Are you planning a trip to Chile? Check out this guide before packing to ensure you’re well prepared to go on this journey!

Chile is a fascinating nation with a rich history, a stunning natural environment, and world-class attractions. Say Hueque enjoys organizing excursions in Chile and introducing visitors to our neighbour – be sure to check out our Chile tailor-made vacations.

There are so many amazing places to view, activities to participate in, and people to meet. However, if you want to travel, you should do preliminary research. To get you started, here are the top ten things to know before heading to Chile. Please provide your own tips and techniques in the comments!

There is no need for a visa!

This is without a doubt one of the most crucial things to understand before visiting Chile. You will not require a visa or pay a charge to visit the nation as a US citizen (or a citizen of the EU).

In actuality, a tourist visa allows you to remain in Chile for 90 days (3 months) at a time. Nonetheless, many individuals who wish to remain in Chile for a longer period of time will either renew their visa for another three months or leave the country and return.

This is not the Spanish you studied in high school.

Students who come to Chile to study Spanish are often disappointed because it is not the same as the Spanish they were taught in high school.

Yes, you will need to learn to utilise terms like cachai and weon, and you may even begin to conjugate verbs differently.

Nonetheless, I assure you that the Chilean accent is not as tough as everyone claims. Furthermore, if you get the hang of it, it’s really rather enjoyable.

Expect the Unexpected When It Comes to Weather

All I need to say here is that northern Chile is a desert, while southern Chile is Patagonia. Remember the snow-covered mountains? If you checked the weather for San Pedro de Atacama and then Puerto Natales (as I just did), you’d notice a significant difference in their daily highs.

Pack for dramatic weather differences while planning a vacation to tour all of Chile.

Bring a Snack!

I’ve always heard that Americans are supposed to eat more than other nations, but who knew we ate our meals so much earlier? Finding a spot to have lunch around 11:30 a.m. is unheard of in Chile.

In fact, most eateries will not open for lunch until about 1:00 p.m. And what about dinner? It’s not around 5 p.m.; rather, it’ll be about 10 or 11 p.m.

You didn’t expect that… There was an earthquake.

I’m not accustomed to them, being from the southeastern United States. To be honest, I don’t recall ever feeling one before moving to Chile. Nonetheless, I recall well my first Chilean earthquake.

I was horrified upon feeling the movement beneath my feet, but the Chileans around me weren’t even responding and informed me it was only a “temblor”. When visiting Chile, keep in mind that the nation is well prepared to cope with earthquakes (and temblors).

Earthquakes that might be deemed large-scale in other nations often do little damage in Chile.

It Isn’t as Cheap as You Think

While I still believe that Chile is cheaper than Europe, I’ve seen that tourists often hold the idea that South America as a whole is inexpensive.

Among the most important things to know before visiting Chile is that this assumption is not always accurate, particularly in Argentina and Chile.

Keep in mind that Santiago is the country’s capital and home to around one-third of the country’s population, so expect it to be pricey.

Who actually is Lucas?

No, it’s not the person everyone keeps bringing up. “Lucas” is not a popular name in Chile, although you will hear it often. This is due to the fact that the term refers to money in multiples of thousands.

When someone says “cuatro lucas,” they are not referring to “four persons called Lucas,” but rather to “4000 pesos.”

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How to Get Around

To utilise public transit, you must purchase a BIP card, which costs 1550 pesos and is available at all Metro stations, Centros BIP, and Puntos Bip!

It allows you to add multiples of ten pesos with a minimum of 750 pesos at selling points or any other affiliated shops that accept BIP cards.

The card permits you to travel by bus (known as micros in Chile) and subway (also known as the metro). You may purchase a single card and use it for both yourself and your travelling friends.

Be aware of your surroundings and use common sense.

If you’ve travelled overseas, this may seem obvious, but it’s worth emphasising. When paying for anything, avoid taking out your wallet and flashing big quantities of cash in public.

Grab and runs are quite common in Santiago, and if you are carrying substantial sums of cash, you will most likely be targeted. Avoid drawing undue attention to oneself.