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Planning a trip to Chile? Here you'll find our 2 day-by-day itineraries (Santiago, Valparaiso and the Atacama desert, Patagonia and the Lake District), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.
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.
Updated: June 2026
You need a passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival. For tourism no visa is required for up to 90 days; other nationalities should check their rules. On entry you receive an immigration slip/record (PDI): KEEP IT carefully, as it is needed to leave the country (if lost or stolen, report it at once). If travelling with minors, check Chile's stricter rules on the entry of minors: in some cases the other parent's authorisation is required.
The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). Chile is the most developed and organised country in South America, but also among the most expensive. Credit/debit cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities, hotels and restaurants; it is still handy to carry cash for remote areas (Atacama, Patagonia), small towns and tips. ATMs are common but charge fees. You may bring in up to USD 10,000 in cash without declaring it; changing euros/dollars is easy.
The language is Spanish, spoken by Chileans fast and with many local expressions (it is considered among the hardest to understand in Latin America). English is common in the tourist sector and among young people in the cities, less so elsewhere: a few words of Spanish are very useful.
No mandatory vaccine; hepatitis A is recommended. The private facilities in Santiago and Valparaiso/Vina del Mar are excellent but costly; elsewhere the level drops: take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation. Water is drinkable but can cause intestinal upset in the first days: bottled water is better at first. Beware of the 'recluse spider' (Loxosceles), whose bite is dangerous: it lives in dark corners and wardrobes, more in summer. In the north (Atacama, Tatio at 4,300 m) ascend gradually against altitude sickness: drink plenty and use coca tea.
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. A local tourist SIM (easy to buy) or an eSIM bought before departure is best. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and restaurants. Download offline maps for Atacama and the Patagonian parks.
Power is 220V/50Hz with type C and L sockets: the type L socket is the 'Italian' three-in-line-pin type, so Italian plugs often fit. Bring a universal adapter to be safe anyway.
Continental Chile is at UTC-4 (with summer daylight saving UTC-3). Easter Island is two hours behind the mainland.
💡 Chile is a continent of a country 4,300 km long: think big and fly between the Atacama desert and Patagonia, because the distances are enormous. Keep the immigration slip (needed on exit), ascend slowly at altitude in the north against mountain sickness, and in Patagonia reckon on very strong wind and the southern season (Nov-Mar). In the cities keep an eye on your belongings: common crime is rising. Otherwise, it is the safest and most organised destination in South America.
