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CHILE

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With its extreme nature, the multitude of opportunities that it offers for adventure tourism and the fact that it is a modern and safe country -  socially, politically and economically stable – Chile is becoming a preferred Latin American tourism destination.

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Valle de la Luna-Moon Valley, Atacama Desert by Augusto Domínguez


Chile is a country of extremes and superlatives. In South America’s Pacific coast, it can boast the world's driest desert, vast and verdant temperate rainforests, more than 2,500 miles/4,000 km of beaches, rugged headlands, and spectacular inland seas where glaciers reach the coast, and many of the continent's highest peaks.

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Atacama Desert by Lorenzo Moscia

 
Compared with Europe, the length of Chile easily exceeds the distance between the north of Norway to the Sahara Desert. From north to south there are 2,690 miles and it is on average only 110 miles wide, this country in the extreme south of Soutb America possesses extreme contrasts of geography and climate. In the north you can find the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world and the birth place of indigenious ancestral cultures; mediterranean landscapes, fertile wine valleys and ski resorts are to be found in the centre; 2,350 miles out into the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island awaits visitors with it’s rich mysterious culture; lakes, native forests and volcanos in the south; fjords, glaciers and ice fields in Patagonia; pampa in Tierra del Fugeo and eternal ice in the Antartic. This is Chile.

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Glaciar Grey, Patagonia by Claudio Vicuña

This is no doubt that Chile has everything, but in addition the hospitality of its inhabitants, the quality and comfort offered by it’s services, developed road network and advanced communications technology invite you to enjoy nature in a safe and peaceful environment. From their arrival in the International Airport in Santiago, the capital, visitors are prepared for a magnificent experience with memories to be treasured for years to come.

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Tonkariki, Easter Island by Lorenzo Moscia


With natural assets like these, it's no surprise that Chile appeals to active, adventure-oriented travelers. Some come to navigate northern Patagonia's rivers.  Others fish clear rivers and countless lakes, ascend smoldering volcanoes that soar along the length of the Andes, slalom down world-class ski slopes and tramp the trails around the Torres del Paine--a serious contender for the title of "world's most beautiful mountain range."

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Torres del Paine, Patagonia, by Claudio Vicuña


Over the past decade or so, accommodations and services in remote destinations has evolved beyond the rugged conditions that early rugged pioneers had to live with. Comfortable rafting camps and luxury fishing lodges have supplanted pup tents and rustic roadside inns. Small but plush cruise ships now penetrate remote coves that only the intrepid few had reached before. Hikers can still circle the Torres but now can count on spending the night in comfortable beds, with a hot soak and a massage followed by elaborate meals and fine wines.

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Torres del Paine, Patagonia, by Claudio Vicuña

Chile also offers attractions and satisfactions beyond adrenaline rushes and pampered pleasure. Against the backdrop of South America's most successful economy, new cultural centers and museums make the capital city of Santiago a worthy destination in its own right. Chile's counterpart to San Francisco, the colorful port of Valparaíso is a World Heritage Site that's undergoing its own cultural renaissance. North, south and west of the capital, innovative vineyards are confidently penetrating the world wine market.

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Santiago by Christian Buracchio


Farther north, the clear desert skies draw professional and amateur astronomers from around the world. The dry but cool Atacama climate has also meant near perfect preservation of archaeological sites, including Inka ruins and massive geoglyphs that stretch for miles across the barren hills, and of historic ghost towns like the World Heritage Site of Humberstone. The remote Pacific islands of Robinson Crusoe and Easter Island add touches of romance and mystery. In reality, Chile offers something for every taste, at every season, with near total security.

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Ranu Kao Volcano, Easter Island by Lorenzo Moscia




FACTS AND INFORMATION
Seasons of Chile

Rafting and kayaking: 
Santiago, Pucón, Puerto Varas, Futaleufú  - October to April

Skiing: 
Portillo, Santiago, Termas de Chillán, Temuco, Pucón, Osorno, Puerto Varas  June or July to September or October

Surfing: 
Pichilemu, Iquique  all year, but best waves in winter

Fishing: 
Throughout Araucanía, Los Lagos, and Patagonia  October to April

Hiking: 
Throughout the country  all year, but rain and snow make the central and southern high country inaccessible from May or June to November or December

Climbing: 
Throughout the country  generally best in summer, but the northern highlands enjoy a dry winter that makes access and climbing easier than the rainy summer (which has electrical storms).

