Travel Essentials › Chile
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C and L, 220 V. Emergency: Police 133, Ambulance 131, Fire 132. Tipping: Restaurants add a suggested 10% ('propina') to the bill; it is customary to accept it. Tap water: Generally safe to drink in cities.
Types C and L, 220 V
| Police | 133 |
| Ambulance | 131 |
| Fire | 132 |
Restaurants add a suggested 10% ('propina') to the bill; it is customary to accept it.
Greetings. A single cheek kiss (right cheek) is common between women and between men and women, even on first meeting; men usually shake hands with each other.
Punctuality and social norms. Chileans are relatively relaxed about time socially but expect punctuality for business; dress is generally conservative and neat.
Dining etiquette. Keep hands (not elbows) on the table while eating, and wait for the host to say 'buen provecho' before starting a meal.
Chile is one of the safer countries in Latin America, though petty theft (pickpocketing, phone and bag snatching) is common in Santiago and tourist areas.
Mustard/ketchup trick. A stranger squirts a substance on you and 'helps' clean it off while an accomplice steals your bag; walk away without stopping if this happens.
Fake police. Scammers posing as plainclothes police ask to see your money or documents; real police carry visible ID and will take you to a station, not search you on the street.
Phone snatching. Grab-and-run theft of phones used in the open is common; avoid using your phone while walking or in crowded areas.
Women travelers. Chile is considered relatively safe for women travelers; harassment is less common than elsewhere in the region, but avoid walking alone late at night.
Legal · Mostly Safe
Same-sex marriage and adoption have been legal since 2022, and Chile has strong anti-discrimination protections; it is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in Latin America, especially in Santiago.
| Coffee (café) | CLP 3,000 | $3.20 |
| Local bus or metro ride | CLP 850 | $0.90 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | CLP 8,000 | $8.50 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | CLP 20,000 | $21 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | CLP 75,000 | $80 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | CLP 95,000 | $100 |
2026-09
Spring (Sep-Nov) and autumn (Mar-May) bring mild weather and fewer crowds in central Chile; Patagonia is best Oct-Mar, while the Atacama Desert is good year-round.
Chile visa requirements by nationality