Passport & Working Visa

1. Canadian passport holders do not require a Visa to enter Chile as Tourists. An administrative fee must be paid exclusively when the passenger arrives through the International Airport Arturo Merino Beni­tez. No fee applies for arrivals to Chile through others ports of entry.
2. If a Canadian passenger wishes to stay longer than the 90 day granted, an additional period of up to 90 days may be requested at the Ministry of the Interior in Santiago.
3. For citizens of other countries, please call the Consulate General.
4. If you are a citizen of a country that requires a Visa, you must apply in person and provide the Consulate General the following original documentation:
   • Valid passport
   • Proof of country of residence
   • Airline tickets or a letter from the Travel Agency with the full itinerary
   • In some cases: A letter of sponsorship (if it is a business trip)
   • Proof of family ties, or a Visa to enter another country.
   • Proof of sufficient funds will be required.
5. The visa fee, duration and processing time depend on the nationality of the applicant.

Please call or e-mail the Consulate General to find out the fee applicable to you. For more information please visit or contact the Consulate General of Chile at www.chilevan.ca

 

Health

1. Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required to enter Chile. Inoculation against hepatitis and typhoid is a wise precaution.
2. Water: In general the city's water supply is absolutely safe, although it is always advisable for sensitive people to drink bottled water for the first few days. Bottled water is available everywhere.
3. Raw food: it is generally not advisable to eat uncooked vegetables that grow close to the soil (lettuce, carrots, strawberries, etc.), unless you get them from an established supermarket chain (Jumbo, Lider, etc.), who monitor the source of their products. There are a large variety of packed products, guaranteed to have been irrigated with potable water from a good source. Established restaurants will also guarantee this.

Money (Financial Information)

Currency: The official currency is the Chilean Peso ($ or CLP), which exists in banknotes of $1,000; $2,000; $5,000; $10,000; $20,000 and coins of $1; $5; $10; $50; $100; and $500. For an accurate exchange rate please visit www.xe.com

Foreign Cash: Foreign cash is not generally in use, except for hotels that may waive the value-added tax (IVA) if you are a foreigner, when you pay in US dollars cash or credit card.

Credit Cards: Credit cards are widely used and accepted. There is no surcharge for their use. The most commonly accepted cards are Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. In medium to large businesses American Express is also honoured. Exchange rates for credit cards are pretty good. Some small, rural towns mostly have cash economies, so have cash handy when going off the beaten track.

Teller Machines: In commercial and banking areas, it is easy to find Automatic Teller Machines (Redbanc network) honouring cards of all local banks as well as Cirrus cards, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Exchange rates are very good.

Money Exchange: The government does not regulate the market of foreign currency in Chile. You can exchange money at any established Casa de Cambio at market driven exchange rates. They are common in commercial areas of Santiago (Downtown and Providencia) as well as in Shopping Malls.

Tipping

Standard is 10% in hotels, restaurants, bars, soda fountains, taxi service and hairdressers. The rest of the services are not tipped.

Local Time

1. Chilean standard time corresponds to the time zone GMT-04:00 (Greenwich Mean Time).
2. The daylight saving time (DST) runs one hour forward (GMT-03:00) between the second Saturday of October (changes at 12 pm) and the second Saturday of March. Easter Island is in the GMT-06:00 time zones, and during Summer it is in the GMT-05:00 time zones.
3. 24-hour time format is used in Chile, i.e. 3:00 PM is 15:00.

Clothing

Warm sunny days and cool nights are usual during most of the year except in the far south.

When visiting the North Regions and Eastern Islands light clothing, sunglasses, hat and sun lotion are recommended however, when you go to the South Regions you should bring worm clothing, (rain coat, jacket, polar, polypropylene), clothe that is easy to put on and remove. In the Patagonia you will find the 4 seasons in only one day. Good walking or trekking shoes are necessary.

