Practical information Chile

French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay of less than 90 days. Upon arrival at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez airport, you will receive an entry stamp and a PDI form (Tarjeta de Turismo) to keep safely until departure: losing it requires filing a report with the international police. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay, with no additional validity requirement. For stays longer than 90 days, an extension can be obtained from the Departamento de Extranjería for approximately 100 USD. No reciprocal tax is charged to European travelers upon entry.

No vaccine is mandatory to enter Chile from Europe. We recommend staying up to date with routine vaccinations (DTP, MMR, whooping cough) and considering hepatitis A and typhoid for extended stays or rural areas. There is no malaria on continental Chilean territory or on Rapa Nui. Dengue remains rare, except on Easter Island where a few cases occur. However, altitude sickness (soroche) affects all travelers above 3,000 m, in Atacama, on the altiplano or at Lake Chungará. Plan for gradual acclimatization and discuss it with your doctor before departure. A consultation at a travel medicine center is recommended.

Budget around €150–€250 per day and per person excluding international flights, in a double room and comfort category. This range includes accommodation (€60–€120 per night in a 3-star hotel), meals (€10–€25 at restaurants, main course around 12,000 CLP), guided tours and transfers. Domestic flights are a separate expense—for example, Santiago–Calama around €120, Santiago–Punta Arenas around €180 depending on the season. Patagonia in high season (December to February) costs 20–30% more, with lodges at Torres del Paine between €100 and €200 per night. A luxury trip easily reaches €400 per day.

Chile can be visited year-round, but each region has its own calendar. Patagonia and Torres del Paine really open from November to March, with January and February being the most stable but also the most crowded. The Lake Region is pleasant from October to April, with temperatures of 20 to 25°C in summer. The Atacama Desert can be visited year-round thanks to its dry climate, while possibly avoiding the highland winter (January-February) which brings some altitude storms. Santiago and the Central Valley offer ideal Mediterranean climate from September to May. Easter Island remains accessible year-round with a preference for October to April.

Given the country's length, domestic flights are essential to combine several regions. LATAM and Sky Airline serve Calama (Atacama), Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas and Easter Island from Santiago, with flights of 2 to 5h30. Long-distance buses are comfortable and economical for the northern and central half of the country (Turbus, Pullman). In Patagonia, the Carretera Austral is traveled by 4x4 with a few mandatory ferries between Hornopirén, Caleta Gonzalo and Chaitén. Car rental is straightforward in Santiago and Puerto Montt, more complex in Punta Arenas to cross the Argentine border. We arrange private transfers and domestic flights in our itineraries.

Chile ranks among the safest countries in Latin America, regularly classified at the top for political and institutional stability. Precautions to take are matters of urban common sense: vigilance in Santiago's metro during peak hours, attention to pickpockets in Valparaíso (notably on Cerro Concepción) and in markets. Tourist areas in the regions (Atacama, Lakes, Patagonia, Rapa Nui) are very calm. Since the 2019 demonstrations, certain Santiago neighborhoods such as Plaza Italia can be restless during social mobilizations: our team keeps you informed in real time. We avoid nighttime travel in the capital's peripheral areas and remain available 24/7 during your stay.