The longest country in the world stretches for over 4,200 kilometers. In the east of Chile, the mighty Andes rise up. Among the snow-covered peaks are 2,085 volcanoes. In turn, on the western side of the country, the powerful waves of the Pacific Ocean are crashing. The coast of Chile is adorned with hidden fishing villages, chic beaches and mystical islands. In the north, the silent Atacama Desert sets the rhythm. With its encrusted salt lakes and bubbling geysers, it seems like the terrain of another planet. Urban life takes place mainly in central Chile. Between the cities, rows of grapevines stretch endlessly across the green hills. Meanwhile, in the south, you sense the pure wilderness of the country. Shimmering lakes are surrounded by dense rainforest. And the ice of gigantic glaciers breaks clashingly. All this in one country – Chile is full of extremes.

Chile Compact

Contrasts of the Country in

2 Weeks

Chile Classic

Highlights of the Country in 3 Weeks

Chile in all its Facets

The Faces of the Country in

4 Weeks

Chile Authentic

Rough Diamonds of the Country in

3 Weeks

Patagonia Active

Southern and Central Chile in 2 Weeks (with Multi-Day Hike)

Chile Up Close

Altiplano and Lake Region in

3 Weeks (with Multi-Day Tour)

Focus Atacama

Northern Chile in

3 Weeks (with Rental Car)

Chile Pure

Secluded Nature of the Country in

3 Weeks (with Rental Car)

Chile Mystical

Little South of Chile and Iquique in

3 Weeks (with Rental Car)

Carretera Austral Fundamental

Patagonia in 3 Weeks (with Rental Car)

Chile Deluxe

Tierra del Fuego Cruise and Easter Island in 3 Weeks

With Chile Central you compensate the ecological footprint of your Chile trip. We support the reforestation in Chile and other sustainability initiatives with your contribution.

We are engaged in social projects in Chile. With a trip provided by us, you help a non-profit institution in its work with disadvantaged children of Santiago.

The entry requirements for Chile depend on the nationality. Many travelers do not need a visa for a stay up to 90 days. You can find more information here.

When entering Chile, you will receive a tourist card. The document must be submitted again when leaving the country. If the inconspicuous slip cannot be presented, penalty fees and travel delays may result at the moment of border crossing. Since September 2021, it has also been possible to apply for a reissue digitally. The PDI provides an online form for this purpose.

Chilean regulations for traveling with underage children are very strict, especially for children with Chilean or dual nationality and when accompanied by only one parent. Under certain circumstances, birth certificates and a notarized travel permit must be presented.

Please also note the special entry requirements of Rapa Nui.

Furthermore, the Chilean customs authorities require an affidavit for the products carried on entry. As part of the ongoing digitalization, this should be done using the online form. We recommend completing the digital form 48 hours before crossing the border to Chile and saving the receipt offline.

Health risk factors in Chile do not differ significantly from those like in Europe. With some exceptions, medical care is also comparable in the country's larger cities. Required vaccinations depend on the origin of the traveler.
In central and southern Chile, drinking tap water is generally safe for most people, but travelers are generally advised to drink mineral water as a preventive measure.
In addition to geographical risks such as earthquakes, altitude sickness in particular must be taken into account during stays in the Andes without prior altitude adjustment.

From a climatic point of view, the months November to March are generally very suitable for traveling through Chile. This is the local summer season, which means that the weather conditions in the rough south and in the mediterranean center are warmer and less rainy.  The north of the country near the coast is mild to warm during the whole year. At the same time, Chilean summer time is the main season, which means that some travel destinations are sometimes very busy.
From April to September is the colder season. During this time, more frequent rainfall, low temperatures and sometimes snow can be expected in central and southern Chile and in more mountainous regions. It can happen that the weather conditions restrict the visit of places of interest and group tours have to be cancelled due to missing participants. At the same time, travelers get very authentic impressions in the low season with the reduced number of visitors and experience the fascinating nature of the country from a very special point of view.