Horseback riding: 
Ovalle/Hurtado, Santiago, Pucón, Puerto Varas, Torres del Paine 

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Atacama Desert by Lorenzo Moscia

Cycling/Mountain Biking: 
San Pedro de Atacama, Pucón, Puerto Varas, Patagonia 

Birdwatching: 
Lauca National Park, San Pedro de Atacama, Chiloé, Torres del Paine 

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Lake and Volcanoe Villarrica by George Munro


CLIMATE
South of the equator, Chile's seasons are reversed; late December-early March is summer, fall is late March-May, June-August is winter, and September-November is spring.
Altitude makes a difference, because much of the highest elevations are inaccessible in winter. The exception is the far north, where winter is the dry season and overland travel is easier than in the wet summer.

Santiago, due to its position in the central zone, has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons. Spring, between September and November is mild, which contributes to the flourishing greenness of the plants and trees. Summer, between December and February, is dry and hot with temperatures that can reach over 30°C (87º F).  At night it cools down slightly, and on the coast this temperature drop can be much more extreme. 
Autumn is between March and May, and temperatures decrease gradually. In winter, mornings are cold, some as low as -2º C (28º F) and although the temperature rises at midday it rarely exceeds 15°C ( 60º F).

Languages
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken in the tourist sector, and German is common in the southern lake district. There are about 200,000 speakers of Mapundungun, the native Mapuche language; smaller numbers speak other indigenous languages.

Travel Documents
Citizens from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay can travel to Chile with their national identity card, but citizens from other countries need a valid passport. A visa is NOT required to enter Chile for a stay of 30-90 days (depending on the country of citizenship),

Taxes and fares
On flights leaving Chile, there is an airport tax of USD 26, or the equivalent in CLP. On domestic flights airport tax is normally included in the airline ticket. US citizens pay a reciprocity tax of USD 100 in cash (no credit card, no traveler cheques accepted)as they pass through customs.  The receipt is valid for the life of your passport. This tax is applied to countries that charge Chilean nationals a fee to process visas.
When paying in US dollars, foreigners on tourist visas are exempt from the 19 percent IVA (Value Added Tax) on accommodations.

Business hours
Most Santiago shops open around 10 a.m. and close around 6-7 p.m., but shopping centers may stay open until 9 p.m. In the provinces, shops may close for two hours in mid-afternoon but stay open late. Outside of shopping centers, many shops are open half a day on Saturdays, and most businesses are closed Sundays.

Holidays/Festivities
January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)
March/April: Semana Santa (Easter Week End)
May 1: Día del Trabajo (International Labor Day)
May 21: Glorias Navales (naval battle of Iquique)
May 30: Corpus Christi
June 29: Día de San Pedro y San Pablo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day)
August 15: Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption)
September 18: Día de la Independencia Nacional (Independence Day)
September 19: Día del Ejército (Armed Forces Day)
October 12: Día de la Raza (Columbus Day)
November 2: Todo los Santos (All Saints' Day)
December 8: Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception)
December 25: Navidad (Christmas Day)

Time zone
Chilean standard time corresponds to the time zone UTC-04:00 (Universal Time Coordinate, formerly Greenwich Mean Time).
The daylight saving time (DST) runs one hour forward (UTC-03:00) between the second Saturday of October (changes at 12 PM) and the second Saturday of March.
Easter Island is in the UTC-06:00 time zone, and during summer it is in the UTC-05:00 time zone.

Communication: Long-distance telephone offices are abundant; cell phone coverage is good except in remote, mountainous areas. Inexpensive Internet access is widely available, including WiFi in major cities.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50 cycles. Dual-voltage laptop computers and similar appliances work here, but require adapter plugs; other appliances may require a converter.

Main international airports: Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez, Santiago (SCL)

Getting around: The main longitudinal highway ranges from good to excellent to state-of-the-art, but the scenic southern Carretera Austral is mostly gravel. Lateral roads into national parks and other remote areas are often gravel. Buses are comfortable, with spacious seats that, on the longest runs, recline into a nearly horizontal position. Most major cities have good airports; there is passenger rail service from Santiago south to Temuco and Puerto Montt.

Cruise ports: Valparaíso, Puerto Montt, Puerto Natales, Puerto Chacabuco, Punta Arenas, Coquimbo, Iquique, Arica.

Health precautions: No vaccinations obligatory. Hantavirus and Chagas disease do exist, but are uncommon.

Staying safe:
Chile's Carabineros police are professional and helpful, but rarely speak English. In large cities be aware of your surroundings and your belongings; armed robberies are rare, but petty thievery is a concern.

World Heritage Sites:
Rapa Nui National Park (Easter Island);
Churches of Chiloé;
Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso;
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Currency
The unit of currency is the peso. ATMs are abundant in cities but hard to find in remote areas (carry Chilean pesos and some U.S. dollars). Travelers' checks are generally easy to cash at banks, but difficult at businesses.
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More information: Chilean Tourism Promotion Corporation
www.visit-chile.org

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