Compare Chili vacation packages, hotels and cruise deals. Chile is a country of great beauty and contrasts that offers tourists, a safe and stable environment, stunning nature and first class services to enjoy incomparable and unforgettable holidays full of adventure and exciting experiences.
Chile is served by Santiago - Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL). Airlines serving Santiago include American, Delta, Continental, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air France, American Airlines Cargo, COPA, Cargolux, Cubana, Fast Air, Fedex, Iberia, LACSA, LAN Airlines, Ladeco, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, Martinair Holland, PLUNA, Polar Air Cargo, Swiss, TAME, United Airlines and VARIG Brazilian. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more airport listings for Chili and around the world.
Many of Chile's plants and animals are endemic, meaning that they are found nowhere else on earth. Of some 5100 identified plant species, over 2500 are endemic. Many unique ecosystems are preserved within one of South America's finest national park systems: Chile ranks seventh in the world, and third in the Americas, in percentage of landmass protected. 5 UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves underscore Chile's importance as a treasure trove of biodiversity.
The Juan Fernández archipelago is located in the South Pacific ocean, 670 kilometres off the coast of Valparaíso, and was named after the Portuguese sailor who discovered it. Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, who returned to civilization after spending years alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, inspired writer Daniel Defoe to turn his story into one of the greatest novels of all times, Robinson Crusoe.
Whitewater rafting got its start in Chile in the late 1970's, when a team of North American boaters ran the first descent of the río Biobío. What they found amazed them: day after day of huge, powerful rapids, deep basalt canyons with waterfalls cascading down on either side, old growth Araucaria forest on the surrounding hills, steaming riverside hotsprings , a living Pehuenche Indian culture, and a smoking volcano presiding over it all. The Biobío immediately became the world's premier wilderness rafting trip, and Chile's place on the map of international whitewater destinations was assured.
As always in Chile, conditions from north to south vary dramatically. The ski areas in Central Chile are the highest and best equipped, and though their seasons are normally shorter than areas in the south, the snow is lighter and the skies more consistently sunny. To the south, Andes gradually lose height, and the snow which falls upon the southern volcanoes resembles that of the Pacific Northwest.
In comparison to other South American destinations, trekking and walking in Chile is remarkably safe and worry-free. Most treks take place in wilderness or scarcely inhabited areas where locals, if any, are friendly and interested in news from abroad. There are no poisonous snakes, and if you manage to spot a puma, you should count yourself very lucky. Tropical diseases are unknown here and water quality, especially in the south, is excellent. Most trails are well maintained and reasonably well marked, though erosion from horses and other livestock is a problem. Visit the official Chili Tourism site for more information.
Passport, Visa & Embassy Information
United States citizens entering Chile for business or pleasure require a visa, which can be obtained at the port of entry upon payment of a Reciprocity Fee. The visa is valid for 90 days and can be extended for an additional 90 days for another fee. Visitors will be issued a Tourist Card upon entry that must be surrendered upon departure. Visit our Immigration section for more information.
Chile maintains an embassy in the United States at 1732 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036; tel: 202-785-1746, fax: 202-659-9624, email: embassy@embassyofchile.org.
The U.S. Embassy in Santiago provides a wide range of services to U.S. citizens and businesses in Chile. The Embassy also is the locus for a number of American community activities in the Santiago area. Public Affairs works closely with universities and NGOs on a variety of programs of bilateral interest. Of special note are extensive U.S. Speaker, International Visitor, and Fulbright programs. Themes of particular interest include trade, international security, judicial reform, law enforcement, labor and environmental issues.
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
