Chile
Getting there
BY AIR:
Santiago's Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International
(SCL), 26km northwest of the city centre, is Chile's main air
hub.
Approximate flying times to Santiago
From the UK: 17-18 hours (including a 2-hour connection)
From Spain/France/Germany: 14-15 hours
From the US: 8 hours (Miami), 10 hours (New York), 13 hours (Los
Angeles)
From the UK
There are no direct flights to Chile from the UK at present; you'll
need to go via a European city (see below), or via Buenos Aires in
Argentina or São Paulo in Brazil (see
British Airways).
Cheap airfares are sometimes available through
Journey Latin America, a
well-regarded specialist offering some of the best flight deals
from the UK.
From elsewhere in Europe
LAN flies from Madrid daily, as well as from
Frankfurt. It's worth considering if you plan to get a LAN Airpass
(for internal flights), as this will be cheaper if bought in
conjunction with a LAN long-haul ticket.
Iberia also flies from Madrid to Santiago
daily, with connections from London. Due to affiliations with LAN
its passengers are also eligible for a LAN Airpass.
Air France flies from Paris to
Santiago, also with connecting flights from the UK.
Lufthansa flies from Frankfurt to
Santiago via São Paulo.
From North America
American Airlines and
LAN fly daily from Miami, either direct or
via Lima. The latter also offers services from New York and Los
Angeles. From Canada, there are flights from Toronto (direct) or
Vancouver (connect at one of the above US hubs) with LAN and
Air Canada.
From Australia and New Zealand
There are direct flights from Auckland and Sydney to Santiago with
LAN; Qantas also
has services from Sydney to Santiago, with connecting flights from
other Australian cities. Other options from Australia include
Aerolineas Argentinas (from Sydney,
via Buenos Aires). Stopovers in Easter Island are also often a
possibility when flying to Chile, but invariably carry a
surcharge.
From other Latin American countries
LAN has services to Santiago from most Latin
American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay and
Mexico.
From the Airport
There are buses into the city centre, with the city’s 4 main
bus terminals all located on Avenida O’Higgins, the main
thoroughfare. These in turn are within relatively easy distance of
metro line 1. If you take a taxi it's worth buying a voucher from
the counters in the arrivals hall to avoid getting ripped off.
back to topGetting Around
BY CAR:
For sheer flexibility, car hire is probably unbeatable, but
distances between regions can be huge, roads off the beaten track
often in poor condition, and rental charges high. If you want to
hire a car on arrival in Santiago, we recommend
Holiday Autos, which
offers competitive prices and discounts for internet bookings. If
driving off the main highways, a 4x4 is recommended.
Always check the insurance, in particular for third party
insurance. Additional cover is advisable, and be aware that most
prices do not include VAT. When driving make sure you have at hand
your passport, an international driving licence (obtained before
you leave home) and all the documents issued by the hire company.
One-way rentals are usually very expensive.
BY AIR:
Due to Chile's length, internal flights are strongly recommended if
you have limited time and plan to see more than one region.
There are several LAN flights daily from
Santiago to Chile's other major towns and cities, including about 5
a day to Temuco and Puerto Montt (Lake District), daily to Punta
Arenas (for Torres del Paine, some via Puerto Montt) and about 5 a
day to Calamal (near San Pedro and the Atacama Desert).
If you plan to take several internal flights consider buying a
LAN Airpass. The pass can only be purchased
abroad, so buy it in conjunction with your ticket to Chile - if you
fly internationally on LAN, Iberia, British Airways or American
Airlines you'll also get a discount. You have to purchase a minimum
of 3 coupons; the maximum allowed is 6. The coupons don't guarantee
you a seat, so be sure to book well in advance for any internal
flights you require (dates can be changed later without penalty).
If you plan to take only 2 flights it normally works out cheaper to
buy individual tickets - this should be done in advance as seats do
get booked up.
Sky Airline operates regular scheduled
domestic services to Antofagasta, Arica, Concepción,
Iquique, Puerto Montt, Balmaceda (Coyhaique) and Punta
Arenas.
BY BUS:
Long-distance buses are frequent, punctual, comfortable and cheap.
We recommend Tur Bus coaches (although as
with all coaches avoid the seats near the loos, and take toilet
paper with you!). There's usually no problem getting a seat, except
on holidays; just go to the applicable terminal and buy an
allocated ticket. Being able to speak some Spanish makes life
easier. Bicycles can be taken for a small fee. For overnight trips,
it's worth booking at least a semi-sleeper (semi cama)
service. On full sleeper (cama completa) services you get
flat-bed seats and are sometimes served a nightcap - we enjoyed
several pisco sours!
BY BOAT:
The fragmented nature of southern Chile's Patagonia region makes
going by ferry/air essential in many parts. There are 3 main
routes:
Puerto Montt-Puerto Natales-Puerto Montt
If you plan to go to Torres del Paine in the far south, the best
way to get there, if you have the time and money, is to take the
Navimag ferry from Puerto Montt to
Puerto Natales, or fly down and then take the ferry back. It takes
3 nights/4 days. Buses operate from Puerto Natales to Torres del
Paine National Park. The journey is spectacular, passing fjords,
glaciers and untouched islands, though weather conditions can often
be foggy. If going in summer (December-March) you'll need to book
well in advance.
