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Travel Guide
Visiting Chile
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Top Attractions in Chile
The most iconic and unmissable experiences this country has to offer.
Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine is Patagonia's most celebrated wilderness, centred on three dramatic granite towers that rise more than 2,500 metres above the surrounding steppe and forests. The park encompasses glaciers, turquoise lakes, rivers and four distinct vegetation zones, making it one of South America's premier destinations for long-distance trekking. The famous W Trek links the granite towers with the French Valley and Grey Glacier over four to five days.
UNESCO World Heritage
Easter Island
Rapa Nui, Chile's remote Polynesian territory in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean, is home to around 1,000 monolithic moai statues carved by the island's ancestors between roughly 1400 and 1650 AD. The Rano Raraku volcanic quarry, where nearly all the statues were carved, contains approximately 400 unfinished and finished moai still embedded in the hillside. The island and its national park are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and represent one of the most remarkable feats of pre-industrial sculpture in the world.
Wise
Your bank marks up every USD you spend in Chile. Wise doesn't.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free ATM withdrawals up to your limit
- Pay in local currency at the real rate
4.8 ★ App Store·4.8 ★ Google Play
Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for Chile.
- No SIM swapping
- No data roaming charges
- Active in minutes
4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Health & Safety
Health & Emergency Info
Before You Travel
Before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Emergency medical number Call 131 and ask for an ambulance. Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment. Vaccine recommendations and health risks At least 8 weeks before your trip: check the latest recommended vaccinations for Chile or Easter Island see where to get vaccines and whether you h
Full health advice (FCDO) →Emergency Numbers
Police133
Ambulance131
Fire132
Health information sourced from UK FCDO. Always consult a travel health professional before departure.
Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Chile
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Chile page at Yoogo.
Chile uses the Chilean peso (CLP). Cards are widely accepted in cities, hotels, supermarkets, and larger restaurants. ATMs are plentiful in urban areas. In smaller towns, markets, and rural Patagonia, cash is essential. Always carry pesos for smaller transactions.
Chile is one of South America's safer destinations, with generally low violent crime in tourist areas. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in Santiago city centre and around bus stations. Some Santiago neighbourhoods are best avoided after dark. Exercise normal urban caution and keep valuables secure. Natural hazards include earthquakes and volcanic activity; Chile is one of the world's most seismically active countries.
Chile's elongated shape makes domestic flights practical for covering long distances quickly. Long-distance buses are comfortable, affordable, and extensive. Santiago has a modern metro system. In Patagonia, car hire or organised tours are the main options for reaching remote parks. Traffic drives on the right.
The best time depends on the region. Santiago and central Chile are pleasant from October to April. Patagonia and Torres del Paine are best visited from November to March, the Southern Hemisphere summer. The Atacama Desert can be visited year-round, though spring and autumn are most comfortable. The Lake District is excellent from November to April.
Spanish is the official language. Chilean Spanish is known for its distinctive accent, speed, and extensive use of local slang (chilenismos), which can challenge even fluent Spanish speakers. English is spoken at upscale hotels, tour operators, and in wealthier areas of Santiago, but is limited elsewhere.
No vaccinations are legally required for most travellers. Hepatitis A and typhoid are sometimes recommended for those travelling outside major cities. Tap water is safe to drink in Santiago and most cities. Healthcare is of a good standard in urban areas. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended.
Tipping is customary in Chile. In restaurants, 10% is standard and is usually shown as a suggested propina on the bill. Taxi drivers are typically tipped by rounding up the fare. Hotel porters and tour guides appreciate a modest gratuity.
Chile has good 4G coverage in cities and along main tourist routes, provided by Entel, Claro, and Movistar. Coverage drops significantly in Patagonia and remote areas. Prepaid SIM cards are easy to obtain. Wi-Fi is widely available at hotels and cafes in urban areas.