Local Holidays

January 1st: New Year, March/April (variable): Good Friday (Eastern), May 1: Labour Day, May 21: Glory of the Navy, June (variable): Corpus Christi, June 29: Saint Peter and Saint Paul, August 15: Ascension of the Virgin Mary, 1st Monday in September: Day of the National Reconciliation, September 18: Independence Day, September 19: Glories of the Army, October 12: Discovery of America, November 1: All Hallows, December 8: Immaculate Conception, December 25: Christmas Day.
In general, shopping centres, restaurants and cafes, entertainment and public transportation function on holidays, except for May 1 where only few services are opened.

Working Hours

Offices: Mon thru Fri 9:00 to 18:00

Banks: Mon thru Fri 9:00 to 14:00/16:00

Shopping Malls: Mon thru Sun 11:00 to 21:00 / 22:00

Stores & shops: Mon thru Sat 10:00 to 20:00

Supermarkets: Mon thru Sun 8:30 to 22:00 / 23:00

Breaks: Lunch time: 13:00 to 15:30 and dinner time: 20:30 to 24:00

1. Official Denomination: Republic of Chile (Population: 15,589,147 Census 2002)
2. Capital: Santiago (Population 4,668,473)
3. Superficies: 2,006,626 km2 (Including the Chilean Antarctic Territory)
4. Administrative Structure: 13 Regions (numbered ordinally) Divisions: Tarapaca¡, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Metropolitana (Santiago), Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Bio-Bio, Araucana­a, Los Lagos, Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo and Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctica.
5. Languages: Spanish (Official) and Mapudungun (Mapuche language), Quechua, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Aymara (mountains in the North). You will also find that the majority of people working in the Tourism Industry speak English and some also speak German and French.
6. Ethnics Minorities: Araucanos; mapuches; aymaraes; yaganes; pascuenses. There is also Diaguitas, Huilliches, Alacalufes, which constitutes a low percentage of the population.
7. Major Religions: Catholic 76.7%; Protestant 13.25%; 4.3% Other Religions; 5.8% Not Religious
8. Monetary Unit: Chilean Peso
9. Electric Current: 220 Volts
10. Sernatur: National Tourism Center located across the country.

Politics

Chile is a Republic governed by a socialist government. There is a clear delimitation and independence of the three powers of the state. The President of the republic, Michelle Bachelet, who is also the head of state, exercises the Executive power.

1. Form of Government: Presidential Republic

Headquarters of the State: President of the Republic (elected every 6 years)

2. 3.Political Parties: a)Demarcate Christian Party (DC) b)National Renovation (RN) c)Socialist Party (PS) d)Democratic Party (PPD) e)Communist Party (PC) f)Independent Union Demarcate (UDI) g)Social Democracy (SD) h)Humanist Party (PH) i)Radical Party (PR)

Transportation

There are several different ways to travel around Chile. As for ground transportation you can choose from taking a taxi, the Metro, Interurban, National and International buses, as well as railways. Or if you prefer to drive, you can also rent a car.

As for air transportation the National Airline is Lan Chile. If you would like to travel to different international locations you have other airlines to choose from. Other means of air transportation are helicopters, hot air balloons, biplanes, gliders, etc. As for water transportation you can choose from ferries, cruise boats, or fishing boats. Fishing boats are sometimes used for tours around the harbours.

Tourism in Chile today is considered to be an emerging activity, having little structure and being barely sustained by the public sector. Some activities have managed to develop and be quite competitive and well-known around the world.
The following presents a list of some of these activities that you can do in Chile. Next, a general and comparative picture by regions appears where it defines the types of tourism that are characteristic to each one, its main location, period of accomplishment.

Previously revealed as interesting positions in some parts of the country, offer very specific products where foreign visitors have a significant presence. These types of tourism don't seem to have conditions with factors that make it possible such as snow, rapids, ocean fauna and rivers ejm., archaeological sites, etc, and existence of infrastructure and equipment.

National tourism however, seems to favour variable climatic conditions, which determines great territorial and summer seasons, for tourist activities ejm. In the coastal center - north between Serena, Santo Domingo, and Region of the Lakes, which does not allow the development and sustentation of certain types tourism such as the Sun, Beach, and Baths.

Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, handropower

Ports and Harbours:

• Antofagasta
• Arica
• Chanaral
• Coquimbo
• Iquique
• Puerto Montt
• Punta Arenas
• San Antonio
• San Vicente
• Talcahuano
• Valparaiso

People

There is a strong European influence. You will find many descendents from England, and Spain. To the south there was a strong settlement of Germans. They also came from France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Palestine. Most Chileans are a mix of different races. Although natives are still found in the different regions of Chile, Aymara and Atacamenos are native to the north, and Mapuches to the South.

Food

Whether it is shopping for groceries or looking to dine out, local food is quite accessible in Chile. It is very easy to find fresh, great tasting, and economical fruits and vegetables. There is fresh bread baked daily. There are also numerous restaurants and eateries that you can visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner, teatime, or even a midnight snack. Some typical dishes you will find are pastel de choclo or papa (corn or potato pastry), empanada (turnover with your choice of meat, cheese, seafood), charquican (vegetable stew), and sopaipilla (fried pumpkin bread). Because Chile is a long thin stretch of land bordering the Pacific Ocean, you can taste some of the best seafood dishes in regions all along the coast from North to South. Seafood is one of Chile's hidden treasures being very inexpensive and of rich flavor, texture and size.

Beverage

Very popular is the wide range of harvests for wine. Due to our geographical location we have been acknowledged and have won awards for having the best wines worldwide. Some popular name brands are Cousino Macul, Concha y Toro, Santa Carolina, Tarapaca. As for some typical cocktails you will find Pisco, (Grape brandy), produced in the North, where you can prepare pisco sour. Other options are fresh fruits soaking in wine, and Chicha. Popular beverages are mate con huesillo, (peach nectar with barley kernels).

Accommodations

You can find camping grounds to five star hotels, just about anywhere you may desire. This enables us as visitors to choose from their finest modern choices to the most humble campgrounds. In every Capital Regional City you can find selection of what they offer. You can select from Camping and Refuge, which generally have hot water, and bathrooms; Hostels are popular for youth travelers. Family Houses and Hospedajes are very inexpensive rooms with kitchen and laundry hot showers, and breakfast. Pensions and residentials are inexpensive permanent forms of accommodations.

Shopping

You will also find a wide range of shopping malls, mini malls, commercial streets, and fairs. Also very popular are the street vendors who sell a variety of different artwork , jewelry and many varieties of ethnic memorabilia.

National Dance

The national dance is called 'Cueca' (or Zamacueca). This is where the man pursues the woman who flees from him. Using a handkerchief as if it were a soft lasso, the man surrounds her with it without touching her, and brings her steadily and persistently to her side. The woman approaches him with elegance and flirtatiousness then as slightly lifts her skirt with her left hand and gracefully moving her handkerchief with the right, she flees from him again. This continues with the man's footwork becoming ever more complex, almost as though he is having a competition of skill against himself, until with the last turn the man ends with his arm around his partner and with one knee on the ground. The dance is a mimic of the Rooster trying to seduce his mate.

History of the Flag

The originally "Flag of the Old Country" consisted of three horizontal equal strips of blue, white, and yellow. The "Flag of Transition" was later adopted. It consisted of the same idea, but the yellow was replaced for red. It was very similar to Holland's flag so it was soon replaced for the flag used today.

The individual meanings are:

Red - the blood shed by the heroes on the battle fields
White - the snow of the Andes Mountains
Blue - the clean Chilean sky
Star - the power of the State which vigilantly protects the integrity of the country

Chile's 800,000 sq km contains stony Andean peaks, snow-capped volcanoes, broad river valleys and deep canyons, tranquil turquoise lakes, sandy beaches and Rockland headlands. It is the longest and narrowest country in South America (4,329 km long and 177 km average wide).

Chile stretches through desert and ice, passing through valleys, canyons, lakes, forests, islands, and canals. To the north of Chile is Peru. Continental Chile extends from the tropical Arica, Altiplano, & Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. As we travel south, through the rich Central Valleys crossing over the Tropic of Capricorn, you will find the Andes Mountain Range, which offers a natural border to the east of Chile, separating it from Argentina. To the west of Chile is another natural border, the Pacific Ocean. It goes on south with the Lake District, rich with volcanoes, rain forest, lakes and several rivers. Chile extends as far south as the Patagonia and also partially includes the polar circle of Antarctica, which separates the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, lands full of glaciers, forest and untouched nature.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean you find a little magic portion of land: Easter Island. Peaceful and trustworthy is its friendly government and welcoming are its people. Other islands also include, the Juan Fernandez Archipelago (where Robinson Crusoe lived), and Chiloe.