Especially the young generation in Chile is becoming increasingly familiar with the English language. And English is spoken in most hotels and on guided tours. Nevertheless, in many places it can be noticed that Chile with its geographical location is exclusively surrounded by other Spanish-speaking countries. Therefore, the language skills in Chilean society are limited.
The attempt of travelers to communicate in Spanish quickly breaks the ice and thus, basic information can be transmitted even without a common language. But for a deeper insight into the culture of the country and for a more intensive exchange with the local people, a knowledge of Spanish is undoubtedly very helpful.
If you would like to take part in a language course during your round trip through Chile, we are happy to assist you with the organization.

In relation to other destinations in South America, Chile is a very expensive country to visit. Compared to central Europe, the costs for restaurant visits, fuel and personal services are a little lower. Food in supermarkets, medicines or imported items such as electrical goods are sometimes considerably more expensive than in Europe. From a financial but also from a touristic point of view, shopping in public markets is recommendable. Public local and long-distance transport is certainly reasonable for individual trips. However, since there is usually no special frequent traveler rate, regular use of public transport is quite expensive. Moreover, the respective tolls for journeys with a rental car or motorhome must be taken into account.

The expected tip for cafés and restaurants is 10%. Please note that nowadays many café and restaurant operators have already added the 10% tip. This is noted on the respective invoice. The payment of the corresponding tip is voluntary, you can agree, disagree or adjust the suggestion. For tours with very dedicated tour guides, a tip of about €5 is recommended. The room service and driving services can be given €1 to €2.
Moreover, street musicians, comedians or packing assistants in the supermarket finance themselves often exclusively by noncommittal tips. For them, you should always have 500 Pesos (about €0.60) ready in your pocket.

What you should take with you on your trip depends very much on which region of Chile you visit at what time of the year and what the focus of your trip is. In general, we recommend to carry the following items in addition to the usual travel accessories:

• Warm and rainproof functional clothing
• Solid footwear
• Sandals
• Swimwear
• Cap
• Sun protection and sun cream with factor 30 or higher
• Daypack
• Mobile phone
• Digital copies of your passport (e.g. in your email box)
• First-aid kit
• Socket adapter
• Driver's license
• Credit card (debit cards are usually not accepted for car rental)
• Money in local currency for the first days

Flights within Chile are subject to similar baggage conditions as intercontinental flights. Generally, you can check in one piece of baggage weighing 23 kg per person. The limit for hand luggage is usually 8 kg.

In the event of delays in forwarding luggage, it is advisable to have relevant items for the first and second day of travel in your hand luggage.

We strongly recommend carrying an international driver's license. Although the European driving license is generally accepted when the rental car is picked up as well as during police controls, it is particularly useful to be able to show an international driving license in the event of damage. This in turn is only valid in connection with the national driver's license.

Chile is well suited for motorhome trips due to its diverse nature and remote places of interest. At the same time, the country has a very limited camping culture. Staying in the open countryside and far from urban areas is a good option when traveling by motorhome. This is also tolerated by the authorities.

Using your own cell phone on vacation in Chile offers many advantages. Whether as a GPS device on the road, as a digital entrance ticket to National Parks or, of course, for communication back home, it has become hard to imagine traveling without a smartphone. You can use your cell phone in three ways on your trip through Chile:

1. Using your cell phone via WLAN
You can use public Wi-Fi connections in your hotel, in cafés or at airports to make internet calls via providers such as WhatsApp or Skype and access to all other online services. Phone calls and messaging services without an Internet connection are not possible.

2. Using your cell phone via roaming
Use your cell phone via the roaming function and access to local networks. Phone calls, text messages and data usage are billed as international services and incur corresponding costs.

3. Using the cell phone with a Chilean SIM card
You can use your smartphone with a Chilean prepaid card. You obtain these easily and cheaply in many small local stores. It is relatively simple to book data packages for the mobile internet and make local phone calls. This requires that your phone is unlocked. The use of a non-Chilean cell phone with a Chilean SIM card is tolerated for 30 days. Bypassing a subsequent block involves a rather bureaucratic phone registration process, which consists of presenting ID, proof of purchase of the phone and the IMEI code. Registration takes a few days and is particularly recommended for people who are in Chile for long periods or frequently. Further information can be found here.

* The travel tips listed here are based on our country-specific knowledge and experience. However, they are not legally binding.

More travel tips for your Chile trip can be found here.