Chile: Various travel information
Arrival and travel in the country
Flying
From Europe, you will usually arrive by plane.
The largest airport in the country and the most modern in South America is Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in the Pudahuel district of Santiago de Chile, which is why it is also known as the Aeroporto de Pudahuel. The airport got its name in 1980 after the Chilean commodore Arturo Merino Benítez, who founded several airlines as early as 1929, which merged into today’s airline LAN as early as 1932 and became state-owned. The former company LanChile has been privatized since 1989 and has been known as Lan Airlines since 2004. Lan Airlines mainly flies to destinations in its own country – also destinations in South America and the USA. The company also flies once a day from Frankfurt with a stopover in Madrid to Santiago de Chile and of course back. Besides Santiago de Chile there are in Puerto Montt, Talcahuano, Temuco, Iquique, Antofagasta and Punta Arenas are other major airports.
Due to the huge length of over 4,000 km, inner-Chilean air traffic plays an important role. There are therefore many small regional airports all over the country. Incidentally, the first powered flight in Chile took place on August 21, 1910, the pilot’s name was César Copetta Brosio. But especially Dagoberto Godoy, who was the first to fly over the Andes in 1918, became famous.
Roads
Chile has a road network that covers around 81,000 km. Of these, around 17,000 have been expanded and tarred. The most famous road in Chile is without a doubt the “Panamericana”, which leads from Alaska to Puerto Montt in southern Chile. From there, the currently existing and partly unpaved road will continue to Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego. With a length of around 25,750 km, the Panamericana is the longest road network in the world.
Buses
In order to get from one place to another in the country, the intercity bus is usually chosen. There are a number of providers with different levels of comfort for intercity buses. The most comfortable and expensive buses have, among other things, comfort seats that correspond to those of business or even first class in aircraft. The city buses often cause huge problems for the inexperienced, as there is no information about the bus routes, further stops or departure times at most of the stops. Except in Santiago, the buses stop at a sign from the passenger to let him get on or off.
Railroad
The Chilean railway network is operated by the state railway company EFE (). The railway network has two different gauges. The network with a track width of 1,676 mm exists south of Santiago and can also be used by passengers as far as Temuco. This network covers around 3,750 km, of which around 1,650 km are electrified. However, the condition of the Chilean railways is not the best. In addition, the much more flexible and often faster buses are used much more frequently. The network north of Santiago, with a track width of 1,000 mm and a length of around 2,900 km, only takes place in freight traffic. There is a subway in Santiago, the network of which is to cover around 80 km in the final expansion phase.
Ship connections
Much of the trade with Chile is carried out through its seaports. The main ports are in Antofagasta, Arica, Chañaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano and Valparaíso. But cruise ships and passenger ships also dock and depart here. Since there are many fjords and islands, especially in the south of Chile, ferries play a special role in the transport of people and goods.
Traffic rules
In Chilean cities the maximum speed is 50 km/h. The maximum permitted blood alcohol level for drivers of motor vehicles is 0.8 per mille.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, The license plate number of Chile is:
RCH |
Tourist office
Tourismo Chile in Germany
c/o Mangum Hills Balfour GmbH
Maximilianstrasse 54
80538 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 232326 – 50
Turismo Chile
Eliodoro Yañez 2473 – Providencia – Santiago
Tel: 0056 – (0) 2 – 785 66 09
Web: www.visit-chile.org
Visa, foreign exchange and customs regulations
Visa
There is no requirement for a visa for citizens of the EU, Swiss citizens and citizens of numerous other countries.
National currency
The national currency of Chile is:
C hilenian peso = 100 centavos.
Import and export of foreign currencies
The import and export of the national currency and all foreign currencies are not subject to any restrictions.
Importing and exporting goods
The import of weapons, explosives, fireworks, etc. is strictly forbidden. In addition, the import of all kinds of drugs is of course strictly forbidden and subject to high penalties. The export and import of plants and animals that are protected under the Washington Convention on Endangered Species is also prohibited.
