Chile

At a glance

• Currency — The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP)
• Language — The language is Spanish, spoken by Chileans fast and with many local expressions (it is considered among the hardest to understand in Latin America)
• Visa — You need a passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival
• e-SIM — The main operators are Entel, Movistar, WOM and Claro, with good 4G/5G coverage in cities and tourist areas; in the desert and Patagonia the signal disappears for long stretches

When to go to Chile

Chile is 4,300 km long and crosses opposite climates: the north (Atacama) is a dry, sunny desert all year (cold at night, freezing at altitude); the centre (Santiago, Valparaiso) has a Mediterranean climate; the south (Lakes, Patagonia) is cool, rainy and windy. The seasons are reversed compared with Europe. For Patagonia the best time is the southern summer (November-March), when the hikes are open; the Atacama can be visited all year.