Tourism in Chile: Information in English

1. Chile: Country of contrasts
Santiago is located in the Central Region of Chile and enjoys atemperate,
Mediterranean climate, which explains in part why 82% of the population resides in the
capital.
The majestic Andean Mountain Range can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Due
to its geographic location, Santiago is one of the few capital cities in the world which has
easy access both to ski slopes -just 50 kms. away, and beaches, 100 kms. away. It is in
*Desierto de Atacama fact possible to visit the modern ski resorts as well as the famous beach resort of Viña
del Mar or picturesque Valparaiso, Chile's main port, in just one day. Numerous villages
,
located in the countryside around Santiago invite the visitor to relax and enjoy the
peace and tranquility of countrylife. Tourists may also visit the vineyards and try the
delicious Chilean wines
Chile is famous for desert landscapes in the north, places like, the Moon Valley in San
Pedro de Atacama, a place that has similar surfaces to the moon. The port city of
Valparaiso close to the main capital Santiago has been declared Cultural Heritage by
the UNESCO. In the south there are the ski resorts in Chillan and Pucon, with wonderful
*Valle Central
swimming pools of thermal water that come from the many volcanoes in the zone,
glaciers and Patagonian scenery. Out in the Pacific Ocean in the Isla de la Pascua the
magic encounter with the Moais, ancestral statutes of stone provides another tourist
highlight. Chile also has an Antarctic territory, that is why it is a tri-continental country.
Weather
This part of the country has 4 clearly defined seasons, mild spring and summer seasons
(September thru March) which are never humid and temperatures range between
20°and 32 °C (70°-90° Fahrenheit).
*Torres del Paine

2. Hotels close to convention center
Hotel Kennedy www.kennedy.cl
Hotel Novotel www.novotel.cl
Hotel Río Bidasoa www.hotelbidasoa.cl
Hotel Director www.director.cl
Hotel Atton www.atton.cl
Hotel Marriott www.marriott.com
*For specials rates, send your booking request (type of room, in –out) to Paola
Massó, email: turismo.sochradi@gmail.com
*Cerros San Cristóbal
Reciprocity Tax
All passengers with Passports from Australia, Canada, United States and Mexico
must pay a reciprocity tax beforegoing through International Police.
Australia US$ 56
Canada US$ 132
United States US$ 100
Mexico US$ 15
Currency
*Plaza de Armas
The currency is the Chilean peso ($ or CLP). The exchange rate with the
dollar/euro Should be inquired into
on the date of travel. Currency exchange can be carried out easily in banks or
exchange bureaus and
no special documentation is necessary
Bills are available in $1.000, $2.000, $5.000, $10.000 y $20.000Coins in $1,
$5, $10, $50, $100 y $500.
Electricity
The electric current in Chile is 220 watts. ^*Mercado Central

3. Half day tours
The city tour around Santiago de Chile is a good way to have a closer look at the mixture
between the old and modern, a typical characteristic of this city. At present, Santiago is a
modern city with over 6 million inhabitants. It concentrates most of the cultural, business,
industrial, and commercial activity in the country. This tour includes a visit to the downtown area
in order to see its old buildings, the most important institutional offices, and outstanding museums
and monuments representing most of Chile and Santiago’s history.
Main attractions to visit: *Palacio de Gobierno
Santa Lucía Hill: the spot where Santiago was founded in 1541.
Plaza de Armas (Arms Square): the place where the City Hall is located, in the historical center
of the Chilean capital.
The Cathedral: opposite Plaza de Armas, visitors will find the Metropolitan Cathedral of
Santiago and other buildings, such as the Cathedral Temple, the Archbishop Palace next to
Compañía Street and the Side Chapel. These buildings have been declared National
Monuments.
The Post Office: this historic building is two centuries old and has been the traditional residence
*Plaza Italia
of governors. - Santiago City Hall: it is located in the place where the Cabildo (Town Council)
used to be in colonial times, and it follows the architectural style of the period.
National Library: it is one of the oldest libraries in Latin America, built in the neoclassical style
and academic design. It includes some of the most beautiful rooms in early 20th century Chilean
architecture.
Government Palace: it is known as La Moneda (Coin House) and features one of the most
impressive façades of the Colonial Americas. It is also the seat of the national government.
The Central or Fish Market with its English style architecture is a must, offering a wide range of
fish, shellfish and seafood, one of the best in the world to by or taste in one of its excellent
restaurants ^*Mueso Nacional de Bellas Artes
Handicraf market: pieces made of lapiz lázuli – existing only in Chile and Afganistan

