Chile

Flight.co.uk Overview

A remote corner of South America that was once difficult to reach except by sea, is now serviced by plenty of scheduled flights to Chile, opening up this stunning country of raging rivers, sprawling glaciers, valleys, mountains, sparkling lakes, lush forests and deserts, icy fjords and sandy beaches. Chile has it all, as tourists who take flights to Chile, entering through the buzzing capital of Santiago where 80 percent of the population lives, quickly discover. International airlines from the Americas, Europe and Asia provide services to Santiago, but discount flights to Chile are rare, except perhaps as part of a tour package. It is worth the fare and the price of long haul flights, however, to visit this country with its multitude of natural and historic attractions, not least of which is the mysterious Easter Island with its enigmatic statues, accessible from Chile's long Pacific coastline, though not through direct flights to Chile. Modern Chile has a distinct European influence that blends with the local culture to provide an hospitable environment for those who book flights to Chile. Chile flights may be costly, but the rewards are great, and occasionally cheap long haul flights are available. Apart from visiting superb national parks and indulging in a variety of outdoor activities, the country's excellent wines, delicious seafood, unique handcrafts and distinctive architecture all add up to a memorable holiday experience.

Overview

A Chilean legend maintains that after God had created the wonders of the world he had many pieces leftover. He had raging rivers, sprawling glaciers, valleys and soaring mountains, snow-capped volcanoes, sparkling lakes, beautiful forests and deserts, icy fjords and sandy beaches. Rather than let all this beauty go to waste, he put them together in a remote part of the world, and so Chile was born.

Shaped like a long narrow strip and making up the western part of South America's tail, it is 2,610 miles (4,200km) in length and at most 115 miles (180km) wide. Travellers are drawn to this country because of its multitude of natural attractions, from the northern desert to the Lake District, and the mountains and fjords of Patagonia in the south. It has some superb National Parks, including Easter Island famous for its mysterious giant statues, and numerous activities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Chile's European heritage is evident throughout the country and travellers here are likely to feel more familiar with its culture than those of the neighbouring countries, with their strongly indigenous lifestyles. There are still local traditions persisting in parts of Chile however, and together with the European influence this makes for an interesting juxtaposition, providing a distinctive culture. The people are resilient, cordial and warm, from the fashionable capital city of Santiago to the isolated island of Chiloé, and Chilean hospitality is renowned.

Besides natural beauty and an interesting blend of cultures, Chile offers the visitor excellent wines and seafood, unique handicrafts and shopping, and a variety of characteristic architecture, making it a beautiful and memorable place to visit.

Business

Chilean business culture tends to be formal, and this includes dress, which should also be conservative in colour and style. Third party introductions are often necessary to preparing a meeting, and developing a personal relationship is key to success; a social aspect is essential before getting down to business. Chileans stand very close when conversing and it is rude to pull away. Visitors are also expected to re-confirm appointments before arriving at a meeting. Foreigners should be on time for meetings, but it is not unusual for the host to be 15-30 minutes late. On introduction, a firm handshake (between men only) and the exchange of business cards is usual - cards should be printed in both English and Spanish and care should be taken to pay attention to the card before putting it away carefully. Women do not generally hold key positions in business, and visiting businesswomen might have to work hard to gain acceptance in this traditionally macho society. Business hours are generally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with a two-hour siesta over lunch.

Health

There are no vaccination requirements for entry to Chile, but Hepatitis A immunisation 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. Travellers visiting the Andes Mountains should be aware of altitude sickness, and if possible ascend slowly to allow the 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.

Safety

Chile is a politically stable country with very few threats to the traveller. Incidences of pick-pocketing and mugging are on the increase and travellers should take care of their belongings, especially around tourist areas and bus stations, and avoid walking alone late at night. Tourists should be particularly cautious in the Lake District as theft is on the increase, and muggings are becoming more common in popular walking areas such as Cerro San Cristobal, Cerro Santa Lucia and Cerro Manquehue. There has been an increase in reports regarding people receiving spiked drinks at nightclubs and bars particularly in Santiago. Avoid any involvement in demonstrations, which take place from time to time. Chile has a landmine problem, mainly restricted to border areas adjacent to Peru and Bolivia in regions I and II, and Argentina in region XII, and also in wilderness areas in those regions. Visitors are advised to stick to marked roads, obey all signs and seek the advise of local authorities if travelling to the border areas of regions I, II or XII.

Duty Free

Travellers entering Chile do not need to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars (large or small) and 500g tobacco; 2.5 litres of alcohol; and perfume for personal use. Meat products, flowers, fruit and vegetables may only be imported if permission is given by the Department of Agriculture in advance.

Tipping

10% 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.

Language

The official language is Spanish.

Communications

The international access code for Chile is +56. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). 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 centres are available in most shopping malls. Mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with most international cell phone companies; otherwise mobile phones can easily be rented. A GSM network is in operation. Internet cafes are widespread, particularly in the big cities.

Time Zone

Mainland is GMT –5 (GMT –4 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March). Easter Island is GMT –7 (GMT –6 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are standard.

Money

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. Travellers cheques, particularly in US Dollars, are welcome in major towns, where there are banks and cambios offering currency exchange services. ATMs are widely available.