Chile Country Information Chile Campervan Hire

Shaped like a long narrow strip and making up the western part of South America's tail, it is 2,610 miles (4,200km) in length and at most 115 miles (180km) wide. Travellers are drawn to this country because of its multitude of natural attractions, from the northern desert to the Lake District, and the mountains and fjords of Patagonia in the south. It has some superb National Parks, including Easter Island famous for its mysterious giant statues, and numerous activities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Chile's European heritage is evident throughout the country and travellers here are likely to feel more familiar with its culture than those of the neighbouring countries, with their strongly indigenous lifestyles. There are still local traditions persisting in parts of Chile however, and together with the European influence this makes for an interesting juxtaposition, providing a distinctive culture. The people are resilient, cordial and warm, from the fashionable capital city of Santiago to the isolated island of Chiloé, and Chilean hospitality is renowned.

Besides natural beauty and an interesting blend of cultures, Chile offers the visitor excellent wines and seafood, unique handicrafts and shopping, and a variety of characteristic architecture, making it a beautiful and memorable place to visit.

Essentials:

Time:Mainland is GMT 5 (GMT 4 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March). Easter Island is GMT 7 (GMT 6 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March).

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are standard.

Language: The official language is Spanish.

Communications: The international access code for Chile is +56. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Santiago is (0)2. Internet cafes are available in the main towns. A number of telephone companies offer different rates for national and international calls, depending on the time of day. Public phones are widely available and international call centres are available in most shopping malls. Mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with most international cell phone companies; otherwise mobile phones can easily be rented. A GSM network is in operation. Internet cafes are widespread, particularly in the big cities.

Chile Climate :The territory of Chile extends from the tropics down almost to Antarctica, and from sea level up to breathtaking altitudes, therefore the country has a wide variety of climate conditions. In the north there is hardly any rainfall and conditions are very hot arid. The climate in central Chile is Mediterranean, with cool, wet winters between April and September. Average annual rainfall increases, and temperatures decrease, as one moves further south. In Santiago average temperatures vary between 68ºF (20ºC) in January, the height of summer, and 46ºF (8ºC) in July, midwinter. In the extreme south the weather is cold and wet most of the year, snow covering the mountains and the sky cloudy.

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SANTIAGO

The towering Andes provide an awesome backdrop for the sprawling metropolis of Santiago. The population of this flat urban stage that spreads out from a compact city centre numbers more than five million. Despite this, a small town atmosphere prevails downtown where friends will more than likely meet and greet each other in the overcrowded streets and bustling walkways of the main commercial district.

The city is a curious mix of skyscrapers and 19th-century European architecture, with some Spanish adobe bungalows thrown in for good measure. Threaded through this architectural tapestry are numerous green areas, busy markets, and quaint old squares. Street life is vibrant, and adding to the vibe is the presence of numerous chic sidewalk cafes, outside of which traditionally dressed women hawk their wares hoping to catch the eye of the tourists. There are also some small but impressive museums, several modern hotels, excellent restaurants and some good shopping opportunities in the Ahumada and Huerfanos pedestrian malls.

The city exudes an aura of health and wealth in the inner city and fashionable suburbs, despite the shabby shantytowns stretching out from behind the skyscraper facade. The city is also one of the 10 most severely polluted cities in the world, thanks to its position in a bowl of mountains. It is nevertheless an excellent base in which to spend a relaxing few days taking excursions to the wineries, national parks and ski areas, which are all within easy reach of the city.

Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is both the heart of Santiago and the historical centre, a square hemmed in by impressive Spanish colonial public buildings, including the 18th-century Cathedral and elaborate main post office that was once the Spanish governors' residence. The square became the hub of administrative, commercial and social life when the city was founded in 1541 and today it remains the centre of life in the city. Never a dull place to be by day with its constant activity and throngs of people entertained by buskers and local artists, the evenings are just as lively when passers-by can become embroiled in chess games on temporary tables set up under the trees.

Transport: Metro to Puento Cal y Canto, Universidad de Chile, or Plaza de Armas

Chilean Museum of Pre-Colombian Art
Spanning 4,500 years and about 80 pre-Colombian civilisations of South America the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Chilean Museum of Pre-Colombian Art) is a fascinating place to spend a few hours. Located in the old Royal Customs House, the exhibit displays are well lit and beautifully arranged throughout four rooms set around a central courtyard. The collection provides an informative insight into the cultures of the Incas, Mayans, Aztecs and other once proud civilisations of the continent, illustrating their artistic diversity.