Puerto Montt-Chaitén-Quellón-Chaitén-Puerto
Montt
Navimag sails from Chaitén in
northern Patagonia to Quellón on the island of Chiloé
(summer only; a sailing time of 5 hours), and from Chaitén
to Puerto Montt and vice versa once a week.
Naviera Austral also operates a
passenger ferry from Puerto Montt to Chaitén (via
Ayacara).
Catamaranes del Sur sails from
Puerto Montt to Chaitén and back the same day, and from
Castro (Chiloé) to Chaitén and back the same day.
Neither of these routes are daily.
Puerto Montt-Puerto Chacabuco-Laguna San Rafael-Puerto
Montt
Ideal for those wishing to see the beautiful glacier at Laguna San
Rafael, Navimag's round trip takes 5
days/4 nights (shorter trips can be taken from Puerto Montt to
Puerto Chacabuco). Skorpios operates
more deluxe 6-night round trips to the Laguna from Puerto Montt,
and 4-night trips from Puerto Chacabuco.
BY TAXI:
Taxis operate in all major towns and cities. Black taxis with
yellow roofs can be flagged down in the street, and all run on
meters. They're more expensive after 9pm and on Sundays. Collective
taxis (colectivos) have a fixed route and carry up to 5
passengers. The fare is displayed on the windshield. Tourist taxis
are blue, don't run on a meter and are more expensive. Tips aren't
generally expected. If using taxis for a long journey out of the
city, agree a fare before departing.
BY BIKE:
With such a vast country, a bicycle may not be the most obvious
means of transport - but for adventurous travellers wanting to
explore in depth, it can't be beaten. It offers flexibility in
time, enables you to get right off the beaten track, and allows
close interaction with the locals, which is a real plus.
When To Go
Chile's seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere, so go
in the northern hemisphere winter for Chile's summer. However, be
warned that mid-December to the end of February is also Chile's
peak holiday season, so prices increase and accommodation gets
booked up in advance.
The Atacama Desert is hot all year round, though the
northern altiplano tends to see afternoon rain in the summer
months.
Santiago and the Central Valley have an almost European
climate, with warm, dry summers (November-April) and cool, wet
winters (May-August). Go in spring (September-November) for the
most verdant landscapes, or during the grape harvest (late February
into April). Visit from June to August for skiing.
The Lake District is best from December to mid-March, when
the sun is more likely to shine (although rain is still common) and
temperatures are higher. Go in November/early December or March to
avoid the main holiday crowds and the horseflies. Out of season
many facilities are closed, although winter sports are increasingly
featuring in the area.
The island of Chiloe has its own climate (rain for much of
the year!). Visit in February/March, when many towns and villages
celebrate their annual fiestas and visitors can enjoy traditional
foods like curanto, plus various sporting events and
dancing.
Patagonia is best from December to March. The area south of
Puerto Montt, including Torres del Paine, has extreme winters, so
avoid June-August. Spring is spectacular, as the mountains
re-emerge from the winter freeze and hillsides are ablaze with
wildflowers, particularly in January.
HOLIDAYS / FESTIVALS
January 1 New Year’s Day. New Year's Eve is much
'bigger' than Christmas. Santiago and Valparaíso have
impressive firework displays
March/AprilSemana Santa (Holy Week; the week before
Easter, so exact dates vary)
May 1 Labour Day
May 21Glorias Navales (or Navy Day), commemorating
the Battle of Iquique
May 30 Corpus Christie
June 29 St Peter and St Paul’s day
August 15 Assumption
1st Monday in September Day of National Unity (previously 11
September was a holiday to celebrate the military coup of 1973.
This date also became the focus for angry protests. Since the
return of democracy the date has been changed and the focus shifted
to 'unity')
September 18 National Independence Day. Chileans are very
proud of their country and this is a very important holiday
(everything closes!)
September 19 Armed Forces Day
October 12 Columbus Day
November 1 All Saints’ Day
December 8 Immaculate Conception
December 25 Christmas Day. The (rather muted) celebrations
take place on the night of the 24th
Each village and town also has its yearly 'founder's day'.
Celebrations usually include huge barbecues and dancing.
Visas/Entry Requirements
British and US citizens don't require a visa to enter Chile, only a
passport valid for at least 6 months and (in theory, although
rarely requested) an onward ticket.
Upon arrival you'll be issued with a tourist card, which must be
retained throughout your stay, and an entry stamp, valid for 90
days (and renewable at certain outlets, or by a quick trip across
the Argentine border). For certain nationalities an entry fee
applies; consult your Chilean embassy or consulate for
details.
Citizens of New Zealand, Guyana, Kuwait and some communist, former
communist and African countries do need a visa, and are likely to
be turned away at the border without one. It's worth checking with
the Chilean consul in your country before departing.
back to topOther Essentials
MONEY
Dollars are without a doubt the preferred option throughout the
country. If changing cash in Chile, try to do it in Santiago, where
the exchange rate is more favourable than in rural areas,
commissions are lower (if at all), and European currencies more
likely to be accepted.
Note that VAT (currently 19%) isn't applied to hotel bills paid by
tourists using dollars or credit card; it's only payable by local
residents paying in pesos. Where not packaged together with the
accommodation, VAT may also be payable on excursions, car hire and
meal costs.
TIPPING / CUSTOMS
Approximately 10% in restaurants is the norm. Tipping in taxis
isn't usual, but always welcome.
back to topNeed more Info
SERNATUR is the official tourist board's site.