Everything you need to know before traveling to Chile

Are you thinking about traveling to Chile? Then do it! It is one of the best decisions you can make in your life. Chile is one of the most underrated countries in South America, but it has a lot to offer, especially for lovers of nature, outdoor and extreme sports.

The north of Chile is loved by surfers and those who seek landscapes from other planets because of the desert. The center is ideal for those who love wine and like bohemian cities like Valparaíso. And the south is full of high mountains, volcanoes, forests, immense amount of flora and fauna and incredible lakes like the Pehoé in Torres del Paine or the Baker in the Carretera Austral. So do not wait any longer, buy your ticket and read the directions. This is all you need to know before traveling to Chile:

What documents do you need to travel to Chile?

Americans and members of the European Union do not need a visa to travel to Chile. Those who come from South American countries can enter with only their identity card.

What are the vaccines that are needed to enter Chile?

No vaccination is required to enter the country.

What is the best time to travel to Chile?

Chile is a country of more than 4000 kilometers long, that's why the best time to travel to our country depends on the area where you want travel. If you go north you can travel all year round. On the other hand, the best time to travel to the south of the country, especially to Patagonia and Torres del Paine, is the spring-summer season that runs from October to March.

What is the time zone of Chile?

The time in Chile is divided into two: Official Time of Chile Continental and Chilean Antarctic and Official Time of Western Insular Chile. The time of continental Chile is established in UTC-4 while the island time is in UTC-5. During the summer both time zones are advanced by one hour, which means that from December to March the time is UTC-3 and UTC -4 respectively.

Customs

Chile has very strict controls on its entries regarding products of animal and vegetable origin. The fines can be very high. If you want more details look at this link http://www.sag.cl/sites/default/files/dj_2016_editable_0.pdf

What is the currency in Chile?

The chilean peso.

Is Chile safe?

Chile is one of the safest countries in Latin America. As everywhere, everything depends on the neighborhood where you go. Santiago is a safe city in general, but if you go to the historic center, take care of your belongings. The same if you go out at night to the Bellavista neighborhood. If you travel to know nature and do outdoor sports, you will not have security problems.

What language do we speak in Chile?

The official language of the country is Spanish, but some indigenous peoples maintain their languages, Mapundungún, Quechua and Rapa Nui.

When you arrive in Chile do not get frustrated if you studied Spanish at school and you do not understand. The Chileans speak a very different Spanish to the rest of the Spanish-speaking people. We use a lot of jargon and shorten the words, but you can understand it anyway.

Tips

Most waiters ask you if you want to add a 10% tip when you are paying the total of your meal. You can say no if you want, but it is not very common.

What are the must-see places in Chile?

Santiago, Valparaíso, San Pedro de Atacama, Isla de Pascua, Torres del Paine, Carretera Austral, región de Los Lagos.