South America Ten Foot Square

Chile is a country blessed by nature both with wonderful forests, rivers and glaciers. No wonder most of the top sports activities in Chile are all linked to nature and not just sporting events themselves. To illustrate this point let us discuss some of the most popular sports activities in Chile.

Trekking – Trekkers will find plenty of places to go to and enjoy nature when they go to Chile. With trails varying from easy day trails for beginners on guided tours to advanced trails for the serious trekkers, Chile has something to satisfy everyone’s preference. The most popular region for trekking in Chile is the Lake District found south of Santiago where some of the most famous parks can be visited. There tourists will delighted with the beech forests, waterfall, glaciers, fjords, and volcanic peaks. Individual trekkers are allowed in most parks in Chile but are required to register with the local rangers or at the nearest Corporación Nacional Forestal Office.

Climbing – If you find that trekking is not enough for you a climb to one of the volcanic peaks might appeal to your taste more. There are many peaks you can climb in Chile but two of the most popular destinations are Lake District’s Volcán Villarrica and Volcán Osorno. Solo climbing is not an option and guides are compulsory. Of course you will also need to bring or hire your own climbing gear.

Watersports – For those who prefer water over land there are plenty of watersports available for the water sports enthusiast. You can of course go swimming, boating, water-skiing, and even whitewater rafting. For whitewater rafters you might want to ask your tour operator for a week long trip to any of the following rivers: Maipo, Claro, Trancura and Bio-Bio.

Fishing – If you have no plans of getting wet but need a quiet relaxing time by the water Chile also has something for you. You can go fishing in any of the lakes scattered all over Chile though undoubtedly the top fishing spots are found in Lake District and in Patagonia in the southern part of Chile. For trout fishing you might also want to try the lakes near Puerto Montt.

Skiing – Like it cold? Then you can also ski in Chile which has some really great slopes to offer. Ski season in Chile runs from June to September. So if you can’t wait for winter in your country then you can go to Chile and chill out. Visit Portillo for a world-class ski resort.

Horseback riding – Horseback riding and other equestrian sports are also available in Chile. So even if you do have to leave your horse behind you can still have the pleasure of riding one when you go visit Chile. Guided trips are available in the national parks though you can ride the trail alone if you want to. For those who are keen or horseracing you can time your visit on January or October for the main races of the year which are the Derby, held in Viña del Mar, and the el Ensayo, held in Santiago, respectively.

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A vacation anywhere is not complete without souvenirs. Wherever tourists go though they are the target of cheap souvenir hawkers since with the enthusiasm only tourists can have most do not recognize the bad buys and pay for cheap trinkets that fall apart soon after being given to friends and family at home.

Did you ever realize though that by simply knowing what items are really good in a certain country you can actually buy souvenirs that are of quality, and at native prices (as opposed to tourist inflated prices)? Say good buy to junky souvenirs and say hello to the list of wonderful (but not necessarily expensive) stuff you can and should buy when you visit Chile.

Home made chocolates – Who doesn’t love chocolates? When you get home indulge yourself and your friends with real home made chocolate from Chile. Try the Norweisser brand known for its exquisite tasting chocolates. You can choose from a variety of flavors like plain, nougat, banana, rum, coconut, and more.

Marmalade/Ruibarbo – Yes good food again. Ruibarbo (pronounced reebarbo) is marmalade Chile style. Like any ordinary marmalade you can put it in your toast or eat it whichever way you like it. Yum!

Handicraft – Every culture has its own distinct and beautiful handicraft. Choose from small knick knacks to furniture. Just make sure you go for quality. When buying Chilean handicraft it would be better to buy it in local handicraft stores you pass in rural areas since it is far cheaper than in souvenir shops in the city. Ask around for the good local makers and people will surely point out the best in the area. Or you can go to the local handicraft market which is quite a sight to behold.

Wool sweaters – A must buy in Chile is a “chaleco de lana de oveja” or lamb wool sweater. If you don’t want a chaleco you can also go for jumpers or any other alpaca product. Alpaca sweater are not world-renowned for nothing.

