CHILE
SOUTH AMERICA
Climate
Chile's climate is incredibly diverse due to its extreme north-south length, ranging from the world's driest desert (Atacama) in the north to Alpine/tundra/glacial conditions in the south and a Mediterranean climate in the central region, with four distinct seasons (Summer: Dec-Feb, Winter: June-Aug) and strong Pacific Ocean influence affecting coastal areas.
Language
The primary language in Chile is Spanish (Castellano), spoken by virtually everyone (over 99%). English proficiency is low, around 10-19% have basic skills, but this percentage is growing due to business and education. Indigenous languages like Mapudungun, Aymara, and Rapa Nui are officially recognized, but only spoken by small minorities, and German is also present due to immigration.
Money
The official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso. To avoid confusion with other currencies (like the US dollar), prices are sometimes written as CLP$ or $CLP. It is available in banknotes (1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000) and coins (10, 50, 100, 500). While 1 and 5 coins are still legal tender, their production has been discontinued due to their low value, so cash transactions round to the nearest 10 pesos. Similarly, the 500 banknote is still legal tender but no longer printed.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Electricity
Chile uses Type C (two round pins) and Type L (three round pins) plugs, with a standard 220V supply voltage at 50Hz.
ATACAMA DESERT
Northern Chile's Atacama Desert is one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth, renowned as the driest desert in the world and celebrated for its otherworldly scenery. Centered around San Pedro de Atacama, the region features surreal attractions such as the Valle de la Luna, with its wind-sculpted dunes and salt formations, and the steaming El Tatio geysers, best visited at sunrise. Further north, Lauca National Park offers a striking contrast with its high-altitude plains, snowcapped volcanoes, and shimmering lakes like Lago Chungará, one of the highest lakes in the world, where flamingos, vicuñas, and alpacas roam freely. By night, the Atacama’s exceptionally clear skies (300 days per year) make it an exceptional destination for stargazing. With its dramatic geology, vivid colors, and stark beauty, this region delivers an unforgettable blend of adventure, nature, and cosmic wonder.
PLACES TO EXPLORE
CENTRAL CHILE- SANTIAGO, VALPARAISO, & THE WINELANDS
Chile’s central region offers a compelling blend of cosmopolitan energy, coastal charm, and world-class wine. Santiago, the nation’s capital, sits dramatically between the Andes and the Pacific, combining modern neighborhoods, thriving food and arts scenes, and historic sites like Plaza de Armas and Cerro San Cristóbal. Just over an hour away, the colorful port city of Valparaíso enchants with hillside neighborhoods, fantastic street art, and a bohemian spirit that earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Nearby, Chile’s winelands—including the Maipo, Casablanca, and Colchagua Valleys—produce internationally celebrated wines, with vineyards offering tastings, vineyard tours, and scenic winery restaurants. With easy access between the cities, coast and wine region, this region captures the essence of Chile’s culture, modernism, and natural beauty in one seamless experience.
CHILEAN PATAGONIA
Patagonia is one of the most breathtaking and untamed regions in the world. On the Chilean side, is Torres del Paine National Park, famed for its jagged granite peaks, glacier-fed lakes, and world-class hiking routes such as the W and O circuits. Further south, Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas serve as gateways to fjords, ice fields, and wildlife-rich landscapes where guanacos, condors, and penguins roam. Extending into the far south, Tierra del Fuego offers a sense of true remoteness, with windswept steppe, dense forests, and access to the Strait of Magellan and sub-Antarctic scenery near the southern tip of the continent. From glacier cruises and rugged trekking in pristine wilderness, this region is one of South America’s most sublime and unforgettable natural experiences.
EASTER ISLAND
Remote and deeply cultural, Easter Island—also known as Rapa Nui—sits isolated in the Pacific Ocean, more than 2,000 miles off the coast of mainland Chile. The island is best known for its enigmatic moai statues, massive stone figures carved by the island’s early Polynesian inhabitants and scattered across volcanic landscapes and coastal platforms. Beyond the statues, visitors encounter crater lakes, lava tubes, and rugged coastlines shaped by wind and ocean, alongside a living Polynesian culture that remains central to daily life. Centered around the small town of Hanga Roa, Easter Island offers a rare blend of archaeology, tradition, and raw natural setting, making it one of the most distinctive and remote destinations in South America.
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