CHILE PRACTICALITIES

Facts and Figures

Area: 756,096 sq km

Population: (2001) 15,017,760

Capital: Santiago

Passport/Visa requirements

Passport valid for six months beyond intended stay. No visa required for British citizens, a 90-day tourist card is issued free on arrival. You get given a copy of the tourist card keep it safe as you will be charged for reissue if you loose it and may have problems when leaving the country. If crossing into any other country make sure you get given a new tourist card each time you come back into Chile. All other nationalities should contact the relevant Embassy or Consulate for information.

Geography

The unique shape of Chile, 4300 km long and at no point more than 180 km wide, means that it contains a little of everything. The north holds the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth. Further south there are lush and fertile valleys, an extensive Andean mountain range and a rainy and green Lake District. The very south is home to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego where you will find fjords, glaciers and rugged landscape.

Climate

The northern Atacama has a pretty constant climate year round which makes it an easy and versatile place to visit. The days are generally hot and evenings chilly with clear skies if you’re lucky! It will be that little bit hotter during the summer months, December – March. The best months in Santiago are between October and April when the days are generally fine. It can, however, get very hot in December and January so watch out! The most pleasant weather in the Lake District is between December and March when the rains are less frequent, it can become pretty overcast during other times in the year. Patagonia can only really be visited between November and March, it is simply too cold to go during any other month and heavy snow can make certain areas inaccessible.

Language

Spanish is the official language but several native languages are still spoken. Over 20,000 speak Aymara in the north and further south there are perhaps 500,000 who speak Mapuche. On Easter Island a Polynesian language, Rapa Nui, is used.

Money

The currency of Chile is the Peso ($). In January 2004 the exchange rate was $580 = 1US$. Try to break down large notes when you can, as it is often hard to do so and change is often scarce. US$ is the only currency that can be exchanged everywhere, dollars cash should be in new notes or ones in very good condition as they are often not accepted by banks if they are torn or marked. Both cash and travellers cheque can be changed at most banks and Casas de Cambio. You can pay in dollars in large chain hotels and in some restaurants. Visa credit cards are the most widely accepted and you can get cash from most banks both at the counter and from the cash machines. Credit cards generally are not so good for buying in shops as many charge extra for the pleasure. In out of the way places it is best to have cash but most hotels and bigger restaurants accept cash.

Religion

Over 90% of the population are Roman Catholic.

Time

4 hours behind GMT

Electricity

220V, 50 Hz

Brief History

A variety of ancient cultures existed in pre-Colombian Chile both before and during Inca rule, one of the most significant of these being the northern Aymara tribe. However, many of these were wiped out by the introduction of European diseases through colonisation. This began when Pedro de Valdivia’s expedition landed in the Mapocho Valley in 1541. The Spanish colonised Chile for almost three centuries during which time they built a very feudal and hierarchical society. The early 1800s saw the beginning of the independence movement sweeping through South America, stimulated by the instability of Spain through French invasion as well as a growing South American identity. Independence was gained in 1818 as a result of the actions of Simon de Bolivar and Jose de San Martin, who led the movement in the continent. Chile has grown considerably in size since initial independence as a result of border disputes and consequent triumphs with Peru and Bolivia.

Relative democracy was achieved for much of the nineteenth century despite a brief civil war in the 1890s. The first half of the twentieth century wasn’t a particularly significant period for Chile, and the country remained quite stagnant both politically and economically. However the second half of the 1900s saw both the brief, although very significant, interlude by Allende’s socialists in 1970 and the coup of 1973 which brought Pinochet to power until 1989. Since then the country has been trying to restore democratic rule and presently a socialist is in power, President Ricardo Lagos, the first socialist to hold office since Allende.

Special Events

Easter and Christmas are the most important dates on the Chilean festive calendar when many celebrations take place. An important secular holiday is Independence Day on 18th September with the following day being the day of the Armed Forces. This week is taken up with ‘Fiestas Patrias’ and is a very patriotic time.

Music

Chile is probably best known for its folk music often played at peñas. A great deal of popular music is also widely available with considerable European and American influence.

Getting Around

Air:

The vast length of Chile means that air travel is imperative. Domestic flights and air passes are good value and are run by Lan Chile who are the country’s very reliable airline.

Taxi:

Taxis in the cities and towns will normally have meters so the price is not negotiable. If you are not sure how much a journey should be ask at the hotel and they will give you a rough idea. Larger hotels will call taxis for you but they can normally be stopped on the streets. For longer journeys, if there are a few people travelling and you are not travelling too far, taxis can be a viable alternative to buses.

Essentials

Shopping:

Several distinctive styles of pottery can be found in Chile, as well as leather goods, lapiz lazuli and the silver jewelry of the Mapuches. Local wine and Pisco are also good buys although could prove heavy in the trip home!

Tipping:

Tipping is up to the individual but in restaurants a tip of 10-15% is customary if service charge has not been added to the bill. Give the tip directly to the person who served you, do not leave it on the table. For guides it is usually said that for a half-day tour you should tip the price of a beer ($2-3) and for a full days tour the price of a cheap meal ($5-6). Taxi drivers are not normally tipped but porters or bell boys would normally receive 50¢ to $1 per bag.

