Chile

Climate

Because of its huge length Chile has a diverse climate. The north is made up entirely of extremely dry desert and rainfall increases further south with the central region having a Mediterranean climate, where rain falls in the winter months from May to July. The southern region is much cooler and has year round rainfall.

Language

The national language is Spanish with a few native languages spoken including Mapuche, Aymora and Rapa Nui. Visitors would be advised to learn a little Spanish as English is rarely spoken

Cash

Local currency is the peso (Ch$). Tourist sector inflation and the revaluation of the peso have made travelling in Chile more expensive than it used to be.

A budget meal can cost anything between $2-$10 with accommodation between $10-$20. Expect a mid-range meal to be between$15-$20 and accommodation $20-$40.

Food

Beef, seafood, vegetables and fresh fruit all feature in Chilean cuisine, asis a variety of potato and flour based breads.

Travel

Chile is an easy place to get around, with a quick and reliable bus system operating around the country. Domestic air fairs are cheap and it is possible to buy air passes to lower the cost even further. There is a tax of $5 on domestic flights.

Visa

Members of western European countries do not require a visa. This also applies to citizens of Australia, USA and Canada. New Zealander’s however do need one. US citizens do pay a US$20 levy.