 Do I need a visa to visit Chile?
US, Canadian, British and German citizens who hold a valid passport, along with the majority of citizens from occidental nations, easily obtain a renewable 3-month visa.
Do I need special vaccines?
There are no Malaria, Dengue or Yellow Fever risks in Chile so no special vaccines are needed.
Are there mosquitoes and other annoying insects?
The mosquito populations along with other annoying insects vary along 3 related factors: location, climate and time of year. We make special efforts to consider those factors in choosing a camp site relatively free of annoying bugs. Carrying Repellent is always recommendable since there are no real guarantees against mosquitoes or horseflies.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Due to the nature of our excursions and the fact that we often visit remote areas we insist that it is in everyone’s best interest to have travel insurance.
Where can I sign up for a recommendable Travel Insurance Policy?
We generally refer clients either to their travel agent or www.travelguard.com
Do I need to bring along a water purification system?
No. Chile’s water table in the south is among the purest in the world especially where we’ll be travelling. Having said that it is also important to keep in mind that once you get to the north of Chile there are some cites where it is advisable NOT to drink tap water for various reasons. A good policy is to ask if you have any doubts before drinking from any source. We highly recommend that you DO drink from the streams and rivers where we’ll be travelling.
Is tipping required in Chile?
While tipping is part of the general culture in hotels, restaurants and private automobile services there is no need to tip in public taxis or barber shops. Of course a tip in most any context of extraordinary service is almost always well received and especially appreciated by our guides at the end of our excursions.
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What’s the weather like in Chile?
along its entire territory this long, narrow stretch of land is bordered by the Andes Mountain Chain on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. The diverse weather patterns or microclimates that are produced in this context change surprisingly within small distances. The classical classifications of geographical zones are all associated with associated microclimate phenomena and include the following: arid desert, high plains, Mediterranean-type, semi-temperate, cold and temperate rainforests, Patagonian steppes, Lenga Forests, and Ice field climates which are found below the 40º latitude.
Unlike Europe and North America the established weather patterns could be extremely variable and unpredictable precisely in the Patagonia- where we do most of our tours. Between October 1st and the 31st of March we normally expect temperatures within the 15ºC and 25ºC range during the day. In the middle of summer those numbers can get even higher. In the off season the temperatures fluctuate between 8ºC and 20ºC.
When visiting the Andes Mountain chain, the adjacent Pacific Ocean or the Patagonia it is best to be prepared for climate changes at any given time of year. It’s just as possible to find yourself in a snow storm as it to feel temperatures edging above 32ºC mark in the middle of summer. Bring the personal gear that we detail in the section Personal Gear in order to increase your chances of staying comfortable in rainy or cold situations.
What type of Electricity do you use in Chile?
We use 220 Volts AC. The plugs have three cylindrical prongs instead of the typical flat rectangular prongs used in the US, Europe, Australia and Japan. There are adapters in electric supply stores, travel shops or hardware stores throughout the country in and around all major cities such as Santiago.
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Where should I exchange my money for local currency?
There are numerous Money Exchange offices in the airports, cities and tourist sites. In the majority of large stores major credit cards are widely accepted. However, it is advisable to have local currency on hand when visiting the smaller towns. Traveler´s checks are inconvenient and tend to be changed over at the lower exchange rates. We recommend using major credit cards, local currency or cash over traveler´s checks.
How’s the internet connection in Chile?
Chile has a fiber optics based system as well as differing types of broadband throughout its territory which makes rapid internet access possible at relatively moderate costs- $1 to $2 US dollars an hour. In small, remote towns there is less of a chance of staying connected. We recommend that our clients leave behind the internet as well as the rest of the world for a brief moment while they absorb and experience this part of the world.
How do I get around once in Chile?
There are three airlines that connect the major cities throughout Chile. See LanChile. There is also an extensive network of buses. The majority of the bus companies renders good service and maintains high security standards. See TurBus and Pulman Bus. Rental cars are also available. See Hertz.
Do you organize private excursions?
We would love to organize a trip for you and you’re friends and colleagues. We tend to keep the numbers between 2 and 8 people. While we do comfortably organize trips for up to 16 passengers for all of our activities we require ample and reasonable preparation time.
The electricity standard is 220V.
Airline contact:www.lan.com
Rental Car contact: Avis, Budget Puerto Varas.
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