Andean Jewelry – Silver or lapis lazuli jewelry that are distinctly Andean in style can be found in Chile for very reasonable prices. Note that I said reasonable and not cheap since anything with lapis lazuli pretty can be pricey. A perfect souvenir that can be surely be used by you or whoever you will give it to. If you don’t want a souvenir to gather dust but to last (unlike food) then opt for jewelry.

Shoes – Women watch out. Shoe lovers should definitely check out the handmade leather shoes and sandals found in almost all local markets. Of course if you visit a shoe shop most likely you’ll come out not only with a pair of shoe but with the proper bag or purse and other accessories sold to match it.

Charangos – For the musically inclined a charango, a ten-string miniature guitar, is definitely a thing you should buy when you visit Chile. The traditional charango is made out Armadillo hide, which is a thing of beauty but not something you should buy since it does nothing for our little animal friends.

To get to Chile most tourists arrive by international commercial flights. There are plenty of airports in Chile where various flights from different arrive. The main airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez, is located at the city of Santiago though there are other international airports in other cities. For flight schedules and ticket prices kindly check with your local tour office since this of course varies depending on your location. Getting from the airports to your hotel is no problem since you can arrange for transfer services beforehand or use the taxi queued outside the airport.

To get around Chile you have five options to you namely the: metro (underground railway), buses, taxis, collectivos (shared taxis), and hired cars.

The metro has three lines: the Red Line or East-West, passing through the Centre, the Yellow Line going from the Centre to the South West, and the Green Line which goes from the Centre to the South East. The metro is open from 6:30am to 10pm Mondays to Fridays and from 8:30am to 10:30pm on Sundays and Holidays. Ticket prices vary depending on the type of ticket you get and on the time of the day. Tickets are more expensive from 7:15am till 9am and 6pm till 7pm since these are peak hours. For the ticket price list please visit their website at: http://www.metrosantiago.cl/tarifas.php. Please note that student fares do not apply during Sundays and holidays.

City buses, also known as micros, are plentiful in all cities in Chile. The city buses offer good service and are generally on time. It is also relatively cheaper than the metro though you might want to use the metro if you want a faster transportation since, on time as they are, city buses are known for their slowness. There are several bus companies operating in each city so that you can expect to find several terminals in whichever city you go to. Like in metros student fares do not apply on Sundays and holidays.

Taxis are available 24/7 in Santiago and the rest of Chile. This is a more expensive alternative though most tourists of course opt for the convenience of taxis. Taxis are all equipped with meters to give you the right amount of fare so do not agree to a fixed fare from the driver. Tip if you must but do not get on a taxi if the driver does not want to go by the meter.

Colectivos are taxis that operate like buses having a fixed route within a city. Colectivos fares are midway between what buses and taxis charge. It is a faster alternative to buses though you should make sure you get on the right colectivo or end up in one where your destination is not on its route.

Hiring a car is very easy in Chile since there are a lot of companies that offer the service. Note though that the cheapest car rentals can be found in Santiago. To rent a car you should make sure that you: have a driving license, from 25 to 75 years old, have a credit card or a checking account, and understand all the fees and policy of the rental company you deal with.

Related Link: Limo services

There’s nothing like going to visit a place during a festival to get fully immersed in the culture and receive a truly rewarding experience. Chile, like most South American countries are known for their, indeed, very festive festivals. There’s almost one festival or special event going on in at least one of the towns or cities in Chile.

For festival lovers we have prepared a simple calendar of festivities as a guide for you when planning to go when and where in Chile. Time your vacation with festivals and see Chile at its most colorful and noisy moments.

January

Love Parade Night – Held every January celebrate love with thousands of others in the love parade and get ready for music, wondrous floats, an unbelievable number of revelers, lots of beer, and even more dancing. The Love Parade in Chile is held in Santiago. For more details head on to http://www.loveparade.cl/

February

Festival Costumbrista Chilote – Head on to Chiloe Island for the week long festival showcasing the islands unique culture and heritage through exhibits, performances, and of course a regional cooking showcase. Yum!

