Chile

Chile is long, safe by South American standards and very easy for independent travel: Uber, Cabify and DiDi all work in Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and Puerto Montt, the Santiago metro is clean and fast, and long-distance buses are comfortable. Keep in mind that Chile is more expensive than its neighbours, closer to southern Europe than to Peru or Bolivia.

Currency

Chilean peso (CLP). About 980 CLP = 1 US dollar (October 2026)

Entry

US, Canada, UK, EU and Australia: no visa for stays up to 90 days

Language

Spanish, fast and full of local slang ("¿cachai?" means "you get it?")

Ride apps

Uber, Cabify and DiDi in all main cities. A 2023 law (Ley 21.553) is bringing them under regulation, but they work normally

Paying

Cards almost everywhere, contactless is common. Restaurants add a suggested 10% tip ("propina") to the bill; you can say no

Hotel VAT

Foreign tourists who pay the hotel in US dollars or with a foreign card, and show their passport and PDI entry slip, don't pay the 19% VAT

Plugs

Types C and L, 220 V

Best time

October to April. The south (Lakes District) gets rain most of the year