Chile is home to poets like Pablo Neruda and Isabella Allende. There are plenty of places to visit in Chile from the urban boulevards of Santiago, the Andean foothills and the Atacama Desert, the Pacific coastline and the National Parks, the guanaco and the glaciers.

Entry requirements: Some countries needs visa to entry Chile. Please check with your local Embassy or Consulate.

However, citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, and Mexico must pay a “reciprocity fee” on their first entry to Chile by air. The fee is USD 132 for Canadian citizens, USD 160 for US citizens, USD 61 for Australian citizens and USD 23 for Mexican citizens and is payable in cash or by credit card at counters prior to passing through immigration. This one-time charge is valid for the life of your passport. Citizens of other countries, such as the UK, do not have to pay a fee.

Departure tax: in Latin America, airport taxes are sometimes not included in the ticket price. International airport taxes can ussually be paid in either local currency or US$ Dollar. Make sure you leave sufficient U$D or local currency in cash.

International airport tax is U$D 30,00 and domestic airport tax is included on the ticket price.

Seasons in Santiago and surrounds are the opposite of Europe.

Nov to early Mar can be very hot with little or no rain (Dec-Jan being the hottest).

The winter is cold and can be very wet.

Patagonia and the Lake District have an extremely unpredictable climate, with weather changing day to day and morning to afternoon. Generally though it follows the same pattern as Santiago, with a higher chance of warm temperatures from

Nov-Mar. Temperatures rarely top 14°C even in the summer time.

Atacama is dry throughout the year with clear, sunny skies. Inland, temperatures never rise too high because of the altitude, and it can get very cold at night.

Chile has diverse regions so the best time to visit Chile differs accordingly however October to March are considered ideal. The summer months are the peak season in Chile.

Chilean cuisine stems mainly from the traditional Spanish cuisine, Chilean Indigenous Mapuche culture, and local ingredients. You would also see a hint of other European cuisines, particularly from Germany, Italy and France. Chilean cuisine is known for its seafood. Pastel de Choclo, Empanadas, Cazuela, Asado, Reineta, Congrio, Corvina, Locos, Jaiva, and Centolla are some of the famous dishes of Chile.

Some of the good places to shop are the Santiago borough of Bellarista, Viva del Mar, the Purto Moutt suburb of Angelmo and the village of Dalcahne. Some of the things worth purchasing are crafts, leather goods, woollens, ceramics, silverware, basketry and carvings. Chile has abundant supermarkets, flea markets, bookshops, antiques and handicrafts stores and culinary souvenirs stores that offer various souvenirs.

Chile’s official language is Spanish, but Chilean Spanish has a very different flavor than other Spanish-speaking countries. English and German are spoken although they are not widely practiced.

Clothing tips:

Santiago de Chile: Casual warm weather clothes in summer, fleece and raincoat in winter.

Atacama: Swimsuit, shorts etc. Plus a warm jacket especially if you plan to visit the Tatio Geysers.

Lake District: Weather can be unpredictable and layered clothing is recommended (see CLOTHING – GENERAL section).

Patagonia: (see CLOTHING – GENERAL section).

Vaccinations:

This information is intended as an overview only. Please read HEALTH AND VACCINATIONS section and always consult your doctor.

Yellow fever: N/A

Malaria: N/A

Water: Make sure you drink plenty of liquids and especially water. Drink only bottled or boiled water.

Sun protection: Use sunblock to protect your skin, in the north where sun rays are strong and south, where the ozone layer is thin. Always wear a hat.

Recommendations:

Eat: Seafood is abundant and outstanding – particularly exotic shellfish. Lamb in Patagonia. Your travel consultant can provide a number of popular restaurant and other recommendations for your destination(s).

Drink: Wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in red, along with whites from the Casablanca valley. Pisco Sour cocktails are popular.

Some Notable Events:

Jan/Feb Tapati Rapa Nui: A celebration of Easter Island’s traditions and cultural heritage.

Feb Festival Costumbrista Chilote: A celebration of Chiloe’s unique cultural and historical folklore held in Castro.

Mar/Apr Fiestas de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest): Weekend-long fetes take place annually in many of the country’s wine-producing areas, but the largest such event is in the small city of Curico.

April The culmination of the rodeo season is at the Campeonato Nacional de Rodeo held in Rancagua each year. Rodeo was declared the national sport in 1962.

16 July Fiesta de la Tirana is an annual festival held in northern Chile in honor of the Virgen del Carmen. Traditional music and dance, mixing both Inca and Christian cultures.

18/19 Sep Fiestas Patrias: A countrywide expression of Chilean culture and celebration

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