Chile: Practical information

Accommodation

Hotel reservation websites: Hotel Accommodation Guide in Chile (in Spanish)
Travellerspoint Travel Community

Rules For Eating Out: Tipping, or propina, is common in Chile. In restaurants and bars, a tip is usually 10% of the total bill. This is a important part of the employees' wages, which are usually very low.

Food Specialties: Chile has various food specialities such as Cazuela, which is a chicken stew made with rice, corn and potatoes or Empanadas, which are a sort of fritter stuffed with meat, poultry or fish with onions, eggs and olives. Other specialities include alpaca steak (also known as Altiplano), chicha (fermented corn), mutton and fish and seafood on the coast.
Drinks: The most common drinks in Chile are water, fizzy drinks, fresh fruit juices, mote con huesillo which is made from husked wheat and sun-dried peaches, tea, coffee and maté which is a stimulating infusion of the dried leaves of yerba mate.
Dietary Restrictions: There are no dietary restrictions in the country.
Table Manners: You must use cutlery (knife and fork) when eating. Hands should remain on the table and never in your lap. Licking one's fingers or using a tooth-pick is considered rude.

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Santiago - Benitez Intl (SCL)	18 km / 12 miles	USD 23-28 / 30 min	USD 3 / 30-40 min.	-	Available
Concepción - Carriel Sur Intl (CCP)	6 km / 4 miles	Available	-	-	Available

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Skyairlines	Major	Yes	No
LAN	Major	Yes	Yes
DAP	Major	Yes	Yes
CDA	Major	Yes	Yes

Car rental agencies: Europcar
Budget
Real-time traffic conditions: Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones, Unidad Operativa de Control de Tránsito
Ministry Of Public Works

National Roads Organizations: The Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, Operational Unit for Transit Control

Time zone

Type of Climate: The vast length of Chile accounts for its various climates. The northern part of the country has a desert-like and arid climate, the central part has a Mediterranean-like climate, while the south has a more oceanic climate. Additionally, the mountainous regions have a tundra-like climate.

Climate

Domestic Currency: Chilean Peso
ISO Code: CLP
To Obtain Domestic Currency: The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). Major world currencies can be exchanged easily in Santiago, as well as in most regions of Chile. Some banks or bureaux de change in remote towns still sometimes prefer the U.S. dollar. For shopping, restaurants and small hotels generally accept local currency only. Bureaux de change are generally closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. They also change traveller's checks without commission. Banks are open during the week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exchanging money on the black market is not advisable.
Possible Means of Payment: MasterCard and Visa are usually taken at top of the range establishments, unlike the American Express card that is not very widespread. Withdrawing cash with a credit card is widespread and very easy.

To Find a Cash Machine Where You Need, Use the ATM locator

Official Language: Spanish.
Other Languages Spoken: Indigenous dialects, such as Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua and Rapa Nui
Business Language: Spanish, English

Telephone Codes: To Make a Call From Chile, Dial 00
To Make a Call to in Chile, Dial +56
Mobile Telephone Standards: Standard GSM (Global system for mobile communications)
National Mobile Phone Operators: There are a number of mobile phone operators, including Claro, Entel and Movistar.

Internet Suffix: .cl
National Internet Access Providers: The largest internet providers are Telefónica, VTR Banda Ancha, Claro Comunicaciones S.A., Telsur, GTD Manquehue, Entel-Chile S.A., Pacífico Cable, CMET.

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