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GENERAL INFORMATION
Located along the Pacific coast of South America, Chile is a narrow and long country that is bordered by Peru in the north, and Bolivia and Argentina in the east.
With a surface area of 756,096 square kilometers (472,569 sq. mi), Chile has 14.7 million inhabitants, 4.3 million of them concentrated in the capital of the country, Santiago. 80% of the population is urban-based.
Politically, Chile is divided into 12 regions, including the Antarctic territory, plus the metropolitan region.
The official language of Chile is Spanish, and its currency is the Chilean peso. Chile is a mestizo country, of mixed European and indigenous descent, and the indigenous tradition is still visible in several parts of the country. Chile's literacy rate is one of Latin America's highest. Nearly 90% of the Chileans are Roman Catholic, but there exists a freedom of religious expression here.
Chilean people are friendly and hospitable to foreigners. The economy is strong, and the police are trustworthy. This, together with the incredible beauty of its geography, and the well developed transportation system, make this country a very attractive destination for all travelers.
CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the peso ($ or CHP), which exists in banknotes of $500, $1000, $2000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 and coins of $1, $5, $10, $50, $100 and $500.
Foreign Cash
Foreign cash is not generally in use, except for hotels that may waive the value-added tax (IVA) if you are a foreigner, when you pay in US dollars or credit card.
Credit cards
Credit cards are widely used and accepted. There is no surcharge for their use. The most commonly accepted cards are Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. In medium to large businesses American Express is also honored. Exchange rates for credit cards are pretty good. Some small, rural towns mostly have cash economies, so have cash handy when going off the beaten track.
Teller Machines
In commercial and banking areas, it is easy to find Automatic Teller Machines (Redbanc network) honoring cards of all local banks as well as Cirrus cards, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Exchange rates are very good.
CLIMATE
Because of its length, Chile encompasses a variety of climates (the country contains both arid deserts and icebergs). There's no one time that's perfect to visit every part of the country, but our favorite season is summer (October-March). In most parts of the country, it seldom rains during that period, humidity is low, midday temperatures reach about 90 F/32 C, and the nights are cool. The worst time is May-August, when it rains a lot from Santiago south. It's also colder then. A sweater (and, in the south, a heavy jacket) should be taken no matter when you go, as nights can be cool to cold nearly everywhere. The best time to visit Easter Island is August-October, and the worst months are June and July, when it rains, and December-February, the busiest tourist season. Temperatures there average 70-90 F/21-34 C year-round. | |
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