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Chile Tours for the latest info see https://chile.travel/en/traveltochileplan Chile's health ministry announces the end of mandatory use of face masks and the mobility pass. This will apply from October 1st, 2022. Chile has eliminated the vaccination certificate or PCR test when entering Chile. This decision was taken by the government after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the end of the Covid emergency. For border crossing from El Calafate to Torres del Paine we recommend bringing a physical copy of all relevant documents as there is no internet or cellphone signal at the border post. |
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Chile is often referred to as a narrow string bean of a country and indeed it is at more than 4000 kilometers long. It is filled with its very own flora and fauna and snowcapped volcanoes, endless salt lakes, emerald blue lakes, glaciated fiords, dense rain forests, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, the Andes, native foods from both land and sea, terrific new world wines - and pack all packed into less than 180 kms at the widest point. Good reasons to go to Chile
We can create Chile tours to include:
The Atacama desert is driest desert of the world and offers unmatchable beauty and great comfort for those travelers wanting to have a good combination of rugged terrains and a broad variety of hotels, cafes and restaurants, the archaeological wealth of this region is also a great highlight. The Central Valley is Chile’s core. If you want the big city try driving in Santiago with 6 million inhabitants. Prefer a quick escape to the beach? Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are the places to go. If you want to add some mountains, take the road to el Cajón del Maipo. Maybe you do want to check out some of the wine valleys such as Colchagua or Casablanca. The Lake District has lakes everywhere, combined with snow covered volcanoes, lush green forests, small colonial towns and a wild nature. Patagonia offers the true experience of driving in the wild, green lush forests, lakes, wild rivers, granite rock formations and loads of wild life. Take some of the least explored routes such as Carretera Austral for a memorable experience or aim big for Torres del Paine National Park Antarctica can be visited by flying at least one way to make a short 6-10 day itinerary that can be combined with other areas. If you don't see what you want, just ask. We have more to choose from. We even develop tours that go to several countries!
Depart Cusco (08:25) and arrive to Santiago (13:50) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Saturdays Latam has resumed flights between Santiago de Chile and Easter Island (4 a week). |
" We had an amazing trip, everything was super organised, drivers always on time, guide as well, good hotels. We were lucky with our timing in Atacama as some of the excursions just started again after the flooding. Patagonia was great, Tierra hotel service and excursions super ! The only negative point was the hotel Noi in Punta Arenas. The dinner in the restaurant was very bad, luckily we did not have to pay." Annemie |
Entry Requirements
U.S. & Canadian Citizens - U.S. or Canadian Passport must be valid for 3 months beyond intended stay. Must have tickets and documents for return or onward travel. No visa required for stay of up to three months (90-day extension possible).
Passengers arriving by plane are charged a reciprocity fee of US$132 for Canadians – upon landing, payable in U.S. currency or by credit card. This one-time charge is good for the duration of your passport.
When entering Chile (via cruise, vehicle or plane) and crossing customs, visitors need to fill out a tourist card that allows them to stay for 90 days. This tourist card must be shown to customs when leaving the country as well, so be sure not to lose it. Hotels waive Chile’s 18% sales tax (applicable to room charges) when the guest shows this card and pays with U.S. dollars.
On flights leaving Chile, there is an airport tax of US$18 or its equivalent in Chilean Pesos. On domestic flights, the airport tax is included in the airline ticket.
Other Nationalities
For entry requirements for other nationalities, call the Embassy of Chile in the U.S. at 202-785-1746 or send an email to [email protected].
Language: Spanish. In the Lake District, many Mapuches speak Mapudungun, and in the north, Aymara is spoken by some indigenous groups.
Religion: Predominantly Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant); Mapuches celebrate their own shamanic spirituality and perform sacred fertility rites within the community.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts. Electrical sockets have two openings for tubular pins, not flat prongs, so you’ll need a plug adapter.
Business Hours: Banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm, and are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Currency: Chilean Peso; bank notes are for 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. It is often difficult to change the latter two, especially in small villages.
Money Exchange: Available at any established “Casa de Cambio” at market-driven exchange rates. Avoid black market exchange rates.
Tipping: Customary in Chilean restaurants at a rate of 10%. Hotel tipping is discretionary, and tipping cab drivers is uncommon.
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks are least widely accepted and fetch the lowest exchange rates. The simplest and most efficient way to carry and change money is with a debit or ATM card. ATM machines normally give better rates than banks or money changers, and charge no commission. Only ATMs in larger cities will be compatible with international debit systems like Plus or Cirrus.
Vaccinations: International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required if arriving from an infected area within 5 days. No other vaccination is required to enter Chile.
Embassies/Consulates: The U.S. Embassy in Santiago is located at Av. Andrés Bello 2800 (tel. 2/232-2600). The Canadian Embassy is at Nuevo Tajamar 481, Piso 12 (tel. 2/362-9660).
Internet: No matter where you are in Chile, chances are there is an Internet station, either in a cafe or at local telephone centers, Telefonica or Entel. Most hotels have their own Internet service. If they don’t, they’ll be able to point out where to find one. Expect to pay $2 to $4 per hour of service.
Safety: Santiago is probably the safest major city in South America. Serious violent crime is not unheard of, but is uncommon. A visitor’s principal safety concern will be pickpockets and vandals, but even then, chances of becoming a victim are slim.
In Chile, the import of crop and animal products is strictly regulated, in order to avoid vermins, plagues, and the diffusion of non-native plants and animals. Unfortunately, there have been several incidents because of the non-compliance of those regulations in the past season: The consequence were surcharges of up to USD 200 and long waiting times for the passengers, which also affected the travel itinerary.
