Things to Know Before Traveling to Chile
It’s safe to say that I have a love-hate relationship with Chile. I lived in Santiago de Chile for over a year and a half, and while I love so many things about this country, and have had so many amazing experiences here, there are also a number of things that I wish I had known before moving.
Chile is famous for its immense Pacific coastline, snow-capped Andes Mountains and Southern Patagonia region, and for its arid and otherworldly Atacama Desert. The fact that Chile has such incredible natural beauty wherever you go from North to South, and that it is one of the safest and most economically stable countries in South America, makes it an amazing starting place for anyone looking to begin their travels around the continent.
Here’s what I’ve learned from almost two years of living in Chile, and what you should know before you travel here.
Language
The first time I heard Chilean Spanish I could have just assumed it was a whole other language entirely. When people say that Chilean Spanish is difficult to understand, they are not exaggerating. Whether you speak Spanish or not, Chilean Spanish will be different from any Spanish you’ve ever heard before. Chileans speak VERY fast, and they also use many words and expressions, “Chilenismos”, that leave the rest of the Spanish-speaking world guessing.
Keep in mind that if your goal while traveling to Chile is to learn Spanish, it might be a bit more of a challenge than you are expecting. That being said, Chileans LOVE to teach their unique expressions and words to others, so if you put in a bit of effort you’ll probably be the life of the party the second you try to say “qué wea”.
Safety and Security
As I mentioned before, Chile is one of the safest countries in Latin America. And this is not just when it comes to physical security, but also COVID protocols. Chile has taken COVID very seriously since the beginning, with intense border closures, lockdowns, and vaccination schemes. Now that the country has opened its doors to tourism again, there are still so many protocols in place that make traveling here during the pandemic feel very safe. Over 80% of the population is vaccinated with at least 3 dosis of the vaccine, and it's required almost everywhere to show proof of vaccination.
In terms of physical security, the regions outside of the capital city, Santiago, are super safe for travelers. People are kind and helpful, and public transportation is easily accessible and reliable. In Santiago it is always a good idea to take the same precautions that you would in any major metropolitan city anywhere in the world. The Northeastern sectors of Santiago (Providencia, Ñuñoa, Las Condes, Vitacura, etc.) are typically understood to be the wealthiest and safest areas of the city, but with common sense and street smarts you can visit almost anywhere in Santiago without issues.
Natural Diversity
Arguably the best part of living in Chile is having access to so many beautiful places. The Patagonia Region in the South is a natural wonder, full of glaciers, volcanos, mountains, green forests, lakes, and rivers. In the North you can find incredibly crystal clear beaches, geysers, sand dunes, hot springs, and an immense desert that will make you feel like you’ve teleported to another planet.
In so many parts of the country the skies are perfectly clear, and for this reason Chile is world-renowned as a center for astronomy.
Classism and high cost of living
Something that really stood out to me about Chile is the classism that is extremely prevalent here. It is almost shocking how much the city can change from one sector to another, and that the gap between the upper and lower class is so extreme. Walking in one of the wealthier neighborhoods of Santigo like Las Condes of Vitacura can feel like being in another country entirely due to this stark contrast, and many upper class Chileans don’t leave their neighborhoods and look down upon other areas of the city that are not as well off.
Another issue is that Chile is very expensive, even compared to countries in Europe. Rent, food, and traveling are super expensive, and inflation is only making this issue more noticeable. For the budget traveler or backpacker, this is something you should definitely consider. While there are “cheaper” ways to travel around Chile, the cost of living is generally very high.
And finally, finding a direct flight to Santiago can be very expensive too. To a certain extent this makes sense, since it really is far away from so many other parts of the world, but it is another important factor to consider if you are planning a trip here.
Living in Chile for so long, even during a pandemic allowed me to see and learn so much about this country. While of course there are things that are not perfect, Chile will always hold an important place in my heart.
If you visit Chile, these are some of my favorite places that I will always recommend to others:
Parque Araucano: A huge park in Las Condes, with so many green spaces and places where you can relax or play sports.
Tijuana Tacos: This hole in the wall Mexican cantina is located in the Patronato neighborhood in Santiago Centro. It is super delicious, cheap, and always full of locals.
La Cabrera: An amazing Agrentinian restaurant located in Vitacura.
Don Humbert's Panaderia (La Florida): My favorite bakery in Chile. You have to try all of the different cakes! And a mendocino
Wally’s: This restaurant is located in Providencia and Las Condes and is great for those homesick gringo food cravings. The mac n’ cheese and crinch chicken wrap are SO GOOD.
Walking around Lastarria and Barrio Italia: These two neighborhoods are full of cute cafes, bars, shops, and galleries.
Day trip to Valparaiso: I definitely recommend taking a day trip or two to visit this super fun, culturally rich, and colorful city on the coast.
Take a weekend trip to Concon and surf the Sand Dunes
Take a weekend trip to Matanzas
Since I lived in Chile during the height of the pandemic I didn’t explore quite as much as I would have liked. I'm excited to visit other regions of the country and hidden gems when I’m back.