Chile offers eight thousand kilometers of legends, traditions, handicrafts, food and beverages. This is where you can choose from hundreds of different plates made with ingredients harvested from their orchards, and mountains, and multiple fruits from the ocean. These, together with the endless beauty of its lands and much more, make this country an incredible and perfect destination to explore.

Climate

Chile experiences many different climates, as its territory stretches from the desert in the North to the Antarctica in the south.

Big North (Arica to Taltal. Includes the Atacama Desert):
The climate in this is zone desert like, and for this reason good weather is guaranteed throughout the year with the exception of January and February months, when a climatic phenomenon appears Bolivian Winter which brings rain, snows and electric storms making it dangerous to ascend the mountains.

The average Winter temperature is 7ºC, and the average Summer temperature 23ºC.

Small North (Taltal to Illapel. Includes La Serena):
Rain, is rare. There`s no rain in Summer, the Winter is light and lasts only a short time. The average temperature in the Summer is 19ºC, and in the Winter 12.5ºC.

Central Region (Santiago and the heartland):
Due to Santiagos position in the central zone, it has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons. Spring, between September and December is mild, which contributes to the flourishing greenness of the plants and trees.

Summer, between December and March, is dry and hot with temperatures that can reach over 30°C (87º F). At night it cools down slightly, and on the coast this temperature drop can be much more extreme. Autumn is between March and June, and temperatures decrease gradually.

In Winter, mornings are cold, some as low as -2º C (28º F) and although the temperature rises at midday it rarely exceeds 15°C ( 60º F). In spite of the cold, it doesn't snow, except in the mountains where peaks are all snow-covered embellishing naturally its surrounding.

South Area (Santiago south to Temuco):
The climate is very agreeable in summer, but from April to September the rains are heavy; the annual average rainfall, nearly all of which falls within those six months, is from 1,250 to 1,500 mm.

The average temperature in the Summer is 15ºC, and in the Winter 10ºC.

The Lake District (Temuco to Puerto Montt. Includes Chiloe Island, Pucon, Valdivia):
The climate is cooler; the Summer is no longer dry, for rain falls every season, heavier than further north. The rain decreases as you go inland: 2,500 mm on the coast and 1,350 mm inland.

The average temperature in the Summer is 17ºC, and in the Winter 8.5ºC.

Austral Route (Puerto Montt to Cape Horn):
There's no real dry season. On the offshore islands and the western side of the Andes it is frequently wet and windy, particularly south of Baker River. North of this river, the Summers are drier than the Winters, however to the south Summers are windier and marginally wetter.

The average temperature in the Summer is 16ºC, and in the Winter 8ºC.

Patagonia (Includes Torres del Paine National Park):
There are important climatic variations in the Region, influenced mostly by the relief, of the sea and the winds. In the eastern slope of Patagonian Mountain Range there is a cold steppe climate that prevails in the central continental area. This is where most of the population settlements, among them Punta Arenas, register an average rainfall of 425 millimeters annually, mostly in the Spring-Summer and in Winter as snow. This is an area with constant wind, more intense in the Spring-Summer, time when it reaches an average speed of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour, diminishing almost completely in the Winter.

The average temperature in Summer is 10.6ºC and in Winter 2.0ºC.

Torres del Paine National Park has a mild climate; there is a microclimate section in Azul Lagoon, with a considerable increase of temperature in the Summer (25 to 30 degrees Celsius). In the Mountain Ranges there is an ice climate while in the Pacific coast area and channels there is a cold temperate climate, with great humidity.

A special feature of southern climate is the amount of solar light hours, which are less in Winter and extended at Summer reaching as far as 18 hours, approximately, in December.

Chilean Antarctic Territory

For those who wish to visit Antarctica it is recommended they use clothes and special equipment adapted for the snow and low temperatures.