When entering Chile, all passengers receive a form on which they must declare all the crop and animal products they carry. Luggage will be checked. The controls do not only take place at the airport of Santiago, but also at the regional borders as well as in the harbors in case of cruises from abroad.Generally, the following products can only be imported WITH DECLARATION:
a) crops - coffee, cocoa, nuts, dry fruits, etc.
- juices and alcohol
- oils, flour, starch flour, semolina, sugar
- marmelade, canned fruit, vegetables
- cereals, spices, tea
- seeds, plant fibres, bark, flowers, and other dried vegetable products
Fresh fruits and vegetables CAN NOT be imported. If carrying such products, they must be thrown away BEFORE getting to the customs or DECLARED and then handed over.
b) animal products
- canned meat
- food for personal purpose (sandwiches, prepared meals) which contains cooked or roasted meat
- cold cuts and ham
- dairy products (milk, cream, yoghurt, etc.)
- cheese
- boiled eggs
- leather goods, skins and wool (this refers to raw materials and handicrafts, but not to processed materials like shoes, belts, handbags, woollens, etc.)
Industrial products have to be in their factory packaging and unopened. Furthermore, the ingredients have to be printed on the packaging.
U.S. & Canadian Citizens - U.S. or Canadian Passport must be valid for 3 months beyond intended stay. Must have tickets and documents for return or onward travel. No visa required for stay of up to three months (90-day extension possible).
Passengers arriving by plane are charged a reciprocity fee of US$132 for Canadians – upon landing, payable in U.S. currency or by credit card. This one-time charge is good for the duration of your passport.
When entering Chile (via cruise, vehicle or plane) and crossing customs, visitors need to fill out a tourist card that allows them to stay for 90 days. This tourist card must be shown to customs when leaving the country as well, so be sure not to lose it. Hotels waive Chile’s 18% sales tax (applicable to room charges) when the guest shows this card and pays with U.S. dollars.
On flights leaving Chile, there is an airport tax of US$18 or its equivalent in Chilean Pesos. On domestic flights, the airport tax is included in the airline ticket.
Other Nationalities
For entry requirements for other nationalities, call the Embassy of Chile in the U.S. at 202-785-1746 or send an email to [email protected].
Language: Spanish. In the Lake District, many Mapuches speak Mapudungun, and in the north, Aymara is spoken by some indigenous groups.
Religion: Predominantly Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant); Mapuches celebrate their own shamanic spirituality and perform sacred fertility rites within the community.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts. Electrical sockets have two openings for tubular pins, not flat prongs, so you’ll need a plug adapter.
Business Hours: Banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm, and are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Currency: Chilean Peso; bank notes are for 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. It is often difficult to change the latter two, especially in small villages.
Money Exchange: Available at any established “Casa de Cambio” at market-driven exchange rates. Avoid black market exchange rates.
Tipping: Customary in Chilean restaurants at a rate of 10%. Hotel tipping is discretionary, and tipping cab drivers is uncommon.
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks are least widely accepted and fetch the lowest exchange rates. The simplest and most efficient way to carry and change money is with a debit or ATM card. ATM machines normally give better rates than banks or money changers, and charge no commission. Only ATMs in larger cities will be compatible with international debit systems like Plus or Cirrus.
Vaccinations: International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required if arriving from an infected area within 5 days. No other vaccination is required to enter Chile.
Embassies/Consulates: The U.S. Embassy in Santiago is located at Av. Andrés Bello 2800 (tel. 2/232-2600). The Canadian Embassy is at Nuevo Tajamar 481, Piso 12 (tel. 2/362-9660).
Internet: No matter where you are in Chile, chances are there is an Internet station, either in a cafe or at local telephone centers, Telefonica or Entel. Most hotels have their own Internet service. If they don’t, they’ll be able to point out where to find one. Expect to pay $2 to $4 per hour of service.
Safety: Santiago is probably the safest major city in South America. Serious violent crime is not unheard of, but is uncommon. A visitor’s principal safety concern will be pickpockets and vandals, but even then, chances of becoming a victim are slim.
In Chile, the import of crop and animal products is strictly regulated, in order to avoid vermins, plagues, and the diffusion of non-native plants and animals. Unfortunately, there have been several incidents because of the non-compliance of those regulations in the past season: The consequence were surcharges of up to USD 200 and long waiting times for the passengers, which also affected the travel itinerary.
When entering Chile, all passengers receive a form on which they must declare all the crop and animal products they carry. Luggage will be checked. The controls do not only take place at the airport of Santiago, but also at the regional borders as well as in the harbors in case of cruises from abroad.Generally, the following products can only be imported WITH DECLARATION:
a) crops - coffee, cocoa, nuts, dry fruits, etc.
- juices and alcohol
- oils, flour, starch flour, semolina, sugar
- marmelade, canned fruit, vegetables
- cereals, spices, tea
- seeds, plant fibres, bark, flowers, and other dried vegetable products
Fresh fruits and vegetables CAN NOT be imported. If carrying such products, they must be thrown away BEFORE getting to the customs or DECLARED and then handed over.
b) animal products
- canned meat
- food for personal purpose (sandwiches, prepared meals) which contains cooked or roasted meat
- cold cuts and ham
- dairy products (milk, cream, yoghurt, etc.)
- cheese
- boiled eggs
- leather goods, skins and wool (this refers to raw materials and handicrafts, but not to processed materials like shoes, belts, handbags, woollens, etc.)
Industrial products have to be in their factory packaging and unopened. Furthermore, the ingredients have to be printed on the packaging.
