Key facts
Chile is a country located in South America. There are 3 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru) that Chile shares its borders with. The official language of Chile is Spanish. Unfortunately, if you speak English, it might be problematic to communicate fluently unless you know Spanish.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Chile was ranked 47th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Chile is Chilean peso (CLP). The peso ($) is subdivided into 100 centavo.
Chilean
Banknotes
$1000$2000$5000$10000$20000
Chilean
Coins
$1$5$10$50$100$500
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Chile is 337.2 Mbps and mobile is 78.44 Mbs.The global average is 194.02 Mbps and 126.09 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density When compared to the world average, Chile has more ATMs.48.79 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration You can buy a SIM card in Chile without having to register it with your ID or passport.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Chile. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries. Type L is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Chile will celebrate 16 national public holidays. Furthermore, there are one holiday that are only celebrated in certain parts of Chile. The next one Columbus Day will take place on October 12.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s DayAño Nuevo | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayViernes Santo | |
| March 30, 2024Moving holiday | Holy SaturdaySábado Santo | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayDía del Trabajo | |
| May 21, 2024Moving holiday | Navy DayDía de las Glorias Navales | |
| June 7, 2024Moving holiday | Battle of AricaAsalto y Toma del Morro de Arica | Regional holiday |
| June 20, 2024Moving holiday | National Day of Indigenous PeoplesDía Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas | |
| June 24, 2024Moving holiday | Saint Peter and Saint PaulSan Pedro y San Pablo | |
| July 16, 2024Moving holiday | Our Lady of Mount CarmelVirgen del Carmen | |
| August 15, 2024Moving holiday | Assumption of MaryAsunción de la Virgen | |
| September 18, 2024Moving holiday | National holidayFiestas Patrias | |
| September 19, 2024Moving holiday | Army DayDía de las Glorias del Ejército | |
| October 12, 2024Moving holiday | Columbus DayDía del Descubrimiento de Dos Mundos | |
| October 31, 2024Moving holiday | Reformation DayDía Nacional de las Iglesias Evangélicas y Protestantes | |
| November 1, 2024Moving holiday | All SaintsDía de Todos los Santos | |
| December 8, 2024Moving holiday | Immaculate ConceptionInmaculada Concepción | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayNavidad / Natividad del Señor |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Chile?
There are Mariott hotels in Santiago.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Chile.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Chile.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Chile.
There are Radisson hotels in 5 cities.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Chile.
What fast food chains are present in Chile?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Chile.
The KFC chain operates in Chile.
The Burger King chain operates in Chile.
The Subway chain operates in Chile.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Chile.
The Starbucks chain operates in Chile.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Santiago?
Weather data for Santiago (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Santiago.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Chile
Sources
- Chile Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Chile (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage is decriminalized, and medical use is legal.
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)