Chile Travel Tips

Chile Travel Tips


Chile is a safe country, with a low crime rate, but nevertheless, we recommend taking a taxi or Uber (not expensive) during nighttime. Keep money and valuables in a money belt or pouch under your clothes. Crimes that take place are usually crimes of opportunity, like pickpocket thieves, as opposed to violent crime, therefore be careful with your wallet and try not to use jewelry or expensive watches.

Some Chilean locations are worldwide known, like Torres del Paine, San Pedro de Atacama, and Easter Island, but in our opinion, you should try to get to know the following locations as well:

  1. Valle de Elqui (6 hours north of Santiago), a peaceful area with clear skies, and beautiful little towns, like Pisco Elqui.
  2. The Lake District (area between Temuco and Puerto Montt) full of hot springs, active volcanoes, national parks, forests, rivers, and lakes.
  3. Amazing Laguna San Rafael Glacier (in the middle of our Patagonia)

Not many people speak English in Chile. We recommend you learn basic words and have handy your mobile phone translator.

If you like traveling in remote areas and small villages, or if you are planning to visit Easter Island, then carry always Chilean pesos with you, just enough for any emergency (200 USD for example).

Although many foreigners do not have any problem drinking Chilean water, we recommend buying bottled water, especially in the north of Chile.

Always check the bills and change. Special care with taxi drivers and gas stations (I guess this is worldwide advice).

Cell phones: Cell phone coverage is very good in Chile. You will get a good signal in almost all cities and even in small towns. You may also find internet in Santiago's subway lines and also in most ski resorts, like Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillán.

If you bring US dollars or EUROS, take time and only bring bills in excellent conditions (not tear apart or too old) because otherwise they will not be accepted for change into local currency.

Restaurants:

  1. Don't expect to eat dinner until 8:30 pm - Chileans tend to eat late
  2. Even though you can eat good steak in Chile, you will find better meat restaurants in Argentina and Uruguay. But if you like seafood, fresh fruits, and wines … then Chile is the place! Santiago is not located on the coast, but it's a great city to enjoy seafood because you can get "ostiones" (scallops) from the north, jaibas (crabs) from central Chile, salmon from the south, and centolla (king crab) from Patagonia.
  3. 10% tip is recommended in restaurants and pubs

When you are driving and do not want to stop in a restaurant neither want to spend too much time "Pronto" Copec (the main gas station company in Chile) it is a great alternative for coffee, natural orange juice, and a clean bathroom.

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