Are you wanting to go to Chile and don't even know where to start?! Already know that this is one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet. We have put together a quick guide for you to familiarize yourself with Chile and prepare for an unforgettable trip. Here you will make your Planning for the trip to Chile.
But first, discover the paradise of options that Booking.com has to offer and turn your travel dreams into reality! Making your reservations through our link you will be helping us and you won’t pay anything extra for it 🙂
O booking.com is our trusted website, we made all our reservations through them and now you can also make purchases from airline tickets!
Chile is one of the safest countries on Earth
That's right! The country is considered one of the safest destinations for travelers in South America.
According to the Global Peace Index (updated annually and published in 2022), Chile ranks 55th.
The index evaluates 23 indicators: quantitative and qualitative. Such as low crime rates, good behavior with travelers, among others.
Comparing Brazil, it is in position 130.
Chile is a country more expensive than its neighbors
In addition to being a more expensive country for tourists, it is also considered the most developed in South America.
Some travelers like to say that it is “the most European country in Latin America”. And of course, many prefer to pay that price.
The country is ahead of its neighbors Bolivia, Peru and Argentina (as being the most expensive).
Tip: check the exchange rate before making your trip, the local currency is the chilean peso.
To give you an idea, restaurant costs are on the same level as in the US for similar-level restaurants.
Prices tend to vary widely from place to place (for example, prices in Patagonia are often higher than those in central Chile).
But whether with food or excursions, It's normal to get more than you pay ?? There is excellent Chilean cuisine and both the guides and travel experiences are incredibly rewarding.
AND If you're on a low budget, don't worry! There is no shortage of alternatives, such as simpler restaurants and delicious street food; and more affordable travel experiences.
Planning to go on adventures in Chile? Need to train before
Chile is among the best adventure travel destinations in the world. It was awarded 6 times as the “World's Leading Adventure Travel Destination” in World Travel Awards , the “Tourism Oscars”.
But be careful when choosing your adventure! Some of them are very demanding and require some prior training.
Some experiences are accessible to everyone , such as a trip to the Atacama Desert or a Wildlife Safari in Torres del Paine National Park.
However, Patagonia's most popular multi-day hikes are quite demanding.
W Trek requires at least some regular walks?? As for the epic “The Trek” (Torres del Paine Circuit), the Dientes de Navarino Circuit and the Cerro Castillo Circuit, these are just for the experienced hikers.
The terrain is uneven, the walking distances are long and include some steep climbs.
In short, you better check the details about the difficulty level of the trip you are interested in before making the final decision.
Best time to travel to Chile
The country has extremes of climate and temperature. You'll find the driest desert on Earth in the north (the Atacama Desert) and the world's third freshwater reserve in the south (the Patagonian ice fields). This is what makes Chile a difficult place to understand when planning a trip.
While most people think that there is no rain in northern Chile, there can be some occasional heavy rain in the summer, especially between December and March.
This is due to the altiplano winter, a phenomenon that can cause storms in the regions of Arica and Parinacota and the Atacama.
In Patagonia, the summer months (December to March) are the busiest, but also the windiest. There is an " best time to come ” for everyone, and this is how we can sum it up.
Best outdoor adventure weather: November to March.
Best time to avoid the crowds: April to October (Although: it can be difficult to find accommodation due to the low season from June to August).
Best time to observe wildlife: April to November.
Distances in Chile are long
Chile stretches 4,270 km (2,653 mi) from north to south, averaging 177 km (110 mi) from east to west. Traveling from the Arica region to southern Patagonia would be the same as traveling from northern Scandinavia to Morocco!
Do you understand: the distances are long and domestic flights usually take a few hours (for example, it takes about 3.30 hours to go from Santiago to Punta Arenas). In addition to the flight hours, you will also have to drive a lot, especially if you go to Patagonia. Getting to EcoCamp Patagonia from Punta Arenas airport requires a 5-6 hour drive (a beautiful one)!
Chileans speak very unusual Spanish
“Cachay” “Piola” “Weon” “Bacán”: if you speak Spanish but don't understand these words, don't worry! Chileans can speak the most peculiar Spanish in the world .
The Royal Spanish Academy recognizes 2,214 words and idioms produced exclusively or mainly in Chilean Spanish, in addition to many unrecognized slang.
But rest assured, Chileans are popular and love to communicate with tourists. 🙂
Crossing the border to Argentina can be tricky in some places
Chile and Argentina are separated by a huge natural border : the Andes Mountains.
In Patagonia, the mountains are lower, but the terrain is uneven, with many channels, ice fields and islands.
On the border between Villa O'Higgins (Aysén region in Chile, the southernmost point of the Carretera Austral), vehicles are inaccessible. Here, you will have to take a boat, take a horse and walk 35 kilometers (22mi) if you want to cross into Argentina.
In most places, immigration offices between the two countries are miles away, but crossing is easy if you have your own transport or vehicle.
If you are traveling alone, you should consider that some parts of Patagonia do not have public transport to cross the border.
Mandatory visa and vaccinations to travel to Chile
You will not need a visa if you stay in the country for less than 90 days (just don't miss the small paper that the immigration authorities will give you when you enter Chile).
However, it is highly recommended to have your updated COVID-19 vaccines to enter the country.
While a negative PCR on arrival is no longer required, having your COVID-19 vaccines up to date will allow you to obtain a “mobility pass”, which is mandatory to enter many public places such as bars, restaurants and cinemas.
Typical Chilean food
There's a whole new culinary world waiting to be discovered in Chile!
In addition to a rich and diverse range of dishes for all tastes, although famous ingredients include lots of seafood (coast), avocado, beef (all over the country) and lamb (Patagonia).
Some amazing indigenous influences you'll find in some regions (like the Atacama Desert and the Araucania region with the Mapuches), and you can get amazing gourmet food in Chile's major cities, especially Santiago.
But the spirit of Chile can be experienced on the street.
Be sure to try the empanada (small puff pastry baked in the oven), the humita (corn mixed with onions and basil, in a preparation that is wrapped in corn leaves) and the complete (a local version of the hot dog, which includes avocado).
No trip to Chile would be complete without an “asado”, a barbecue. Asados are the best excuse for Chileans to get together, making it the most important social occasion held throughout the year.
As for drinks, Chile is world famous for its delicious wine. You should also try Pisco – a cognac produced in the wine regions of Chile and Peru. And Chile also has delicious beer!
Best places to visit in Chile
Did you like the tips?!
Enjoy and read more about:
Puerto Natales: discover the Chilean Patagonia
Chilean Patagonia and Argentina
Pingback: 5 treasures around Santiago de Chile - Wenttrip