Chile is the longest country in the world and has a dynamic and diverse natural environment, from vast deserts to glaciers.
The capital, Santiago, offers a modern city and a vibrant culture. The Patagonia region, which straddles Chile and Argentina, is known for its picturesque natural landscapes and offers trekking and adventure activities. Other places that will excite travelers include Puerto Natales, Glacier Grey, Valparaiso and San Pedro de Atacamae.
1. Chile Quick Facts
Language Spanish
Religion Catholic
Currency Chilean Peso (CLP, Ch$)
Visa Chile visa-free for less than 90 days or nationals of most foreign countries have to obtain a visa beforehand.
Power Plugs 220 V 50 Hz (C/L Type)
Capital Santiago
ATM In cities, there are many bank ATM that accept VISA and Master card, such as Citibank.
Use card Outside of large shopping centers and airports, credit cards have limited acceptance, high fees, and are not recommended for emergencies.
APP
Google Maps
Uber
DiDi
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Chile is the longest country in the world at 4,270 kilometres from north to south. Domestic travel is mainly by plane, but also by express bus and private car. There is also a railway, but due to the earthquakes, it is not very well used. Within the city of Santiago, public transport includes the metro and buses, which can be very congested during rush hour.
Transport information website
Buses
City buses are available, with prices ranging from Ch$ 700 to Ch$ 800 (around $1) depending on peak and off-peak times. It’s important to note that Santiago city buses do not accept cash on board, only transport cards (Bip).
Metro
Santiago is currently served by seven metro lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, and 6). Compared to other Latin American cities, the metro is safe, frequent, and convenient.
The standard fare is Ch$ 800 for rush hour (Mon-Fri 07:00-08:59/18:00-19:59),Ch$ 720 for normal hours, and Ch$ 700 for other hours (Mon-Fri 06:00-06:59/20:45-22:00), regardless of distance. Weekends and public holidays are charged at the regular rate regardless of time. However, students and seniors aged 65 and over are charged Ch$ 230 regardless of the time of day.
It is recommended to buy a BIP card for the metro and buses as it allows you to benefit from transfers. The card costs Ch$ 1,550 and can be reloaded from as little as Ch$ 100. The cost of transfers varies depending on the time of day.
Taxis
In Santiago city center, taxis can be hailed on the street. Taxis usually charge a base fare of Ch$ 300 plus Ch$ 110 or Ch$ 140 for every 200 meters traveled or for every minute spent in traffic. Depending on road conditions, taxi drivers may have special rates that they post on the front windscreen. Regular taxis have a black body (with a yellow roof) and orange licence plates.
If you call a call taxi company, they usually arrive within a maximum of 20 minutes. A radio taxi is a regular passenger car with an orange body and orange licence plate.
4.Safety
Chile is generally considered a safe travel destination in South America. However, due to recent economic unrest and the influx of Venezuelan and Haitian immigrants, pickpockets are common on public transportation, including subways and buses. Also, beware of scams in which people offer to give you tissues after throwing filth, such as bird droppings, in the center of town and then snatch your bag or belongings.
Taxi drivers are notorious for fare scams and taxi robberies.
5. Climate
Chile is an elongated country from north to south, with very different climates in different regions.
North
Northern Chile is home to the Atacama Desert and is very dry, with average annual temperatures around 20°C (68°F). It can be hot during the day but chilly at night
Central Chile
Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters. Expect temperatures around 25°C (77°F) in the summer and cooler, fall-like temperatures around 10°C (50°F) in the winter.
Southern Chile
Southern Chile has a temperate climate with cool summers and cold winters, with temperatures around 20°C (68°F) in the summer and dropping to around 0°C (32°F) in the winter.
Mountainous regions
Chile’s mountainous regions are high in the mountains, so temperatures are cooler and the weather varies greatly. Even in the summer, temperatures hover around 50°F (10°C), so you’ll need to pack a thick coat, hat, and gloves. Also, because of the high altitude, you may experience altitude sickness, so drink plenty of water and move slowly.
6. price
Prices are expensive compared to other South American countries.
Gasoline (1 liter) : Ch$ 1,294.12
McDonald’s combo meal : Ch$ 7,000.00
Water (1.5 liter) : Ch$ 1,152.77
Milk (1 liter) : Ch$ 1,081.70
7. Travel precautions
Chile is prone to earthquakes. When traveling to Chile, it is helpful to be aware of earthquake evacuation tips.
Political activity by foreigners is prohibited in Chile.
It is important to note that Chileans are often reluctant to say “no” to someone’s face, so be aware that they may not make it clear if they are not interested.
Chile is very proud to be the top IT powerhouse in Latin America, a politically and economically advanced country, and aims to be the Europe of Latin America.
Credit cards are accepted in most places, including hotels, shops, restaurants, and petrol stations, but it’s a good idea to watch the payment process as there is a risk of card cloning. Many restaurants now have mobile credit card terminals, where the waiter brings the terminal to your table and you can pay at the table. If you have a cloned card from a country other than Chile, you should contact your card company as soon as you realise the damage and take appropriate action.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
For men, a handshake is a common greeting, and a light hug with a pat on the back is acceptable if you’re getting to know them. When greeting a woman, a light hug and cheek-to-cheek contact is common.
Tipping
Tipping is common in Chile. If you receive a service, it is recommended that you tip appropriately.
10. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
30 Mar Sat Easter Saturday
1 May Wed Labour Day
21 May Tue Navy Day
9 Jun Sun Primary Elections Day
20 Jun Thu National Day of Indigenous Peoples
16 Jul Tue Our Lady of Mount Carmel
15 Aug Thu Assumption Day
18 Sep Wed Independence Day
19 Sep Thu Army Day
20 Sep Fri Added National Holiday
12 Oct Sat Meeting of Two Worlds
27 Oct Sun Municipal Elections Day
31 Oct Thu Reformation Day
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day
8 Dec Sun Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April : Easter Saturday
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Wednesday, 21 May : Navy Day
Friday, 20 June : National Day of Indigenous Peoples
Sunday, 29 June : Feast of St Peter and St Paul
Wednesday, 16 July: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Friday, 15 August : Assumption Day
Thursday, 18 September : Independence Day
Friday, 19 September : Army Day
Monday,13 October : Meeting of Two Worlds
Friday, 31 October : Reformation Day
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day
Monday,8 December: Immaculate Conception
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day