TAILOR MADE TRIPS TO CHILE AND OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN DESTINATIONS - TRAVEL PACKAGES TO CHILE, PERU, ARGENTINA, & EASTER ISLAND

1a) WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO TRAVEL TO CHILE? 

Due to Chile's diverse climate and geography, the country is an ideal destination to travel to any time of the year. Below includes a list of the ideal periods to visit specific destinations in Chile.

Warm weather months (November-April): Patagonia, Wine Valleys, Elqui Valley, Pucon-Villarica, Lake District, Adventure Sport Areas (rafting, , fly-fishing, speed-boating, canoeing, rock climbing, canopying).

Cool weather months (May-October): Ski Resorts (Valle Nevado, Portillo), San Pedro de Atacama

All year long: Easter Island, Arica, Iquique, Central Chile including Santiago, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar.

1b) WHO SAID THAT YOU COULDN'T VISIT PATAGONIA IN THE WINTER?

During the southern winter (July-August) temperatures drop and it can snow in some parts of the Torres del Paine National Park. However it is much less windy than in the Summer and it is more likely that the sky will be clear. It is also the best time of year to admire the flora and fauna of this magnificent park. When it snows in the highlands of the park, animals such as the puma come down to the pampas looking for food. The sky is striking, the air is so clear that the glaciers reflect the sun.....and don't forget that 95% of the tourists who visit Patagonia do so in the summer. 

 
2) WHEN SHOULD I START PLANNING MY VACATION?

We recommend that you plan you vacation at least 3 months in advance. In high season (December to February) it is very difficult to find hotel accommodations. If you organize your vacation 6 months or a year in advance you will get better deals.

3) HOW MUCH TIME TO I NEED TO SEE CHILE? 

It depends. In two weeks, if you travel by plane, you could visit Patagonia, the Atacama Desert and Easter Island. However, rushing from place to place like this could mean that you do not get the most out of your vacation. You need at least a month to really get to know the best that Chile has to offer. If you only have 12-15 days, we would recommend that you spend your time in only two regions of the country. Based on our experience we believe that you will appreciate your vacation more if you can take your time to admire the stunning landscapes, taste the wonderful wines that this country produces, and get to know the warm and welcoming people. People often forget that Chile is 4300 km long and on average 200km wide. Getting around takes time. For example the journey from Puerto Natales (in Patagonia) to San Pedro de Atacama (in the desert) takes a whole day.
a) From Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas by land (3 hours)
b) From Punta Arenas to Santiago, by plane, with a stop at Puerto Montt (between 4 and 5 hours). The onward journey to Calama (2 hours)
c) The final stage of the journey by road from Calama airport to San Pedro Atacama (2 hours)

4) WHAT SHOULD I TAKE WITH ME? 

Download our pdf document for what clothes to take for a vacation in Patagonia.
Most of the country has a temperate climate and you can dress in the same way you would in Europe or the United States. The desert has a temperate climate, although at night the temperature drops dramatically. In Temuco and in the South (Frutillar, Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Osorno, etc) it can rain at any time of the year. Therefore, a good waterproof rainsuit is essential. In the Andes and in Patagonia, especially when at a high altitude, it is important to have warm clothes, even in the summer. If you are having an adventure vacation you must take good walking boots, swimgear, sun glasses, a Swiss Army knife, and a backpack.

5) VISAS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS?

Canadian citizens (Bearers of Canadian passports) are allowed to enter Chile without a tourist or business visa for a period of 90 days. Additionally, as of January 1st 2006, Canadian tourists arriving at the “Arturo Merino Benítez” International Airport in Santiago, Chile, are required to pay a US$125.00 fee. This fee is based on a reciprocity principle between the governments of Canada and Chile. The payment is made only once and it expires together with the passport. Upon arrival at the airport, a tourist card given to travelers by the airliner will be stamped with the date of arrival by immigration authorities (Policía International).

U.S. citizens traveling to Chile for recreation, on business, or to attend conferences or the like, do not need a visa to enter Chile and can stay for up to 90 days. There is a reciprocity fee of US$131 that must be paid upon arrival or entrance to Chile. Payment can be made in U.S. currency or by credit card.

Australian citizens travelling to Chile for tourism do not need a visa to enter Chile and can stay for up to 90 days. There is a reciprocity fee of US$ 90.00- that must be paid upon arrival or entrance to Chile.

British citizens (Bearers of British passports), travelling to Chile for tourism do not need a visa to enter Chile and can stay for up to 90 days.

For further information please contact the Chilean Consulate in your country of origin.

6) HOW MUCH DOES A VACATION TO CHILE COST? 

It depends. There are a number of variables that determine the price of a vacation. We cannot answer this question without knowing what sort of vacation options you desire. 

• How many of you are travelling;
• What kind of vacation are you planning? 100% organized by us, or partly organized by us and partly by you.
• Exactly when you want to travel (day, month, year);
• How long you want to stay (number of days);
• What kind of accommodations  you want: hostel, camp-site, hote:l 3-4-5 star.
• Whether you want bed & breakfast, partial or full board;
• What activities you want to do: adventure sports (trekking, horseback riding, kayaking etc.) or cultural activities (museums or archaeological visits, wine tours etc).
• A vacation of pampering and relaxation or something more traditional;
• Where do you want to go ?

7 ) WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED TO RENT AND DRIVE A CAR IN CHILE? 

To rent a car you need to be over 25 and in possession of a credit card and a valid driver's license. Both British and American driver's licenses are valid in Chile.

8) HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP AT RESTAURANTS? 

Like in Britain, a 10% tip is the norm in restaurants throughout Chile.

9) TRAVEL INSURANCE

We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance with the appropriate level of coverage. This should include medical, baggage, and life insurance. You can get insurance that will reimburse the cost of the vacation if you cannot travel for medical, family, or work reasons. For further information please read carefully the link “Terms and conditions”

10 ) SAFETY

Chile is not a dangerous country. However, as always, when traveling it is unwise to flash your money around and it is a good idea to keep valuables in the hotel safe. You should be especially careful in the center of Santiago and at markets or fairs. 

11 ) USING MOBILE PHONES IN CHILE

To really escape from your daily life the ideal thing is to be uncontactable by telephone. Nowadays, at work and in our home lives, we are constantly communicating by phone, email, and text. Liberating yourself from this, if only for a short while, can be very rejuvenating. For those who really can’t live without a phone, in Chile you need at least a tri-band phone. You could activate the ‘roaming’ with you phone company, but to save money, and to get better coverage, the best thing to do is to buy a Chilean pay-as-you-go SIM card when you arrive to Chile (from CTC or Telefonica).
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