Festival of Song – Held at Viña del Mar, the relatively quiet town comes alive towards the end of the month for a 5-day festival wherein music is celebrated. The festival centers on the town’s outdoor amphitheatre where one Latin concert after the next is held for music fans from all over.

Semana Valdiviana – Another weeklong celebration this time held in the small town of Valdiviana. This festival is for maritimers who participate in contests, maritime activities, and exhibitions. Don’t miss the Noche Valdiviana wherein beautifully decorated boats lighted with candles go out to fill the river before a wonderful firework display lights up the sky.

April

Semana Santa (Easter Week) – Celebrated with much pomp in almost all catholic nations, Chile is not exempt with all the ceremonies, parades, and events that held in almost all towns throughout the country.

Fiesta del Cuasimodo – After Semana Santa the next Sunday is made interesting by a band of Huaso cowboys and Catholic priests that roam most Central Chile towns as they visit the sick and disabled.

June

Fiesta de San Pedro – Celebrated throughout Chile the best town to visit for this festival is Valparaiso where you can spot the most colorful of decorated boats as they float along the coast.

Pedro Pablo – A religious holiday wherein the church holds ceremonies all over Chile for Saints Peter and Paul.

July

Virgen del Carmen – See an extraordinary army festival as the military marches across the country in honor of their patron saint. The town of Maipu is the best place to be during this festival.

September

Independence Day and Armed Forces Day – Like in any country this holiday is marked by a day off work and plenty of partying.

Start of Rodeo Season – September is when Rodeo Season starts and though the rodeos are fun during the entire season the kick off is of course double the fun and partying.

November

All Saints Day – This holiday is marked by plenty of local events including music and dancing.

December

Fiesta de la Virgin del Rosario – A religious/cultural holiday it is marked by processions, much drinking, and music and celebrations all over.

Chile is a country with a very colorful history. For the history buff Chile offers a lot of places that would indeed be very interesting to visit. To name a few here are some of the Top Historical Spots to Visit on your vacation in Chile.

The National History Museum and the National Natural History Museum are naturally the first places you can visit for a clear overview of the country’s history. The two museums focus on two very different aspects of Chile’s museum so that a visit to both would definitely not be redundant and indeed very educational. The National History Museum is where you would want to go for a chronological display of Chile’s history dating from pre-Columbian times. The National Natural History Museum on the other hand focuses on the development of the biological and cultural diversity of the country and its people. For more details on the museum kindly visit the Top Museums in Chile Section of this website.

Aside from museums going to the places where historical events are of course just as educational though the knowledge you would gain there is of course much more specific. Below is a short list of some of the popular historical sites and monuments you might enjoy visiting.

Easter Island – Describe as eerie, remote, haunting, and enigmatic this island is steeped with ancient history. You not only go here for a mere monument or a small building but for the entire island though the highlights of any visit here are the massive Moai statues and the still to be deciphered Rongorongo hieroglyphs. Called by the early Polynesian settlers “Te Pito O Te Henua” which means “navel of the world”, this is truly THE historical site to visit in Chile.

Seaport City of Valparaiso – Specifically the Historical Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaiso, the city portion has been declared a World Heritage Site for its historical legacy. The city gives us a glimpse of the globalization that came about in the late 19th century in Chile when the Seaport City became the leading merchant port on the sea routes of the Pacific coast of South America.

Churches in Chiloe – Visit the churches to see a very unique blend of European and indigenous architecture at its best.

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works ­– Listed as a Heritage Site in Danger the saltpeter mines in the province of Iquique are a unique historical site that gives us insight not only to the largest producers of saltpeter in the world but also distinctive cultures in the towns surrounding it that sprung up due to its existence.

Chile’s Various Monuments – Chile has historical monuments scattered all over the country and to name them all will be a folly. Instead spend a day sightseeing and visiting the monuments near the place you are staying for a historical day out. For a partial list of the notable monuments Chile please read the “What To Do on a First Vacation to Chile” Section of this site.

