Chile is a tourist paradise in South America with extremely impressive attractions such as Easter Island, Torres del Paine National Park, Marble Caves or San Pedro de Atacama Desert. So if you are also planning to visit Chile, let's find out some necessary information with us.
Torres del Paine National Park
San Pedro de Atacama Desert
Easter Island
1. chile is very long
Chile has a total area of 756,950 km2, so if you want to see all the main attractions in Chile, you will need to plan a long trip. To put that in perspective, the width of the United States is only 43 km longer than the length of Chile, which is the equivalent of traveling from London to all the European countries, then to Kiev, Ukraine, and finally back to London.
Length and width of Chile
2. visa
Since August 11, 2017, Vietnamese tourists have been exempted from visa requirements to visit Chile for 90 days. If you want to stay longer, you can fly out of Chile and return or even cross the border to Mendoza, Argentina for the weekend and return, and you can stay in Chile for another 90 days.
Marble Caves, a must-see destination in Chile
3. Language
Visitors from neighboring countries and native Spanish speakers to Chile still have trouble with some of the verbs, nouns and slang used by Chileans, as they are not the same as authentic Spanish. If possible, arm yourself with a few simple phrases so you don’t get lost in any situation.
4. weather
The weather in Chile varies from region to region, with the north being arid desert, while the south is covered in snow-capped Patagonia (a geographical area that covers the southernmost part of South America). Therefore, you should check the weather carefully so that you can prepare the necessary clothes and equipment.
Snow-capped mountains in Patagonia
5. Meal times and tips
In Chile, it is very difficult to find a place to have lunch at 11:30. Restaurants usually do not open until 1:00 PM for lunch, and dinner does not start until 5:00 PM. In addition, restaurants often automatically add a 10% tip to your total bill. When it comes time to pay, if you agree to pay the "propina" (tip), they get the 10%, otherwise they deduct it.
Chileans often have a late lunch with cornbread as one of the main dishes.
6. earthquake
Earthquakes are a daily occurrence in Chile. You might panic when the ground shakes beneath your feet, but people here react as if nothing is happening and calmly say, "It's just an earthquake." That's because the entire country is prepared for this kind of natural disaster. Sometimes, earthquakes that are considered major in other countries are nothing in Chile. If you are unlucky enough to experience an earthquake, just follow the locals' reaction.
7. means of transport
If you want to save money, buses are the best way to get around Chile. They are not as cheap as the buses in Bolivia and not as expensive as the buses in Argentina, but they are much better. Alternatively, you can travel by train.
Chile has several major, high-quality bus companies.
