Chile
South America · Americas
- Capital
- Santiago
- Currency
- Chilean Peso (CLP)
- Language
- Spanish
- Timezone
- UTC-4 (UTC-3 in summer)
- Safety rating
- 7.5/10
- Best time to visit
- November to March for Patagonia (austral summer, trails open). March to May for wine harvest in the Central Valley. June to September for San Pedro de Atacama (clear skies, stargazing). Easter Island is year-round.
Overview
Chile is South America's most geographically extreme country — a 4,300km ribbon of land between the Andes and the Pacific. From the world's driest Atacama Desert in the north to the pristine wilderness of Patagonia in the south, from Easter Island's mysterious moai statues to the wine valleys of the Central Valley, Chile rewards adventurous travelers enormously.
Visa requirements
Citizens of USA, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and most Western nations enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
Safety information
One of South America's safer countries. Santiago has improved significantly. Watch for pickpockets in central Santiago markets and bus terminals. Patagonia and Torres del Paine are safe but require proper preparation for wilderness conditions and rapidly changing weather.
Travel tips
Torres del Paine's W Trek or O Circuit are world-class — book campsites 6 months ahead. The Atacama night sky is among the world's clearest — book a stargazing tour. Carménère wine is Chile's signature grape variety. LATAM Airlines has good domestic connections.