Of all the parts of South America that we visited, Southern Chile stands out to me as the land where one would choose to make a home.
James Bryce
Chile holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Chile holiday, personal to you.
Chile’s shape – a narrow strip which measures only 100 kilometres wide but runs north to south for 4,000 kilometres – means it has the right landscape, in some part, for everyone. Nestled in against Argentina, preventing it from seeing the Pacific, Chile is home to deserts, glacial lakes, volcanoes, forests and vineyards, as well as vibrant cities and quiet islands.
Santiago, the capital, and likely your point of arrival, is worth exploring to get a good understanding of the contrast in lifestyles of the metropolitan and rural populations. The museums, restaurants and nightlife are of a high standard, however Santiago also suffers terrible pollution, especially in July and August, when the city goes skiing at six resorts nearby to the east. In the summer, the city heads west for coastal Valparaiso and Viña del Mar.
Heading north, San Pedro de Atacama, close to the salt flats, is a popular starting point from which to see the lunar landscape of the driest desert on earth. Meanwhile, the Lake District, south of the capital, comprises twelve great lakes and many smaller ones, overlooked by snow-capped volcanoes. Then, of course, there’s Easter Island and its imposing moai, 3,790 kilometres out into the Pacific.
Contact a Chile expert to prepare a personal itinerary and a no-obligation quote.
Chile facts
Capital: Santiago de Chile
Language: Spanish.
People: Mixed Spanish-Indian descent, European, Indian.
Religion: Roman Catholic.
Size (sq km): 756,096.
Population: 16,284,741.
Population density/sq km: 21.5
Etiquette
Most Chileans use a double surname and only the first part should be used in addressing them. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting local people. Informal, conservative clothes are acceptable in most places, but women should not wear shorts outside resort areas.
Shopping
Handwoven ponchos, vicuna rugs, copper work, lapis lazuli, jade, amethyst, agate and onyx.
Food & drink
Typical national dishes include empanadas (filled pastries), humitas (seasoned corn paste, wrapped in corn husks and boiled), cazuela de ave (soup with rice, vegetables, chicken and herbs) Meat and seafood of good quality. Chile is well known for its wine, and for pisco, a powerful grape liqueur
International Airports
Santiago (SCL), 21 km from the city.
Internal travel
Frequent air services between main towns. The state railway runs throughout Chile, from Santiago to Puerto Montt in the south. The Pan American Highway runs from the Peruvian border to Puerto Montt. Fast and comfortable buses on main highways. Although most of the roads in Chile are in good condition, it is advisable in remoter areas to carry spare petrol and a spare tyre. Car hire available in major towns. Fast and comfortable buses on main highways.
Red tape
Visas
(UK/US) None.
Vaccinations
required Hep. A, Hep. B, Rabies, Typhoid
Driving requirements
International or Inter-American Driving Permit.
Reps in UK/US
UK: 12 Devonshire Street, London W1G 7DS, tel (020) 7580 6392, fax (020) 7436 5204, email embachile@embachile.co.uk. US: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20036, tel (202) 785 1746, fax (202) 887 5579 email embassy@embassyofchile.org.
UK/US reps in Chile
UK: Avda. El Bosque Norte 0125, Las Condes, Santiago, tel (2) 370 4100, fax (2) 335 5988. US: Avenida Andrés Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago, tel (2) 232 2600, fax (2) 330 3710, email infousa@state.gov.
Currency
Chilean peso (peso) = 100 centavos.
Finance
Major credit cards accepted. May be some difficulty changing traveller's cheques outside major towns.
Business hours
0900-1830.
Safety & life expectancy
Safety information
Safe.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy: M 73.69, F 80.4.
Useful websites for travel
www.echileuk.demon.co.uk, www.britemb.cl, www.chile-usa.org, www.chileny.com,www.usembassy.cl.
Local media
No English-language but foreign papers available.
Tourist boards
n/a.
Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to Chile. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific Chile itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6548.
On this sample itinerary we’ve combining two of South America’s great capitals, Santiago and Buenos Aires, with the tremendous landscapes of Andean Patagonia and the mighty Iguazu. This two-week tour is a great introduction to Chile and Argentina....
Chile is a land of breathtaking contrasts. Squeezed between the Pacific and the Andes, it stretches from the lunar landscapes of the Atacama Desert, through the forested Lake District, to the fjords, glaciers and spectacular peaks of the Torres del Paine Natio...
Lost in the vast expanse of the brooding Pacific, 3,790km west of the Chilean mainland, lies Rapa Nui, the worlds most isolated inhabited island. Standing guard over its sparse volcanic landscape are colossal stone moai - mysterious monoliths of unknown origin...
Its well worth travelling the distance to see Patagonia. Begin this trip by crossing the Patagonian pampas from Balmaceda to the city of Coyhaique. After a short city visit youll follow an often-unpaved road through beautiful forest, past mountain peaks and st...
San Pedro de Atacama is a small town, full of character with adobe buildings, cosy restaurants and glowing fires. Its a two-hour drive from the nearest airport in Calama. San Pedro is a good base for exploring the lunar landscapes, sand dunes, geysers, salt la...
Hot and arid in the north. Very cold in the far south. Central areas have a mild Mediterranean climate with a wet season from May to August. Beyond Montt in the south is one of the stormiest, wettest areas in the world.
GMT -4
Chilean peso (peso) = 100 centavos.
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