Money

• Currency / Cash

In Chile, the only official currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). Some restaurants and souvenir stores accept US dollars (USD) or euros (EUR) at a fixed, usually higher rate. We recommend using CLP as your main source of payment. You can start by exchanging USD 100 or EUR 100.

Make sure to keep checking the currency rate www.xe.com or www.oanda.com

• Credit Cards

There may be fees involved with each transaction; check with your bank before traveling.

Chile the following credit cards are accepted: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Diners/Discover.

• Budget in Chile

The daily budget varies depending on whether you have meals included or not. In Chile, we recommend CLP 80,000 per person per day if you don’t have any meals included, as dinner in a good restaurant can cost CLP 35,000 per person (starter, main course, and beverages), plus additional items like water or souvenirs.

Examples in CLP pesos to get a sense of prices in September 2024:
– Lunch: CLP 9.000 to CLP 30.000 pesos per person
– Dinner : CLP 15.000 to CLP 60.000 pesos per person
– Coffee: Between CLP 2.000 to CLP 4.500 pesos per person
– Beer: CLP 2,000 to 6,000 pesos
– Bottled water: CLP 1,000 (half liter) to 3,000 pesos (5 liters)

• Gratuities and Tipping

Tips are not included in the final rate and are voluntary, depending on how you consider the service. But here are some recommendations for the group:

• At Restaurants: tipping is expected in bars, restaurants, cafes, etc. A 10% tip is the norm for good service, and the recommended amount is usually listed at the end of the bill but is not automatically included. To pay with the tip, tell the waiter “con la propina” (with the tip) when closing out.
• In taxis, cab drivers do not have to be tipped, although gas station and parking attendants typically expect a small tip of USD 0.50 or USD 1 (or the equivalent in the local currency).
• Guides: Tipping is optional for guides, assistants, drivers, or staff. We recommend the following amounts per day of service:
  • Head guide: USD 20 to USD 50 per day of service (directly to them).
  • Assistant guides: USD 10 to USD 30 per day of service (directly to them)
  • Drivers: USD 5 to USD 20 per day (directly to them).
  • Staff (front desk, housekeeping, etc.): 3–10 USD per day (Tip box, usually located at the reception area)
  • Trek porters: 10 to 40 USD (directly to them)

SIM Cards

For staying connected while in Chile, we recommend contacting your local phone provider to set up an international roaming plan before your trip.

Alternatively, you can easily purchase a local SIM card or portable Wi-Fi device upon arrival for more affordable data options during your stay.

We highly recommend purchasing an e-sim card online at Airlao, Holafly or any company of your preference.

• If you are traveling to Torres del Paine, this park doesn’t have WiFi or a mobile connection.
• If you are traveling on the Austral Road, there are areas on the road where the signal is lost, but there is good connection in the cities or villages.

Plug Sockets

Electricity in Chile and Easter Island is 220 volts at 50 Hz. Power plugs and sockets are type C and type L, with two or three holes accepting round (European) plugs.

*Make sure to bring a power plug adapter for your electronic devices. If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100 V – 127 V, you will also need a voltage converter. There are combined power plug adapters and voltage converters on the market.

Medical Matters

If you’re taking any specific prescriptions, please remember to bring them.

• Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is your responsibility. We highly recommend acquiring an insurance policy called “Cancel for any reason”. You must ensure that your insurance covers you for the full duration of your holiday, including, but not limited to, medical expenses (including COVID expenses), injury, death, repatriation, cancellation, and curtailment, and in respect of any sports or activities that you may wish to do whilst on your holiday.

Some of our recommended insurance companies are: World Nomads and InsureMyTrip.com

Map App: While there’s nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned paper map, it won’t help you if you don’t know where you are in the first place. MAPS.ME is a good choice as it allows you to download the maps for offline use (like most apps), but it also shows walking trails and footpaths that are mostly invisible on Google Maps, for instance.

National Park & National Reserve Rules:

• Lighting fires is prohibited in all circumstances
• Smoke only in designated areas. NEVER put a cigarette out on trees or stones. NEVER leave the cigarette butts on the ground; use only designated ashtrays.
• Walk only on marked paths or paths indicated by a guide
• Plan your hike according to the path closing times
• Camp only in authorized campsites for your safety
• If you see something you consider a risk, alert a park ranger or guide immediately

If in doubt about any rules or local customs, just ask your guide, hotel staff, or park ranger!

*If you have any questions or require more information, please contact one of our trip advisors.