$500
$100
$50
$10
$5
$1
GENERAL INFO
Chilean Area : 756.626 km 2 (292,285 sq. miles). Including the Chilean Antartic Territory, 2.000.626 km 2 (772.842 sq. miles).
Capital: Santiago, the Chilean capital, was founded on February 12, 1541 by Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia.Is located in the central valley on the banks of the Mapocho River, 2.305 km (1,429 miles) from the northern city of Arica, 3.141 km (1,947 miles) from the southern city of Punta Arenas, 140 km (80 miles) from the Pacific Ocean (west) and 40 km (25 miles) from the Andean Range (east).
Population: 15,116,435 inhabitants, of which about 6 million live in Santiago.
Language: Spanish. Some indigenous people also speak Mapudungun ( southern Chile), Kawésqar (very south of Chile), Quechua and Aimara (northern Chile), and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
Currency: Peso ($). There are bank notes of $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, $2,000 and $1,000 and coins of $500, $100, $50, $10, $5, and $1.
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$100 |
$50 |
$10 |
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$1 |
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Exchange rate: One American dollar fluctuates around $500 Chilean pesos. Money should be exchanged in banks or in money exchange offices, not on the streets. Cash can also be obtained from ATMs (money machines) located in banks, malls, commercial streets , and some gas stations.
Visas: Visas are required by very few people. Most Central and South American and West European nationalities and citizens of the USA, Canada, and Japan do not require visas. For other citizens, it is advisable to obtain information from the nearest Chilean Consulate.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required to enter Chile, and the country is free of malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases. There are almost no poisonous animals in Chile.
Arriving: Upon arrival in Chile, you will be given two document forms to be filled out by hand. One document, corresponding to immigration, gives you a three-month tourist visa. This has to be handed in when you leave, so put it somewhere safe. The other document is a custom and agriculture form (SAG: Servicio Agricola y Ganadero). It is strictly prohibited to bring in plants, vegetables, fruit, meat, cheese, and honey in order to prevent the spread of diseases and pests. It is also illegal to transport fruit from northen Chile to the rest of the country, and there are numerous checkpoints along highways in the Atacama Desert where all baggage is searched.
Taxes: Due to mutual visa requirements, citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, and Mexico, who enter Chile for the first time, are required to pay a fee of US$ 100, US$ 55, US$ 30, and US$ 15 respectively, when they pass through immigration at the airport.
A value-added tax (VAT, called IVA in Chile) of 19% is added to your purchases and is already included in the final price. If you are a foreigner and pay your hotel bill in US dollars (cash, credit card, or traveller’s check), the IVA is automatically discounted.
Tips: Although there is no legal obligation, if you are well served at a restaurant, pub , or coffee shop, it is customary to add 10% of the value of your bill as a tip (propina) for the waiter. It is not common to tip taxi drivers. Hotel porters should be tipped at least US$ 1. Also, give doormen and ushers about US$ 1. Beauty shop and barber shop personnel should receive a tip of around 5%.
Shopping and Bargaining: In every store, prices of merchandise or goods are displayed. Prices for hotel rooms are displayed in the foyer. Usually, the only things you can bargain are purchases from street markets, such as handcrafted items.
Business Hours: Most banks are open to the public Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Money exchange offices operate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown. On Sunday, you can change money at the exchange offices located in the malls. Malls are open Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Shops are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. During weekdays, most of the shops close from 1p.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch. Supermarkets are open Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Time : There are two official times in Chile: Continental (12 a.m.) and Easter Island time (10 a.m.). Chile Continental Time is aligned with Eastern Standard Time and three hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. However, Chile’s official time changes twice a year for daylight saving purposes. Clocks are set one hour ahead on the second Saturday of March and one hour back on the second Saturday of October.
Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets type C or L are used. Bring your own adapter.
Drinking water : Although the tap water is treated and is totally safe, it is advisable to drink bottled water (Agua mineral con gas/ sin gas = Mineral water with gas/without gas)
Mealtimes: Lunch, which usually begins at 1 or 2 p.m., is the biggest and most important meal of day. Dinner is eaten later than in some countries and usually starts from 8 to 10 p.m. In the majority of the restaurants, there are no different prices for lunch or dinner main courses.
Children in Chile: Children are welcome in hotels and restaurants.
Photography: Chile, with its majestic landscapes and varied cityscapes, is a photographer’s dream. Chileans seem amenable to having picture-taking tourist s in their midst, but you should always ask permission before taking pictures of individuals. Be aware that photos should not be taken in or around military areas (army, navy, air force, or police).
Climate and weather: Due to the different climates along the country, you will need to pack clothing for all seasons no matter what time of the year you are traveling
Telephone: Chile’s code is 56, Santiago area code is 2, Pucón area code is 45. International telephone calls from Chile are top quality even from public booths. You can pay for your phone calls in cash or with prepaid telephone cards. A $100-pesos coin is required to make a local call in a public phone booth. Calls can be made through many multicarriers, and it is useful to ask which is the most convenient rate. In addition to public booths located everywhere, in each town there are telephone cabins (Central de Llamadas).
Television signal and Video Standards: NTSC standard is used in Chile.
Internet: You can access the internet from your hotel or a cybercafe (coffee shops with computer facilities).
Mail: Postal service (Correos de Chile) is very efficient, and there are offices all over the country. Postal offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Security: All Chilean cities are very safe, but in metropolitan areas such as Santiago, it is advisable to take some precautions and use common sense, especially in a crowd such as pedastrian streets downtown.
Earthquakes and tremors are common in Chile. Do not be afraid that you will suffer any damage apart from the scare, because buildings in Chile conform to high anti-seismic standards. If you are walking on the street, look for shelter under a roof to avoid getting hurt by falling objects. Trust the police (Carabineros) in any problem situation.
Driving: To rent a car, you need to have a driving license from your country of origin or an international license and also a credit card, and you must be older than 22 years of age. Chile is a right-handed traffic country. The maximum speed in the city is 60 km/hr (38 mph) and 120 km/hour (75 mph) on highways, unless otherwise posted. You should respect speed limits and traffic signals, otherwise Carabineros will fine you. Do not ever attempt to bride them.
If you have rented a car and have a problem, you must report it as soon as possible to the nearest police station. You will need the record (constancia) given to you by the police to notify the car rental company. To submit an insurance claim, some companies only require you to telephone to let them know, but others require you to go personally. It is advisable to get this information from the rental companies when you rent a car.