas Day.w

Currency

Chilean Peso (CLP)

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz

Working Hours

Business hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with a two-hour siesta over lunch.

Emergency Numbers

131(Ambulance) 132(Fire) 133(Police)