Depending on what constitutes entertainment for you the perfect entertainment spot can be surely be found somewhere in Chile and you will end up more than satisfied.

If entertainment means a great nightlife for you then Santiago is the perfect city to stay in. There you will find plenty of bars, nightclubs, and even theater performances to entertain you. You can of course try the other cities like San Pedro de Acatama in the north and Valdivia in the south if you happen to be anywhere near those places. Lost in another city? Do not despair chances are you will find the nightlife to be really fun though nothing compared to that of the three mentioned in here. For a more detailed discussion on Chilean Nightlife head on to the Top Nightlife Spots in Chile.

For those who are looking for a good casino experience Viña del Mar is the undisputed place to go to in all of Chile. This is where you will find the only really good casinos set in a relatively quiet town where you can concentrate on your gaming.

Theater is very popular in Chile and local standards when it comes to theatrical productions are quite high. This means that any play you decide to attend can most assuredly be of really good quality. Your problem now is that if you don’t speak Spanish, then most likely than not, you won’t understand any of the plays showing. Even movies can be a bit of a problem since most films shown in movie theaters are dubbed in Spanish. If you want to watch something in English I suggest you just rent a DVD and watch it in your hotel room.

Skiers will surely find themselves with plenty of choices during a visit to Chile. From just off Santiago still in the Metropolitan Region to farther regions in Chile you can find quality resorts all over Chile. The best ski resort in all of Chile, Portillo, is however located in Los Andes at the Valparaiso Region. Ski resorts not only offer skiing, heliskiing, and snowboarding but usually have really fine accommodations, great restaurants, and cool nightly entertainment.

For those who simply want to have a relaxing time in Chile and want to avoid being “over entertained” staying in a Hot Spring resort or staying in a hotel near some hot springs is a very good alternative. Hot Spring resorts often boast not only the hot springs themselves but great services including hydromassage services, therapeutic massages such as relaxation, reflexology, lymphatic, algaetherapy, and fangotherapy, and other therapeutic service such as Reiki therapy. Hot Springs are not great only for relaxation but also for the treatment of ailments such as arthritis, rheumatism, hypertension, renal illnesses, stress, exhaustion, and even skin diseases.

And last but not the least Chile of course offers the usual fare for tourists with its many attractions including museums, parks, beaches, resorts, and quaint and/or historic towns. Whatever your taste is there’s a place in Chile that would surely keep you entertained. There’s never a boring day in Chile for the enthusiastic traveler.

Chile is as a very interesting place to visit full of surprising things for the usual tourist. Some of the “cultural oddities” in Chile might seems funny, some bizarre, and some not really that surprising. But whatever your reaction to the “cultural oddities” of Chileans you might as well come prepared to make sure you don’t commit and faux pas or simply end up like the ignorant foreigner that you are in that instance.

Some cultural facts you might be interested in knowing:

1. Chileans eat four meals a day so find out the set meal times in your hotel because you might miss meals if they follow Chilean custom. Breakfast is served depending on how early one wakes up, lunch is served between 1 to 3pm, afternoon tea is served between 5 to 7pm, and dinner served starting 9pm till about midnight.
2. Easter and Christmas holidays are the considered to be the most important holidays in the country. Most holidays in Chile are religious in nature reflecting the fact that religion is taken very seriously by Chileans who are predominantly Roman Catholic.
3. Chileans are fond of their slang so that a thesaurus might do you no good with the direct translation. For example if someone greets you with a “¡Chao pescado!” don’t go looking for a fish since the person is simply saying goodbye or see you later.
4. Even Spanish speaking foreigners might still have a hard time with the language barrier in Chile due the noted difference in pronunciation of some consonants as well as the frequent dropping of final syllables and “s” sounds. Not to mention the rather frequent use of slang mentioned above.
5. In Chile a ring on the right means engaged and a ring on the left hand means married.
6. Family is very important in the Chilean culture so much so that when family and business is intertwined (which it more often than not is) then nepotism is almost a given and is even seen by most as a positive thing.
7. Class structure in Chile is determined by ones financial status with most of the wealthy families nowadays being the same old land owning families of the older Chile. The middle class has recently developed and now makes up the bulk of the Chilean population.
8. Social ranking is determined by ones class, which is why appearances (in dress and manner) are very important in Chile so as to present one’s self in the best way possible and so look like you belong to in a better class or at least of your own class. This is of course true not only in Chile.
9. Chileans are very relaxed and affectionate people towards close friends and family but can be quite formal and uncomfortable with mere acquaintances. To avoid any breach of custom head on to the Top Etiquette Tips in Chile Section of this website and learn more about how to behave in the country you are visiting.

