Chile

Etiquette & respect

Due to the dissimilar geographic features of Chile, cultural expressions vary markedly in different parts of the country. The northern area is characterized by various cultural events that combine the influence of Andean indigenous peoples with the Spanish conquerors, giving great importance to festivals and religious traditions as diabladas and Fiesta de La Tirana. The central area is mostly determined by the rural traditions of the Chilean countryside. As in this geographic region most of the Chilean population is concentrated, is traditionally considered the home country's cultural identity. Its highest expression is performed du…

Tipping guidance

Tipping is not obligatory but is generally expected. It is usually assumed that customers will leave a tip of 10%, if the service is considered satisfactory. Sometimes restaurants automatically add it to the bill. It's also important to tip the baggers at grocery stores; 300–500 pesos is fine.

Health & wellness

Having relatively good standards in medicine throughout the country, it is not difficult to stay healthy. However, one will usually find more refined resources at a private medical facility. In case of emergency, call 131, but don't expect an operator fluent in English. Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers. Other potential vaccines, depending on your travel situation include: Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies and Influenza. Tap water is safe to drink. Just know that water is produced from the mountains, so it might be harder for foreigners. In that case, it is advisable to buy bottled water. The atmospheric ozone layer in Chile has thinned considerably, so the ultraviolet radiation, which is harmful to health, is very strong. The ozone problem is at its worst during midday and afternoon hours in spring from September to November and in summer from Christmas to March. Use sunscreen and wear long-seeved tops, hats and sunglasses.

Scams & street smarts

Chile usually ranks as one of the safest countries on the continent. In the early 2020s though, gun violence and car hijacking have increased. Cartels from Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia have established themselves in the country. The police were not prepared for this and it has worried a lot of locals and sometimes caused resentment against foreigners. Pickpocketing and muggings occur, so it's better to go out in a group. Most thieves tend to target people walking alone. Be cautious at night, take a taxi, and avoid seedy neighbourhoods like Bellavista. If robbed, do as you are told and if you don't speak Spanish, avoid eye contact and give them your valuables. Do not show expensive-looking jewelry or watches, laptops or the newest mobile phones, even during the day. Stay alert and be especially careful in all crowded areas in Santiago, Viña del mar, Valparaíso and Antofagasta. It is recommended to wear your backpack at the front of your body in crowded areas or use a fannypack. For tourists or other "beginners" lacking experience in over-the-counter transactions with hard Chilean currency, you can reduce the chance of your wallet getting stolen by following some advice: Separate coins and bills. Coins are frequently used when paying for public transport (except in Santiago buses, where you need to board with the Bip card), newspapers or snacks, store them in a small handbag so that your bills will remain concealed. 1000-, 2000- and 5000-peso notes should be easily accessible. Notes of higher value should be stored in another, more secure place in your wallet so you don't accidentally pay 10,000 pesos instead of 1000, for example. All notes have different sizes and they all are very differently colored and designed. Do not reach for your wallet until the vendor tells you the price. Chilean carabineros (National Police) are trustworthy: call 133 from any phone if you need emergency assistance. Some municipalities (such as Santiago or Las Condes) have private guards; however, they usually don't speak English. Do not try to bribe a carabinero, since it will get you into serious trouble! Unlike other South American police corps, Chilean Carabineros are very proud and honest. Regarding driving conditions: Chilean drivers tend to be not as erratic and volatile as those in neighboring countries. Some parts of Chile are still racially more homogeneous than the rest of Latin America and locals will be curious if they see a person of color. However, Cities like Santiago, Viña del Mar or Antofagasta have become more multicultural in the last few years with immigrants from Haiti, Colombia, China, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, so being a foreigner in those places will not be met with curiosity. Some Chileans who have a low opinion of foreigners might yell "negro" (Spanish for black) or "chino" (Spanish for Chinese), but only report to carabineros if you are physically assaulted by someone. Racist attacks are infrequent in general but the carabineros know how to deal with such crimes, so don't hesitate to report if something happens. Chile is predominantly a Catholic country, but it is safe for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. Wearing religious attire may attract glances and comments. The country is generally safe for LGBTQ travellers, being one of the most LGBTQ friendly destination in Latin America. Gay travellers will unlikely to experience any trouble when visiting. Be careful when taking photos in areas with military buildings or where you see soldiers guarding an entrance for example. They have the right to arrest and confiscate your camera. Be prepared to spend time answering questions and having every single photo examined by a soldier or marine. You will avoid imprisonment due to the fact that marines and soldiers will understand that you did not understand the warnings being a foreign tourist and interrogation is done because the soldiers are expected to do that when such situation occurs. But it's better to avoid such situation and instead ask if you can take a photo. Some marines or soldiers might speak a little English, otherwise point at an object and say "si?", while showing your camera so they understand that you want to take a photo. If they reply with a "no", then respect their decision. Stay out of political protests in any city, especially Santiago. The carabineros are always on the alert as soon as there is a political demonstration and some people join only because they want to cause violence. Also avoid celebrations of sports like Chile winning a tournament for example, since they can end in violence. Under Chilean law, foreigners are prohibited from participating in protests or other political activities, which is punishable with imprisonment and deportation. If you go out to bars or clubs, be careful when ordering a drink. If you want to be safe, order beer in a bottle or pay for a bottle of wine or liquor if possible. Problems with spiked drinks have increased; always have an eye on your drink when ordering. Places for young people or students tend to have cheap drinks, wine and beer that should be avoided altogether since they are poorly made and can be dangerous for you. Instead, order well known brands like Cristal or Casillero del Diablo. Walking in the streets in many cities, you will see a lot of stray dogs. They are everywhere and places popular with tourists are full of stray dogs. Dogs in Chile do not carry rabies but may carry other diseases, so do not touch them. Don't get involved in an argument if you see local people being aggressive to the stray dogs. They see them every day and will not take kindly to a tourist having an opinion on how to treat the dogs that they feel are aggressive towards the local people. In addition to stray dogs in the cities, in rural areas many places and farms have dogs, which generally keep to their premises, but might block your way. In either case, if you feel a dog is getting too close for any reason, even if it looks harmless, pick up one, two or three stones, and most dogs will understand the gesture, and leave. If this does not help and a dog is running towards you aggressively barking, use the stones for your defence. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, all of Chile is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.