Climate & Clothing
Considering Chile’s position on the globe, the seasons are opposite to the ones in North America or Europe. The climate in Greater Santiago is similar to the Mediterranean. In the winter – mid of May until August – you have the rainy season, where temperatures vary greatly (at night temperatures drop to freezing point, during the day from 10 to 25 °C). Most of the apartments and offices do not have central heating, therefore make sure to bring warm clothes. During summer - November to March – it is dry and hot (on average 30°C, at noon up to 35°C), at night it cools down, there is practically no rain.
Guidebooks
From the travel books about Chile we recommend the Chile Handbook from Footprint Press which is updated every other year, or their South American Handbook published new every year. The Australian publisher Lonely Planet has also published several good guide books on Chile; most recently, the handy Santiago Guide.
The Chilean travel guide Turistel which is updated annually has lots of detailed information (in Spanish) and good maps. It comes in three volumes plus road and camping maps, and can be bought from bookstores and kiosks.
Those into the outdoors should get a copy of the Adventure Handbook Central Chile, with excellente information, maps, and photos on trekking, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and other sports. Available in bookstores and at www.trekkingchile.com/maps
Health
In Chile there is no need to fear any specific health hazards. No special shots are necessary; there is no malaria or cholera. It is, however, advisable to update one's standard protection against typhoid, poliomyelitis, hepatitis, and tetanus. Beware of tap water, raw vegetables and fish or other seafood, raw eggs, and food offered in the streets. Wash and peel all fruit and vegetables carefully.
Medical treatment in private hospitals in Santiago and other major cities is comparable to top international levels. Before you leave for Chile, check with your existing health insurance on their coverage of international travel, or get additional insurance. Private hospitals will recognize credit cards as a guarantee. All drugs are available, and most doctors speak English. Appropriate medical care can be more difficult to get in rural hospitals or at First Aid posts.
Health Clinics:
Clínica Alemana, Av. Vitacura 5951, Ecke Manquehue, Vitacura
Tel. 2101111
Clínica Santa María, Av. Santa María 0500, Providencia
Tel. 4612000
Clínica Las Condes, Lo Fontecilla 441, Las Condes
Tel. 2104000
Chile's mail works well, if somewhat slow. The regular postage for a letter is 310 pesos in country, 400 to North America, and 470 overseas. The main post office on Plaza de Armas in Santiago is open Mon - Fri from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 to Noon, and there are additonal post offices in other districts.
International mail is usually sent by airmail automatically (vía aérea), and it takes 4-8 days to Central Europe or North America; which can be speeded up for a fee (expreso). Important letters and packages should be sent by registered mail (certificado). If you want to have someone send you mail to Chile, ask them to mark it 'Lista de Correos' (poste restante). The post offices will save this mail for 30 days. Nice postcards can be found at the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Museo Precolombino in Santiago.
Media
Newspapers: The biggest daily with an extensive cultural section is the conservativeMercurio, one of the oldest newspapers of Latin America. The Mercurio Corporation also owns several other papers in Santiago and in the provinces. Other dailies are La Tercera, the evening paper La Segunda and the free papers Metro and La Hora. Current and independent information can be found in the online paper El Mostrador.
Magazines: The market for magazines is dominated by gossip zines such as Cosas and Caras. Political analyses are found in Siete+7 (liberal), Qué pasa (medium) and Ercilla (conservative). Biting satire, but also hard-hitting reporting is provided by the bi-weekly The Clinic.
International newspapers and magazines can be found - much more expensive - and with a delay of about two days at some kiosks, especially in the center of Santiago (Paseo Ahumada).
Chilean TV is dominated by soccer, series and entertainment. The evening news are at 9 p.m. on most channels. Cable is standard in the better hotels, and more than 80 channels from all over the world are available.
Radio: Among FM stations, the fare is mostly music and entertainment; especially popular with young people: Rock&Pop (94.1) and Radio Zero (97.7). News at 93.3 (Cooperativa) and 100.9 (Chilena).