Crime rates are low to moderate throughout Chile although it would be unrealistic to declare it perfectly safe. Like in any place you would go to visit it makes sense to know the places to avoid and things to avoid doing for a much safer trip.

Most of the crimes against tourists simply involve pick pocketing, purse and bag snatching, and mugging. This usually happens in very busy places like bus stations and popular tourist attractions. Since as a tourist you can’t avoid going to such places it simply makes sense to exercise extra caution when in public places. Avoid bringing to much bag with you and leave very important items in your hotel safe. Valuables shouldn’t be left hanging out of your bags or simply on your person since they attract snatchers. Put valuables inside your bag and make sure your bag is with you and held tightly at all times. Avoid wearing flashy jewelry and accessories to avoid being a target of muggers.

For tourists who love the nightlife avoid taking walks alone on deserted streets. Always go out in groups or at least go straight to your destination via taxi. Crime rates in Chile have dropped at night but the crimes have reportedly become more dangerous. Avoid going out during the evening rush hour when in Santiago since this is the time when the incidence of robbery in the city is at its peak. Once you get to the nightclub of your choice be wary of friendly stranger who offer you a drink. NEVER accept drinks from strangers even if they are pretty and look quite harmless. This is especially true if you are in Calle Suecia or in Bellavista since these areas are fast becoming known for “spiked” drink incidents. It is better to be a little rude than be a victim of a spiked drink and wake up with no recollection of what happened to you and no money in your wallet. Women should be especially careful since a lot worse can happen than getting merely robbed.

When hiking Lauca and Llullaillaco National Parks, Salar de Surire National Monument, and Los Flamencos National Reserve, avoid going to the remote areas of these parks since there are reports of land mines in these areas. Always heed warning signs and stay on the trail to avoid stumbling upon any of the land mines. Demarcated land mine fields also exist in the Magallanes Region an on Tierra del Fuego. Avoid such places since they are extremely dangerous.

When driving in Chile remember that vehicles should stay on the right-hand side of the road. Major roads in Chile are generally in good condition though secondary roads are not as well maintained while mountain roads should be avoided if possible, especially if traveling during the night. When in Santiago drivers should be extra careful especially when switching lanes since Chilean drivers are known for not using signal lights and for not yielding to merging traffic. Be especially careful around buses since bus drivers are known for recklessness. Always lock your doors when driving and when leaving the car. Never give your keys to parking attendants and never leave any valuables behind.

Chile is thankfully not full of incomprehensible and unspoken etiquette guidelines that baffle the visitor. Instead most of the general etiquette and customs you need to take note of simply takes a little common sense. Of course there are a few things that aren’t nearly as common though none of them are really that hard to remember.

For an enjoyable vacation free of embarrassing etiquette mistakes here’s a list of some basic etiquette and customs you should remember:

When Meeting or Greeting Chileans:

1. Men usually shake hands while women give each other a pat on the shoulder or right forearm.
2. It is good manners to greet the other person with a “Buenos Dias” or “Buenos Noches” depending on the time of the day.
3. Chileans are affectionate and are known for embracing (for men) and giving each other a peck on the cheek (for women) when they greet each other but this is only among close friends. DO NOT assume such familiarity with them unless they make the first move.
4. Use the father’s surname when addressing someone. This is the first and not the second surname listed when a person’s name is listed down.
5. DO NOT automatically go to first name basis unless asked to by your host always use the person’s title or honorific. In case you don’t know the title you can always use Señor or Señora.
6. As always simply use your common sense to know what level of formality you should use. Just take your host’s cue and you should be alright.

