Cars 4 Rental - Cheap Car Rentals Online Bookings

General Money Health Climate Passport

(back to contents)

Cars 4 Rental Information on Chile

General

Area: 756,096 sq km (291,930 sq miles).

Population: 15,589,147 (2002 official estimate).

Population Density: 20 per sq km.

Capital: Santiago (de Chile). Population: 4,668,473 (2002).

GEOGRAPHY: Chile is situated in South America, bordered to the north by Peru, to the east by Bolivia and Argentina, to the west by the Pacific and to the south by the Antarctic. The country exercises sovereignty over a number of islands off the coast, including the Juan Fernndez Islands and Easter Island. Chile is one of the most remarkably shaped countries in the world; a ribbon of land, 4200km (2610 miles) long and nowhere more than 180km (115 miles) wide. The Andes and a coastal highland range take up one-third or half of the width in parts, and run parallel with each other from north to south. The coastal range forms high, sloped cliffs into the sea from the northern to the central area. Between the ranges runs a fertile valley, except in the north where transverse ranges join the two major ones, and in the far south where the sea has broken through the coastal range to form an assortment of archipelagos and channels. The country contains wide variations of soil and vast differences of climate. This is reflected in the distribution of the population, and in the wide range of occupations from area to area. The northern part of the country consists mainly of the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world. It is also the main mining area. The central zone is predominantly agricultural. The south is forested and contains some agriculture; further south, the forests on the Atlantic side give way to rolling grassland on which sheep and cattle are raised.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1810. Head of State and Government: President Ricardo Lagos Escobar since 2000.

Language: The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.

Religion: Predominantly Christian, of which 72 per cent are Roman Catholic.

Time: Mainland and Juan Fernndez Islands: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March).
Easter Island: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs and screw-type bulbs are used.

Communications:

Telephone

Full IDD available. Country code: 56. Outgoing international code: 00. Compaa de Telfonos de Chile provides most services, though there are a few independent companies. Cheap rate is applicable Mon-Fri 1800-0500 and all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

Mobile telephone

GSM 1900 network. Operators include Entel PCS (website: www.entelpcs.cl), Telefonia Movil and Telefnica Movil de Chile. Roaming agreements exist. Quality of coverage can be variable.

Fax

ITT Communicaciones, Telex Chile and Transradio Chilena provide services in main towns.

Internet

ISPs include Entel Chile (website: www.entelchile.net). There are some Internet cafes in the main towns.

Telegram

Telex Chile, Transradio Chilena and ITT Communicaciones Mundiales provide services in main towns.

Post

Daily airmail services to Europe take approximately 3 to 4 days. Post office hours in Santiago: Mon-Fri 0900-1800; Sat 0900-1300. The Central Post Office in Santiago is located at Agustinas 1137, Plaza de Armas.

Press

Spanish dailies include El Mercurio, La Nacin and Las ltimas Noticias. Foreign newspapers are available.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Back to Top

Money

Currency: Chilean Peso (peso) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of peso20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of peso500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.

Currency exchange: Foreign exchange transactions can be conducted through commercial banks, casas de cambio, or authorised shops, restaurants, hotels and clubs. Visitors should not be tempted by the premiums of 10 to 15 per cent over the official rate offered by black marketeers. Casas de cambio are open daily 0900-1900.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Must be changed before 1200 except in casas de cambio (which in any case tend to offer better rates than banks). There may be some difficulty exchanging travellers cheques outside major towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of either local or foreign currency.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Chilean Peso against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 1062.38 1060.75 1143.55 1178.64
$1.00= 626.05 582.75 640.25 639.75

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1400.

Back to Top

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever 1 No
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: Immunisation against Yellow Fever is required if going to Easter Island within 6 days of visiting infected countries.

2: Immunisation against typhoid and Polio are sometimes advised.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is pasteurised and is safe to drink without boiling, except in very remote areas of the countryside. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Immunisation against tetanus and hepatitis A is advised. Epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occur. Chagas’ disease has been reported in rural areas but other insect-borne diseases are largely absent.
Rabies is present in animals. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Health insurance is essential.

Back to Top

Climate

Ranges from hot and arid in the north to very cold in the far south. The central areas have a mild Mediterranean climate with a wet season (May to August). Beyond Puerto Montt in the south is one of the wettest and stormiest areas in the world.

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens in northern and central areas. Rainwear is advised during rainy seasons. Mediumweights and waterproofing are needed in the south.

Back to Top

Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes 1 Yes
Australian Yes 1/2 Yes
Canadian Yes 1/2 Yes
USA Yes 1/2 Yes
OtherEU Yes 1 Yes
Japanese Yes 1 Yes

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except:
(a) nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay, provided not entering under commercial contract or as students or as immigrants, can enter with a special identity card (Cdula de Identitad) for short-term visits (except foreign residents of these countries who do need a passport); (b) Chinese residents of Taiwan (China) and nationals of Taiwan, Mexico and Peru who have an official travel document issued by the Organisation of American States. Documents have to remain valid for 6 months after departure.

Note: Passports issued to children must contain a photo and state the nationality.

VISAS: As regulations are subject to change at short notice it is advisable to check with the Chilean Consulate for the latest information. At present, a visa is not required by the following:
(a) 1. nationals of countries mentioned in the chart above for a touristic stay of up to 90 days (except nationals of Greece, who can stay up to 60 days);
(b) nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, San Marino, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland, Tonga, Turkey and Venezuela for stays of up to 90 days;
(c) nationals of Indonesia and Peru for stays of up to 60 days;
(d) nationals of Belize, Costa Rica, Malaysia and Singapore for touristic stays of up to 30 days;
(e) transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding required travel documents for onward destination and not leaving the airport transit lounge.

Note: 2. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Mexico and the USA entering Chile for touristic purposes will be charged a processing fee payable on arrival and in cash only. For nationals of the USA, the fee is US$100; for nationals of Canada, the fee is US$55; for nationals of Australia, the fee is US$34; and for nationals of Mexico, the fee is US$15.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Visitor (visa required for nationals of countries with no diplomatic relations with Chile), Residence (visa required if intending to carry out paid employment or study in Chile). Cost varies according to nationality of applicant. Enquire at Consulate or Consular section of the Embassy for further information.

Validity: Tourist and Visitor (up to 90 days depending on nationality); Residence (enquire at Embassy).

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Evidence of sufficient funds to cover stay. (c) Return or onward ticket. (d) Fee.

Working days required: Up to 15 depending on nationality and whether application has to be referred to the relevant authorities.

Temporary residence: Not readily granted. Enquire at the Consulate or Consular Section of the Embassy (see Contact Addresses section).

Back to Top

Cars4Rental - Worldwide Car Hire

Cars 4 Rental Information on Chile

Car Hire Chile