Chile Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

West coast of South America.

Language

Spanish (official), Mapudungu (the language of the Mapuche), Rapanui (Easter Island) and Aymara.

Area

756,626 sq km (292,058 sq miles).

Time Zone

Mainland and Juan Fernández Islands: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March). Easter Island: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two circular metal pins are used.

Population

17 million (2008 estimate).

Population Density

22 per sq km.

Capital City

Santiago (de Chile). Population: 6.1 million (last official census).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1810.

Head of State

President Michelle Bachelet since January 2006.

Religion

Christian (mostly Roman Catholic).

Recent History

Now in its fourth successive term, the Concertación coalition has governed the country since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

Currently led by Chile's first ever woman president, Michelle Bachelet, who came to power in 2006, the country faces many familiar problems in the present era of financial instability. Prices for copper, the country's main export, have fallen sharply recently, while high inflation has sparked unrest among civil servants. Corruption scandals continue to dog certain parts of the government, in particular the Ministry of Public Works.

Chile's energy needs are also a source of much debate, with pending dam projects in the south causing much concern among environmentalists.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +56. Public phone boxes are unreliable, and visitors will find it cheaper to use phones in centros de llamadas (call centers) in towns, or in Internet cafes.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in built-up areas, less so outside of the towns. It is also cheap and easy to buy your own if you are in the country for any length of time although calls are not especially cheap. Entel provides a pre-paid SIM (chip) card for unblocked phones (www.telestial.com) while Movistar (tel: 231-6595) also offers a ProJoven plan for students. For all-round country coverage, Claro is Chile’s largest network.

Internet

Internet cafés are open all hours in the main towns and tourist areas. Many hotels and hostels will have access to the internet which is relatively cheap at around US$1 for 30 minutes, while free Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly popular.

Media

Chile enjoys a reasonable level of press freedom, which is now enshrined in the constitution. There is, however, a heavy conservative tilt to the media, which has never quite redressed the imbalance of the Pinochet-era restrictions. The Santiago Times is the only English language daily in Chile (www.santiagotimes.cl). Television was introduced in 1957 and there are 63 stations. National broadcasters include Canal 13, which is part-owned by the Catholic church, UCV Televisión, Chilevisión, TVN, Mega, RED TV and Telecanal.

Post

The postal service, Correos de Chile (www.correos.cl), is reasonably reliable. Airmail to Europe and the USA takes approximately four days to a week.in Santiago Mon-Fri 0830-1900; Sat 0830-1300. The central post office in Santiago is located at Plaza de Armas 559. Post offices in villages can have reduced service.

Press

• Spanish dailies include El Mercurio (conservative), La Tercera, conservative evening newspaper La Segunda, business newspaper El Diario, and government-run La Nación.
• Foreign newspapers are available.
• The Santiago Times (www.santiagotimes.cl) is published online in English, while the Patagonia Times (www.patagoniatimes.cl) concentrates on news in the country's south.

Radio

• Stations include Radio Nacional de Chile; news-based national commercial network Radio Cooperativa; commercial Pudahuel FM; Bio Bio La Radio and El Conquistador; and music-based Radio Horizonte.
• Santiago Radio (www.santiagoradio.cl) is a fledgling English-language online station.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
22 Apr Good Friday
23 Apr Holy Saturday
1 May Labor Day
21 May Navy Day
29 Jun *St Peter and St Paul
15 Aug Assumption
11 Sep Reconciliation Day
18 Sep Independence Day
19 Sep Army Day
10 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Apr Good Friday
7 Apr Holy Saturday
1 May Labor Day
21 May Navy Day
29 Jun *St Peter and St Paul
15 Aug Assumption
11 Sep Reconciliation Day
18 Sep Independence Day
19 Sep Army Day
10 Oct *Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
*If Corpus Christi, St Peter and St Paul and Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) fall on a day other than Saturday, Sunday or Monday, the holiday is usually held on the nearest Monday.

Contact Information

Servicio Nacional de Turismo (SERNATUR) (Tourist Office)

Avenida Providencia 1550, PO Box 7500548, Santiago, Chile
Tel: (2) 731 8300.
Website: www.sernatur.cl

Embassy of Chile in the UK

37-41 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9JA
Tel: (020) 7222 2361.
Website: www.chileabroad.gov.cl/reino-unido/en/
Working hours: Mon-Fri, 0900 - 1730.

Embassy of the Republic of Chile in the USA

1732 Massachussets Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 785 1746.
Website: www.chile-usa.org