4. Full day tours
Valparaíso y Viña del Mar
The coast of Chile´s central region in well represented by two fascinating cities wich
are located only 1 hour and half from Santiago; the trip towards them takes you
though the central valley, famous for it´s wines, fruit and cheese.
Viña del Mar in one of Chile´s most important seaside cities and is renowned for its
beaches and gardens. Valparaíso, a world Heritage Site (UNESCO) on the other
hand, with its complex and interesting architecture-built on 45 hills- is one of county´s
main ports and most culturally active areas.
Ruta del Vino Valle de Casablanca
The Chilean wine has a worldwide reputation, thanks to its high quality and variety.
There is a stock called “Carmener” considered the Chilean wine stock. In the
Casablanca valley you will find the best white wine in the country.
Some of the best wineries in this region, among many others, are: Casas del Bosque,
Indómita, Emiliana (organic wines) Veramonte and Viña Mar
Santa Cruz, Ruta del Vino Valle de Colchagua
Colchagua Valley, is a region known for its huasos, or Chilean cowboys. Most of its
grape-growing production goes into making red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Carménère, Malbec, and others. In the month of March there is a typical
grape-harvest and wine-making festival with regional wine tasting and various
activities in the Santa Cruz Plaza. We invite you to enjoy a fine wine tour visiting and
tasting in the most famous Chilean wineries
Casas del Poeta Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda, universal poet, winner of the Literature Nobel Prize in 1971, citizen of
the world, passionate collector, left behind his marvelous poetry and beauty reflected
in his writing and amazing houses: La Sebastiana in Valparaíso, La Chascona in
Santiago and the house were he spent most of his life in Isla Negra.
*Valparaíso, Cerro Artillería

5. 3 days or more
San Pedro de Atacama
Is located 1.670 kms north from Santiago de Chile. To get there first you have to reach Calama,
the nearest city, which is connected to San Pedro byºan excellent highway and a surprising
landscapeºIt is known as the “Archeological Capital of Chile”, the commune of San Pedro de
Atacama invites tourists to know its archeology, desert, natural sanctuaries, pre-Colombian
village architecture and to enjoy its incomparable and impressive natural attractions.
Isla de Pascua
*Iglesia de San Pedro
Easter Island, one thousand years ago Ariki (King) HOTU MATUA crossed the ocean from Hiva
(probably the Marquesas Islands) and settled in a new land he called "The navel of the
world".Standing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean some 3.700 kms away from continental Chile,
Easter Island or Rapa Nui is the world's most insular island.It is just 166km2 in size and is highest
point stands a mere 509m above sea level. Easter Island ,home of the most advanced culture in
all of Polynesia,is rightly considered to be the world´s largest open air archaelogical museum.
Rapa Nui welcome you with year-round subtropical temperatures ranging from 18º to 27º C ,
warm waters , and sandy, unspoiled beaches termed "paradisiacal" by visitors.
Lakes District and Chiloe Island
The land starts to disintegrate into the archipelago of Chiloe just below Puerto Montt. The
*Isla de Pascua
scenery is stunning: lush farmland, dense forests, volcanoes, and of course lots of lakes. Along the
old route of the settlers that communicated Puerto Varas with Puerto Montt, there are towns,
fields and old houses of the Germans who settled this region. The amazing rainforest of the
Alerce National Park with its 3 thousand year-old larches and the Vicente Pérez Rosales
National with the Petrohué Falls and the Osorno volcano. Sea birds, dolphins and tunnies escort
the ferry on its navigation course toward the Chiloe Island.
Torres del Paine National Park
This National Park has an spectacularly beautiful landscape, trails qualified to do trekking, and
thus travel through different scenarios of pampas, black magallanean forests, lakes and lagoons
with icebergs and imposing glaciers, all of this surrounded by huge rocky masses that
*Chiloé
characterize the figure of the Torres del Paine. Nirre and lenga forests cover the huemules,
condors, nandues (South American ostriches) and guanacos.