Chile is over 4,000 km long, and on average less than 200 km wide, these measurements give the country completely different climates and biomes.
The north of the country is rich in copper, where the beaches and the driest desert in the world, the Atacama, are located. Patagonia, in the south of the country, is full of lakes, forests and glaciers.
Between valleys of vineyards and some of the highest mountains in the Andes, is the vibrant capital, Santiago, one of the most developed cities in South America.
Main Destinations
Chilean Patagonia encompasses cities such as Punta Arenas, from where trips through the Strait of Magellan depart, Puerto Natales, gateway to the Torres del Paine National Park, and Pucón, surrounded by volcanoes, in the beautiful region of Los Lagos.
In Atacama, the main base to explore is the San Pedro desert, from there the tours depart to lagoons full of flamingos, geysers, salt deserts and astronomical observation, taking advantage of the clearest sky on the planet.
Santiago offers city tours, and trips to nearby beaches such as Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar, wine tasting at wineries and tours of the Andes such as Cajón del Maipo.
And of course we cannot forget Easter Island, one of the most remote places in the world, a destination of beautiful beaches and legends related to the Moais, the giant stone statues.
When to go to Chile
Choosing the best time will depend on the chosen destination, considering the three destinations above.
For safety reasons, many tours in Patagonia do not take place in winter, when the cold is intense and snowfalls affect roads and attractions.
In Atacama it is better to avoid the extreme heat of summer and the freezing cold of winter, prefer to travel in the months of October and spring, mainly April, May and November.
Santiago can be enjoyed all year round, if you prefer the beach, go in the summer, if you want to ski, you need to travel in winter, especially July, when the volume of snow tends to be more suitable for the sport.
Which Documents to Take
It is necessary that the documents are in good condition and that their current appearance does not differ from the current one, which is why a document with a minimum of 10 years of issue is recommended.
Always travel with your passport, which is a document of greater international value.
How many days to stay
The minimum possible time to make the trip worthwhile is 4 days, so you have two full days to explore Santiago.
If you have 5 days, you can include trips around the area in the itinerary, such as a day in Viña del Mar or Cajón del Maipo.
As for 7 days, and in winter you can even sleep one night at the Valle Nevado hotel to make the most of the snow season.
What currency to take
If you have dollars or euros, you can take them with you to change them, but it’s not worth doing the exchange beforehand, go with what you have.
Exchange in Santiago, where the exchange rate is better than in tourist cities, there are many exchange offices in the center and around the Plaza de Armas.
Another alternative is to concentrate your spending on international cards.
Cost of Tours in Chile
Tours generally take between 4 and 6 hours and cost between US$27 and US$50 per person.
More distant tours that take the whole day have higher prices, which can cost between US$ 60 and US$ 125, skiing or climbing one of the many volcanoes of the Andes mountain range, costs around US$ 135.
accommodation in Chile
The value will depend on the location, but in general they are cheaper than in certain European cities.
The most expensive hotels in Chile are the ones that are located in remote locations, try to book in advance to get the best rates.
Research a little about when is the low and high season of the lodging place.
The low season will offer better conditions for your trip, as well as the price of accommodation may be cheaper.
Know that using the dollar will give you a nice discount, foreign tourists with less than 60 days in the country are exempt from value added tax on hotel rates.
There’s a 19% discount on everything you pay in cash, in this case in dollars.
So, when going to Chile, remember this tip to get this discount!
Just another normal person who is passionate about getting to know every corner of this planet that we live, enjoying and living every second, with all the intensity, so as to keep living spiritually.