About Chile
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Chile is on the south west of the South American
Continent. It borders with Argentina and Bolivia to
the East, Peru in the north. The Pacific Ocean is to
the west and the South Pole in the far South.
POPULATION
The total population of Chile is around 15 million
people, of which 30% live in Santiago, the capital.
Most people are Catholic, however there are also a
wide variety of other religions in the country.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Spanish, however there
are many different languages spoken by minority
ethnic groups. English is spoken in the majority of
tourist areas, hotels and restaurants.
CLIMATE
Given its location and geographic characteristics,
the climate in Chile varies depending on the location
and proximity to the coast or the mountains. In
general, the climate is more temperate towards the
coast and more extreme and colder, particularly
at night, near the mountains which run down the
spine of the country.
SEASONS
Summer : 21 December to 21 March
Autumn : 21 March to 21 June
Winter : 21 June to 21 September
Spring : 21 September to 21 December
TIME
The official time in Chile is GMT less 4 hours. The
clocks are changed in October and March to make
the most of light in summer.
CURRENCY
The currency in Chile is the Chilean peso ($).
BANKS AND CHANGE
Banks: 09:00 to 14:00 – Monday to Friday
Change: 09:00 to 17:00 – Monday to Friday; 09:00 to
14:00 – Saturday.
CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Diners, and
American Express) are widely accepted throughout
the country in the large towns and major tourist
areas. Cash can be withdrawn from automatic tellers
with a debit or credit cards. In remote areas such as
the Atacama Desert, Patagonia and Easter Island,
it is advisable to carry some cash for emergencies.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The telephone network in Chile is the best in Latin
America. International calls can be made directly
using a “carrier”, with a special rate per minute.
Practical Information
Internet services, email and fax are available in most
tourist areas. It is possible to rent mobile phones and
personal mobile phones with international roaming
usually work well throughout the country. Some
phones from Europe require a signal frequency
adjustment before travel to Chile, it is best to check
with your local service provider before travelling.
TIPPING
It is usual in Chile to tip for good service – between
10% and 15% of the bill is the norm in restaurants.
It is not usual to tip taxi drivers. All official taxis are
metered.
ELECTRICITY
The current in Chile is 220 volts, 50 cycles, A/C.
Plugs are continental European style, and any
others require an adaptor
VISAS
Travellers from countries with diplomatic relations
with Chile do not need a visa to enter the country
in general. However we recommend you check
with the Chilean embassy in your country before
travelling. Passport holders from several countries
have to pay a reciprocal entry fee when they arrive
in Chile, currently these are the United States of
America, Canada, Australia and Mexico.
HEALTH
Chile is a safe and healthy country with a well
developed sanitary structure. No vaccinations
are obligatory to enter the country, however it
is recommended to be up to date with tetanus,
cholera and hepatitis, especially if travelling to
remote areas. Although the tap water in the vast
majority of the country is drinkable, it is wise to
drink bottled mineral water to avoid any possible
problems. Public and private healthcare is available
and as always it is wise to purchase a good travel
insurance policy before travelling.
CLOTHING
Given the variety of climatic conditions in Chile, it is
very important to have the correct clothing to be as
comfortable as possible depending on the time of
year and the area to be visited. In the desert north,
the temperatures change drastically depending on
the altitude. For this reason light clothing which
can be worn in layers is recommended. It is very
important to have sunglasses and sun block in this
area. On the northern coasts the temperature is
pleasant all year round, however in the South it can
be windy and wet, waterproof clothing is a must,
especially if outdoor activities such as trekking and
hiking are being undertaken. In the cities, it is not
necessary to use formal clothing, unless attending
a special event or formal dinner, in this case a tie is
recommended for men
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