When Giving/Receiving Gifts:

1. When invited into a home for a social visit it is good manners to send flowers in advance. However NEVER send yellow flowers since they are a sign of contempt or purple and black flowers since they signify death.
2. When you get there bring your hostess a gift of sweets like chocolates or wine or something from your own country.
3. When giving gifts to anybody for any occasion NEVER give scissors or knives since it means that you want to cut off your ties with them.
4. Birthday gifts are expected though a special gift of gold jewelry should be given to a 15 year old celebrant (if a girl).
   Christmas gifts are also expected.
5. Chileans open the gifts right away and would expect you to open any gift you receive in front of them.

When Dining:

1. Dining etiquette can be formal in Chile though the degree of formality varies from family to family. So again in this case observe and use your common sense to know how to act when dining with a group of people.
2. Wait for the hostess’ invitation to start the meal and wait to be shown your seat.
3. Women always sit down before men.
4. Do not leave unfinished food in your plate if possible so get small portions to ensure you finish everything off.
5. Do not drink until the host has made the first toast.
6. The common toast in Chile is “Salud!”

Tourism for senior travelers worldwide has greatly improved. As opposed to the tours and packages that once were mostly aimed for younger couples and families with children more and more tour operators are coming up with travel packages and tours for senior travelers. Not only that. But tour operators specializing in senior travel are actually cropping up.

Thanks to these senior-tour operators more and more good value senior-tour packages to Chile are now available for senior travelers. Examples of some of the really great tour packages and excursions we’ve found on the internet are listed below. For a more complete list of packages and their details visit your online senior tour operator and ask for the details or ask for a customized tour just for you.

Excursions and Tour Packages in Chile:

Guided Tour of Chile – Packages of this kind usually include accommodations and entrance fees to the following tourist attractions. This tour package is for the senior traveler that loves physical activity since there are plenty of hikes in this trip. Most packages to Chile involve excursions to the following sites though you can ask for a more customized tour package and opt out on some excursions while adding destinations that are of interest to you.

1. Guided sightseeing in Santiago
2. Full day excursions to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar
3. A Visit to Chile’s Lake District (Lake crossings of Todos Los Santos, Frías and Nahuel Huapi, Petrohué Falls, Osorno Volcano)
4. Cable-car ride up Campanario Hill overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi
5. Full-day excursion to Alerces Falls and Tronador Mountain
6. Tour Director-led sightseeing of El Calafate
7. Full-day excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, Upsala Glacier , or one of the many glacier s found in Chile with the excursion usually featuring a boat cruise and guided glacier hike

Patagonia and Chilean Fjords Cruise – Packages of this kind concentrate on the cruise so that you end up spending more time on the cruise ship than in local hotels. Cruising is a great way to discover Chile. Packages include accommodations aboard the cruise ship and in local hotels for over night stays, transportation during land tours, meals, and of course the entrance fees to various tourist attractions. Roundtrip airfare is sometimes included in the package as well. Cruising in Chile means a visit to the Chilean Lake District via cruise ship, a visit to the Patagonian steppe, and a visit to several National Parks. The option to continue the cruise to Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and Lima is also given to travelers.

Excursion to Valle de la Luna – An excursion to the Valley of the Moon means a visit to the tiny town of San Pedro de Atacama. Aside from going to the moon valley side trips to this excursion usually include a visit to El Tatio geysers and Chexa Lagoon, a wondrous natural flamingo habitat south of San Pedro.

There’s so much to do and see in Chile that a personalized tour is encouraged to ensure you get to see the places you really want to go. Don’t forget to visit the Easter Island, go for wine tasting in Maipo Valley, and go sky watching in the Little North.