Address: Calle Bandera 361; Telephone: (02) 688 7348; Website: www.precolombino.cl; Transport: Metro to Plaza de Armas; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm; Admission: $2,000

CHILEAN PATAGONIA

The fjords, glaciers and magnificent scenery of the Patagonian region are what attract visitors to this vast wilderness territory. The north, or Aisén region, can be likened to the Inside Passage of Alaska or New Zealand's Fjordland on South Island with its dramatic ice and waterway scenery. Southern Patagonia or Magallanes, is rugged, mountainous and stormy.

The gravel highway known as the Camino Austral is the access point to one of the world's last great expanses of wilderness that makes up northern Patagonia. It begins at the port of Chaitén and continues to the capital of the region, Coihaique, and both are good bases for trips in the area. The most popular attraction in this region, despite the difficulty and expense of getting here, is the two million-hectare (four million-acre), glacier-filled Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael, which has some of the world's most spectacular mountain and fjord scenery.

Magallanes features glacially sculpted mountains and harsh landscapes with Torres del Paine National Park the most famous of the southern region's protected areas. Further south is the town of Puerto Natales, terminus of the extraordinary ferry trip through the fjords from Puerto Montt, and exploration base for the region.

ATTRACTIONS

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
Unesco Biosphere Reserve, the 180,000-hectare (442-acre) park is the pride and joy of southern Chile. The park takes its name after the towering granite pillars that rise over 6,560ft (2,000m) above the Patagonian plains. It is a hikers paradise with many excellent, well-developed trails through astounding changes in scenery. Turquoise lakes and roaring waterfalls, forests and magnificent rambling glaciers, icy rivers, daisy-filled meadows, harsh mountain passes and plenty of wildlife, including the protected guanaco (wild relative of the llama), are some of its attractions.

Telephone: (0)61 247 845 (CONAF);

EASTER ISLAND

Rapa Nui, or 'Navel of the Earth' as the natives know it, is one of the world's most isolated places, situated 2,361 miles (3,800km) west of mainland Chile. It is practically an open-air national park protecting the archaeological sites and Moai, the giant stone statues that the island is famous for, which are scattered all over the landscape. These figures stand at heights of up to 32ft (10m) and are at the centre of the island's magnetism.

There is still uncertainty as to the origins of the first people on Rapa Nui, and the 12 centuries between their arrival in 500 AD and the first European discoverers in 1722 remains one of the world's great mysteries. Included among the archaeological sites on the island is the Rano Raraku volcano where the moai were cut from the volcanic rock. In a bizarre scene, over 600 figures are scattered on the slopes of the volcano, some in the early stages of development and still part of the rocky cliffs and others partly buried or stacked in an irregular line. For years researchers have puzzled over the method of construction and transportation of these megaliths from the quarries inland to their present day coastal positions. It is the mystery of the unknown artisans and the intriguing remainder of their awesome work that continues to draw researchers and tourists from around the world today.

Most of the island's 2,000 inhabitants live in the main town Hanga Roa. It has accommodation, restaurants and transport as well as a museum on the Rapa Nui people and their history.

CONTACTS:
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should you require consular help - here are the details
Chile National Tourism Board SERNATUR, Santiago: +56 (0)2 696 7141
Embassy of Chile, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 785 1746.
Embassy of Chile, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7580 6392.
Embassy of Chile, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 235 9940.
Embassy of Chile, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6286 2430.
Embassy of Chile, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 8090.
Embassy of Chile, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 667 5094.
Embassy of Chile, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 471 6270.
United States Embassy, Santiago: +56 (0)2 232 2600.
British Embassy, Santiago: +56 (0)2 370 4100.
Canadian Embassy, Santiago: +56 (0)2 652 3800.
Australian Embassy, Santiago: +56 (0)2 550 3500.
South African Embassy, Santiago: +56 (0)2 231 2860-3.
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Santiago: +56 (0)2 245 6616.
New Zealand Embassy, Santiago: +56 (0)2 290 9800.
Emergencies: 133 (Police); 131 (Medical)

AIRPORTS:
Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL)
Location: The airport is situated 13 miles (21km) north west of Santiago. Time: Local time is GMT –5 (GMT –4 from the second Sunday in October to the second Saturday in March). Contacts: Tel: +56 (0)2 690 1752/3. Transfer to the city: Several bus services leave regularly for the city centre. Official airport taxis are also available from outside international and domestic arrivals. Car rental: International companies such as Avis and Alamo are represented at the airport as well as several local companies. Facilities: Facilities at this extremely well equipped airport include Business and Internet Centres, bureaux de change, banks and ATMs, duty-free shops as well as a variety of other retail stores, restaurants, cafes and bars, a post office, tourist information, travel agencies and hotel reservations. There are also plenty of children's play areas available. Parking: Parking is available 24-hours a day. Departure tax: Passengers with a passport from Australia, Canada, United States or Mexico are required to pay a reciprocity tax on entering the airport. Australians: US$56, Canadians: US$132, US nationals: US$100, and Mexicans: US$15

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