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Chile reads from top to bottom. Nobody crosses it sideways because there is no sideways to cross: the Andes close it to the east and the Pacific to the west, so the trip is always a line, and the only real decision is how far down you go.
The three Chiles
The north is desert: San Pedro de Atacama, geysers at five thousand metres and skies worth staying up for. The centre is city and wine: Santiago against the mountains, Valparaíso falling down its hills. The south is water: lakes, volcanoes, the rain of Chiloé and, at the end of it, Patagonia.
How long to give it
With two weeks you pick two of the three. With three weeks all three fit, though two of the legs will be flown: Santiago–Calama and Puerto Montt–Punta Arenas are twelve-hour bus rides that turn into two hours in the air for a little more.
What surprises people
That it is expensive. Not next to Europe, but next to the rest of South America: an ordinary lunch costs what a whole dinner costs in Peru. And that the distances on the map lie, because the map does not show the gravel.
The country
The basics
| Currency | CLPSource: wikidata.org · Checked on September 14, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Exchange rate | $1.00 = 941 CLPSource: exchangerate-api.com · Checked on September 14, 2026 |
| Languages | SpanishSource: wikidata.org · Checked on September 14, 2026 |
| Plugs | Type C, L · 220 VSource: wikidata.org · Checked on September 14, 2026 |
| They drive on | the rightSource: wikidata.org · Checked on September 14, 2026 |
| Time zone | UTC−03:00, UTC−04:00, UTC−06:00Source: wikidata.org · Checked on September 14, 2026 |
| Emergency numbers | 131 ambulancia · 132 bomberos · 133 CarabinerosSource: gob.cl · Checked on September 16, 2026 |
| Entry requirements | Official requirementsSource: serviciomigraciones.cl · Checked on September 16, 2026 |
Budget
| Daily budget | $45.00 – $85.00 |
|---|---|
| Notes | A dorm bed, the set lunch menu and overland transport. Patagonia lifts the floor by 40%: in high season a bed in Puerto Natales costs what a private room costs in Santiago. |
When to go
High 30° · Low 15° · 15 mm of rain
Patagonia open and full. Book the refuges in Torres del Paine months ahead; in January they sell out and there is no plan B that is not camping.
The country on a map
Where to stay
Hoteles en San Pedro de Atacama
Stay22 · Booking.com, Expedia y otros
El pueblo es la base de las excursiones al salar, las lagunas y el Tatio.
Hoteles en Lastarria y Providencia
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Barrios caminables, cerca del Metro y de los cerros Santa Lucía y San Cristóbal.
Car rental
Autos en el aeropuerto de Santiago
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Para un día a la costa o al Cajón del Maipo. Compara compañías y coberturas.
Autos en el aeropuerto de Calama
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Retiro al aterrizar, a unos 100 km de San Pedro. Compara compañías y coberturas.
The language
Words for your first day
| Hola | Hola |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo estái? | Qué tal, en chileno · kó-mo es-tái |
| Bacán | Genial · ba-kán |
| Al tiro | Ahora mismo · al tí-ro |
| La micro | El bus urbano · la mí-kro |
| Luca | Mil pesos · lú-ka |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your passport and it changes without notice. Check the page of the Chilean consulate that covers you before buying the flight: it is the only answer that counts.
Can I pay by card everywhere?
In the cities, yes. In the countryside and at mountain passes, no: carry cash in pesos and change it in Santiago, where the rate beats the border.
How long is it from Santiago to Patagonia?
Three and a half hours by air to Punta Arenas, or about forty by bus with changes. Bought in advance, the flight costs little more than the bus.