FAQ`s about Chile
Chile is a large country, a narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Chile covers an area of 756,096 square kilometres (291,930 sq mi) and has a population of 17.5 million as of 2017. The capital and largest city is Santiago and the national language is Spanish. And Chile, offers an incredible variety of attractions in different destinations in the north, south and even in remote areas of Polinesia.
Which are the most important destinations to visit in Chile?
Chile is amazing country, very large from south to north, so variety of different weathers and landscapes makes this land unique. The capital city is Santiago de Chile, a modern metropoli which is the financial and comercial heart of the country. A good idea is to expend 3 nights at least, to enjoy the wine country, and learn a bit about history in the city, or take a day trip to neighborhood cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. Another great place is Patagonia and in this beautiful place, there are different areas. Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt are the gates to visit the lakes district in Chile. A place full of beautiful landscapes with mountains, lakes, forests, volcanoes, national parks… Enjoy Chiloe Island, with a rich history and beautiful landscapes too. In Southern Patagonia, Chile offers you places like Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales and the incredible Torres del Paine National Park. The area is also the gate to take wonderful cruises to visit southern fjords and glaciers in Patagonia. In the north, the main attraction is San Pedro de Atacama, from where you can visit Mars and Moon Valley, Tatyo Geysers and Puritama hot Springs, Tulor and the rich archaeology, and the Salt Flat in the Atacama Desert. An amazing destination! Finally, the remote Easter Island, located in Polinesia is a must-see. The rich culture, wonderful beaches and landscapes full of the typical Moais, local gastronomy… many things to do and to see.
Chile is an amazing place. Are you ready to enjoy this wonderful country?
How I get around when I arrive to Chile?
Chile is a large and narrrow country, going from north to south so best way is to fly to the different destinations in Chile. Take a look to our article about “approximated flight times between main destinations in Chile”. From Chile, you can fly to main different destinations like Calama (San Pedro de Atacama), Punta Arenas (to visit Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park), Puerto Montt (to visit Puerto Varas and the lakes district), and the remote Easter Island reachable only from Santiago de Chile.
What`s the best time to visit Chile?
As Chile is a large country from north to south, weather changes due to the destination you want to visit. If you`re thinking in Santiago, no problem. The chilean capital will be available all year round, as weaher is not a problem. If you will focuse your trip in the area of Patagonia, and not specially for ski and snow season, the best season to visit Patagonia is from October to March, with a shoulder season (also good because less crowded), in September and April. And of course, winter is the low season. If you want to enjoy one of the several ski centres in Chile, the winter season goes from middle June to last days of August. No problem with Easter Island, that can be visited all the year without problem. In the north, San Pedro de Atacama will be waiting for you all the year round, but during summer, you can have some rainy days. Anyway, it`s not a problem, and can be visited anytime.
Take a look to our article about weather in Chile, or check what you can expect month by month visiting our travel guide for Chile.
Is it safe to travel to Chile?
Yes, definitely security is not a problem in this country. Of course, in big cities like Santiago, you have take be alert and take some usual cautions, sush as not going alone at night to specific areas, don`t venture into less desirable neighbourhoods, don`t flash money, jewelry, watches, cameras… The usual cautions. The areas in the north and south, are absolutely safe
Which documents do I need to enter to Chile
You need an updated passport, and you have to check if VISA is required or not. For US Travellers, and most european countries, visa is not required. Check with your local embassy to see if you need visa to enter to Chile.
