When entering the country you will get a Tourist Card issued by the International Police (at no cost), which is valid to stay as a tourist in Chile for a period of 90 days. This period may be extended for another 90 days, if you fall in love with us. The Tourist Card has to be returned when leaving the country, so please keep it with the rest of your documents.

Exceptions:

1.- Citizens with United States and Canada passports will be part of the exceptional cases having to pay for their tourist visas when entering Chile. This is due to the application of the so called "reciprocity" as to enter these countries Chilean citizen need a visa. Therefore, the best way to know if you need a tourist visa, is to find out if a Chilean citizen needs a visa to visit your country.

2.- Another exception are those countries with non democratic regimes. In these cases such as Cuba, India, Jordania, China or Rusia. In these cases, those interested in visiting Chile should present at the Chilean Consulate in their country a letter of Invitation signed by a Chilean citizen. This letter has to be previously certified by a notary in Chile.

List of some countries whose citizens don't need visa to get into Chile:

Alemania, Argentina Australia, Bolivia, Brasil, Dinamarca, España, Guatemala, Holanda, Italia, Japón, México, Noruega, Nueva Zelandia, Perú, Reino Unido, Singapur, Suecia, Suiza, Sur Africa, Uruguay y Venezuela, etc.

List of some countries whose citizens must pay for a visa to get into Chile:

Canadá / sí (US$50) y Estados Unidos/ sí (US$ 61), etc.

Health : No vaccinations are required to enter Chile. But traveling to Chile could put you at risk of exposure to diseases. You should contact your doctor 2 months before you leave in order to check the immunization recommended corresponding to your country.

Recommendations to stay healthy :

• If you visit the Andes Mountains, ascend gradually to allow time for your body to adjust to the high altitude, which can cause insomnia, headaches, nausea, and altitude sickness.
• Drink only bottled or boiled water. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food and pealed fruits and vegetables · What do you need to bring with you : insect repellent, anti-diarrheal medicine, iodine tablets and water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available, sunblock, sunglasses and a hat. Remember that the sun is much stronger at high altitudes, moreover if you travel down south to Punta Arenas, think that there is no more Ozone to protect you from the ultraviolet radiation.

Money :

Currency : the currency is the Chilean peso (Ch$). 1 US$ = 632 pesos and 1 Euro = 720 pesos (5th of November 2003).

Money exchange : foreign exchange transactions can be conducted through commercial banks, cambios, or authorized shops, restaurants, hotels and clubs. Visitors should not be tempted by the premiums of 10-15 per cent over the official rate offered by black marketers. Casas de Cambios are open daily 09.00-19.00.

Credit cards : Diners Club, Visa, American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travelers' checks : "Casas de cambios" tend to offer better rates than banks. There may be some difficulty exchanging travelers' checks outside major towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers' are advised to take travelers checks in US Dollars. Banking hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-14.00 and Casas de cambios hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00 y Sat 09.00-14.00

Newspapers : El Mercurio,  La Tercera

Radios : Radio Horizonte,  Mundo Infinita

Television : Television Nacional de Chile, Canal 13

Communications:

Telephone: Country code: 56. Telefónica de Chile provides most services though there are a few independent companies. Cheap rate is applicable Mon-Fri 8.00 p.m. to 9.00 a.m., Saturday morning until 9 a.m. and from 2 p.m., and all day Sunday and public holidays.

Internet : Internet is widely developed throughout the country. You may have access to the net via cybercafes in most towns.Post: Post office hours in Santiago: Mon-Fri 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. and Sat 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Press : daily newspapers in Spanish include El Mercurio, La Nación, Las Ultimas Noticias, La Tercera, etc. Business newspapers: El Diario, La Estrategia. Other in English: Chile Information Project, CHIP . Other in Germany: Cóndor.

Shopping :
Shopping hours in Santiago Mon-Fri from 11.00 a.m. to 8.30 p.m y Sap from 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. The malls are opened every day from 11.00 a.m. to 9.00 pm.

You will find a wide range of workshops ("ferias artesanales") in Santiago but also in La Serena, Chillan, Temuco, Puerto Montt y Castro... telares, cerámica, trabajos en cuero y lana, tales como ponchos y alfombras.

Transports :

From the Santiago airport, you may choose either :

• Regular buses : there are two companies offering regular buses : CENTROPUERTO drives you to the Metro Station Los Heroes for $1,000 pesos and TURBUS will reach the Bus terminal which is connected with the station of Metro U. de Santiago for $1,200 pesos.
• Minivan transfer service : If you have many luggage and want an inexpensive way to reach at Santiago, Minivan transfer can be the alternative way. It takes longer than a taxi because they drop down tourists at different places but they will charge you around $3,500 Chilean pesos for the city center.
• Taxis : It costs about $15,000-$20,000 Chilean pesos depending on the place to where you want to go. There is an airport taxi counter in the arrival terminal.

In Santiago, there is a wide choice of collective transport, through the numerous companies of "micros" (buses) and the metro red. There are thousands of micro companies competing in Santiago and no red map available. So unless you know someone who can help you the first time you get there, it may be easier to start using the metro ) or a taxi.

For national trips, you may fly with Lanchile, the national airline. If you have more time, the economic alternative is to travel by bus. Moreover, the bus companies offering a very good level of service throughout the country.

Chilean airline : LanChile

Some national bus companies : Turbus, Pullman, TasChoapa, etc.

The public holidays are on the following dates:

January 1st New Year
March/April (variable) Good Friday
May 1 Labor 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 centers, restaurants and cafes, entertainment and public transportation keep working on holidays, except for May the1st where only some services will be open.