The local currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP), which is divided into 100 centavos. Visa, Mastercard and, to a lesser extent, American Express are accepted in most large shops and hotels. Travelers checks, particularly in U.S. dollars, are welcome in major towns, where there are banks and cambios offering currency exchange services. ATMs are widely available.
It's recommended that before boarding the flight to Chile, travelers have a handful of Chilean Peso available for taxi drivers and shuttle bus operators.
Back to top
The international access code for Chile is +56. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the U.S.). The area code for Santiago is (0)2. Internet cafes are available in the main towns. A number of telephone companies offer different rates for national and international calls, depending on the time of day. Public phones are widely available and international call centers are available in most shopping malls. Cell phone companies have roaming agreements with most international cell phone companies; otherwise cell phones can easily be rented. A GSM network is in operation. Internet cafes are widespread, particularly in the big cities.
Back to top
10 percent is expected in restaurants. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers but it is usual to round up the fare if they help with luggage. In general tipping small amounts is customary for all services.
Back to top
Chile is a politically stable country with very few threats to the traveler. Incidences of pick-pocketing and mugging are on the increase and travelers should take care of their belongings, especially around tourist areas and bus stations, and avoid walking alone late at night.
Back to top
There are no vaccination requirements for entry to Chile, but Hepatitis A immunization is recommended. All water should be treated as if contaminated; bottled water is available. Santiago is severely polluted and this could cause respiratory problems or eye irritations. Travelers visiting the Andes Mountains should be aware of altitude sickness, and if possible ascend slowly to allowthe body to adjust. Health care in urban areas is adequate, but hospitals and clinics are extremely expensive and usually require payment in cash. Health insurance is strongly recommended.
Back to top
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are standard.
Back to topp