British Embassy:

British Embassy and Consulate, El Bosque Norte 0125, Casilla 72-D, Santiago, Tel: 370 4100, Fax: 335 5988, www.britemb.cl Consular section, Fax: 370 4170, open 0930 –1230.

Airport Departure:

Return international flights must be reconfirmed 72 hours before departure. All the main offices are in Santiago (02), ring: American Airlines on 679 0000, Avianca on 695 4105, British Airways on 232 9560, Continental on 204 4000, Iberia on 870 1070, Lanchile on 526 2000, Varig on 707 8000. International departure tax is US$26.00 + US$5 security charge (payable in $ cash on departure) but does not apply to transit passengers. You must check in at least 2 hrs before an international flight, especially during peak seasons.

Departure tax on domestic flights is $6 (payable in $ cash on departure).

Health

Medical Emergencies:

Visitors to Chile have to pay for any medical attention they receive this can be anything up to $50 for a consultation, not including medication. There are some good hospitals and clinics in the main towns but they may be more difficult to find in remote parts. All large clinics in major towns have a 24hr emergency service and most have English speaking doctors. Emergency Hospital at Salvador, JM Infante 551, Santiago, el: 225 6441 Mon - Thu 0800-1300, 1330-1645, Fri 0800-1300, 1330-1545. Clinica Central, San Isidro 231, Tel: 222 1953, open 24 hours. Dr Torres, Av Providencia 2330, Depo 23, highly recommended, speaks good English.

Stomach upsets:

An upset stomach is the most common medical complaint when travelling abroad, there can be any number of reasons for it, including change of climate, new diet, change in altitude and local water. There are certain steps you can take that will reduce your risks of spending your whole holiday looking for the nearest toilet! Top of the list is DO NOT drink the local tap water in any country in South America. Also avoid ice (unless it has been bought from a manufacturer in which case the water will have been purified the risk is up to you) and keep your mouth shut while swimming or showering. Always buy bottled water and check that the seal on the lid has not been broken, alternatively take water treatment tablets or drops (iodine based ones are the best).

Food is a tricky one as there are no concrete rules and you have to eat! General rules are that you should avoid salads (although vinegar and lemon tend to kill most things), locally made ice cream (imported icecreams are fine) and juices from fruit that can not be peeled. Avoid eating from local food stalls unless the food is very well cooked and only eat ceviche (raw marinated fish) in good restaurants.

How to avoid being bitten:

Staying at altitude is one way, as there are not nearly as many biting insects that can survive, certainly not malarial mosquitoes! More sensible and practical ways are to wear long trousers and long sleeve shirts even though you may still find you get bitten through your clothes in areas where the mosquitoes are particularly ferocious. Apply a DEET-based repellent with as high a content as possible, Jungle Formula or even 50% DEET are advised. You should cover all exposed areas of skin, avoiding your mouth and eyes, and for extra protection you can apply it under your clothes as well. Environmentally friendly products like those based on citronella are ok but not as effective as DEET products. Sleep under a good mosquito net, most of the hotels used by Trips will provide them free and automatically in affected areas. If you prefer to take your own then they can be bought in most camping and outdoor shops. Its always helpful to take some sellotape to stick over any holes there might be in the net. You shouldalso spray the mosquito net with repellent for further protection. Mosquito coils are ok in small rooms but no use in large ones or outside. They also have a tendency of burning out half way through the night leaving you at the mercy of the mosquitoes! Electrical appliances are no good, as most lodges will not have plugs or even electricity.

(Strong concentrations of DEET can be fairly corrosive and damage leather and some plastic goods, keep it in a non-glass container and wrap it in thick plastic bags.)

Communications

Useful numbers:

From Chile to the UK: 00 + 44 + area code minus the 0 + number.

To Chile from abroad: 00 + 56

Food and Drink

You will come across some very good food in Chile, the extensive coastline means that fish and seafood is a real specialty. One typical dish is conger eel, served in a soup with onion and potato balls. Seabass, swordfish and sea urchins are also widely eaten. Meat is most commonly served as a nutritious stew or in empanadas, the South American pastry turnover. And of course to appreciate the food to its utmost, a nice bottle of Chilean wine is actively encouraged. The locals drink a great deal of wine and there is usually a wide variety available to chose from in restaurants. An aperitif can be a Pisco Sour, a white brandy mixed with lemon juice, sugar and egg white, highly recommended! In short you won’t go hungry of suffer from a thirst in Chile!

Warnings

There are some dangerous parts in Chile however these are mainly in the shanty towns on the outskirts of the cities. Nevertheless care should also be taken in city centres, especially at night. It is wise to be aware of your surroundings and leave any valuables in the hotel, preferably in the safe. A lot of theft is opportunist and can be avoided by not leaving your luggage unattended and being vigilant when in crowded areas such as bus and train stations and markets.