Money
The official currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP), which uses the confusing symbol for USD ($). Over the last few years, the rate of inflation has been around 5%.
Spending Money: The best way is drawing cash (pesos) with your money or credit cards from automated tellers marked with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol in all major cities - know your PIN! You have to count of paying a fee (find out from your bank before you leave). Otherwise, take travellers' cheques and cash in US dollars (in a money belt) and exchange money only in official places (never in the street) or banks (usually worse rates, and only open from 9-2). Santiago has the best currency conversion rates; several exchange places are located on Agustinas between Ahumada and Bandera (open Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat morning), as well as near Manuel Montt, Pedro de Valdivia, and Los Leones Metro stations.
The AmEx office in Isidora Goyenechea 3621, piso 10, Las Condes, Ph. 3506700, Mon-Fri 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m., is only worth the trip if you have large amounts in AmEx travellers cheques to convert. On the weekend, the larger hotels exchange money, too, but at a bad rate .
Cards: You can use your regular credit cards to pay almost anywhere. Only major hotels and tourist agencies accept US dollars directly.
Police
In Chile, there are two police organizations, the uniformed police (Carabineros) and the plainclothes detectives (Policía de Investigaciones). The Carabineros are responsible for safety in the streets and enjoy a high level of trust among Chileans.
It's important to always carry your papers with you in case you get stopped, in which case you would be asked for your ID (this is legal, if rare, in Chile). Never try to bribe a policeman!.
Safety
Compared to most Latin American countries, Chile is very safe for travelling. Exceptions, are, as everywhere, the slums and the centers of the big cities. Beware of (well-dressed) pickpockets who practice their swift tricks especially on the Metro, on buses, and in crowds on busy streets. On the other hand, cases of robberies at gunpoint or muggings are rare.
Leaving your luggage where you are staying is usually not a problem, even if they should not have a safe. When valuables are missing, go to the nearest police station, have a report filed (dejar constancia), and make a note of its number (for your insurance company).
Chile is safe even for those travelling alone, as long as they use common sense and safety rules. Women need to be resolute enough to get rid of unwanted attention. Chilean machos are usually only a nuisance when in a group, and verbally; otherwise, they are quite harmless. Never hitch-hike alone!
Telephone Calls
The Chilean market for telephones has been vastly liberalized in recent years; several carriers compete with the still dominant, formerly state-owned company Telefónica CTC Chile.
Local Calls: From a regular phone line, approx. 30 pesos (USD 0.06) per minute between 8 p.m. and 8 a .m., and about 25% of that on weekends. Coin-operated phones charge at least 100 pesos (USD 0.15) per call (3 to 5 min), 200 pesos when calling a cell phone. For local calls, simply dial the respective phone number (no prefix).
In-country Calls: The rates for long distance calls are becoming more like those for local calls all the time. Dial the three-digit carrier code before the local prefix and phone number: carrier code + local prefix + phone number; e.g., Valparaíso via Bellsouth: 181+32 + phone number.
International Calls: The rates are confusing and change all the time, and there is no one place to find them all. You have to dial carrier-code + 0 + country code + prefix + phone number; e.g., Washington , D.C. North America are around USD 0.15/minute, and quite a bit higher from a phone center (Centro de llamados).
Centros de llamados: Throughout the city centers, various phone companies maintain places from which calls can be made from the privacy of a booth, and faxes can be sent.
Phone Cards: A very handy item for travellers in Chile
Cell Phones: These have meanwhile become standard in Chile Chile
Important Phone Numbers:
| Emergency | 131 |
| Fire | 132 |
| Police | 133 |
| Directory's Assistance | 103 |
| Chile's Country Code | 0056 |
Time Zone
Tipping
In restaurants a tip of about 10% is expected; it is not included in the bill. It is customary to take all the change first and then leave a tip. Gas station and parking attendants also expect a tip of 100 to 200 pesos, but cab drivers are not tipped.
Tourist Information
The state-owned tourism agency Sernatur (Servicio Nacional de Turismo) maintains offices and information booths in all major cities and at the airports. The main office in Santiago