Infectious Diseases
In Chile, the following diseases that are not or less common in Germany and Northern Europe are to be expected:
- Hepatitis A and B
- typhus
- Amoebic dysentery
- Lambliasis
- various worm diseases
- Trichonosis (when eating cooked pork) especially in the south of the country
- there is an increased risk of infection with AIDS
- Cholera, a danger only exists for people who come into contact with contaminated drinks or food
- Menigococcal meningitis, especially in the slums
- Rabies, especially for risk groups who come into contact with vector animals
Vaccination recommendations
There vaccinations are recommended against the following diseases:
- diphtheria
- Hepatitis A and B
- tetanus
- Rabies, especially for risk groups who come into contact with vector animals
- Typhoid, a danger only exists for people who come into contact with contaminated drinks or food
Compulsory vaccination
A yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for travelers who come from the yellow fever risk areas designated by the WHO.
Current warnings
Foreign Office (AA) of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
Chile: Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Chile embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
German representations in Chile
German Embassy in Santiago de Chile
Las Hualtatas 5677, Vitacura
(Cailla 220, Correo 30)
Santiago de Chile, Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 2 – 463 25 00
Email: info@santiago-de-chile.diplo.de
Web: www.santiago.diplo.de
Honorary Consulate in Antofagasta
Avenida Edmundo Pérez Zujovic 4940
Antofagasta, Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 55 – 55 63 87
Honorary Consulate in Arica
Arturo Prat 391, piso 10, oficina 101
Casilla 16
Arica, Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 58 – 58 37 40/-41/-42
Honorary Consulate in Concepción
Diagonal Pedro Aguirre Cerda 1151, Piso 2
Concepción, Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 41 – 318 95 32
Honorary Consulate in La Serena
Matta 665
La Serena/IV Región, Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 51 – 21 10 05
Honorary Consulate in Puerto Montt
Antonio Varas 525, Of. 306
(Casilla 2)
Puerto Montt, Chile
Tel: 0056 65 – 25 28 28, 25 51 62
Other honorary consulates can be found in Temuco, Valdivia and Viña del Mar.
Austrian representations in Chile
Embassy in Santiago de Chile
Barros Errazuriz 1968, 3 piso
Santiago de Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 2 – 22 34 774/281
Email: santiago-de-chile-ob@bmaa.gv.at
www.aussenministerium.at/santiagodechile
Honorary Consulate Arica (without passport authorization)
Sotomayor 169
Arica
Tel: 0056 – (0) 58 – 23 12 74
Email: consulaustriaarica@gmail.com
Honorary Consulate Valdivia (without passport authorization)
Avda. Espana 1000
Valdivia
Tel: 0056 – (0) 63 – 20 40 21
Honorary Consulate Valparaiso (without passport authorization)
Santo Domingo 26
Valparaiso
Tel: 0056 – (0) 32 – 66 33 33
Representations of Chile in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Vienna
Lugeck 1/III/10
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 512 92 08
Email: echileat1@chello.at
Honorary Consulate in Linz
Kaplanhofstrasse 3
4020 Linz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 732 – 65 33 32,
Emergency number: 0043 – (0) 664 – 210 20 88
Email: office@alphagold.at
Honorary Consulate in Klagenfurt
Bahnhofstrasse 26/V, Postfach 205
9010 Klagenfurt
Tel: 0043 – (0) 463 – 51 34 23
Honorary Consulate in Vienna
Blaasstrasse 13
1190 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 367 61 67
Honorary Consulate in Salzburg
Bärengasse 11
5020 Salzburg
Tel: 0043 – (0) 662 – 43 09 48
Swiss representations in Chile
Swiss Embassy in Santiago de Chile
Embajada de Suiza
Américo Vespucio Sur 100, piso 14
Santiago (Las Condes)
Tel: 0056 – (0) 2 – 928 01 00
Consulate in Temuco
Panorama 166
Lomas del Carmen
Temuco, Chile
Tel: 0056 – (0) 45 – 92 22 10 (Tel. + Fax)
Representations of Chile in Switzerland
Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Bern
Eigerplatz 5
3007 Bern
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 370 00 58
Consulate in Lausane
World Trade Center Lausanne, Avenue Gratta-Paille 2
1018 Lausanne
Tel: 0041 – (0) 21 – 641 05 20
Consulate of the Republic of Chile in Zurich
Wiesenstrasse 7
PO Box 1828
8032 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – (0) 43 – 499 07 71