| Chile boasts an
astounding geographical diversity ranging from the
driest place on earth (Atacama Desert) to the rain
swept Patagonian peaks in the south where the Patagonian
ice-cap is the third largest mass of ice in the
world. The country rarely exceeds 200km in breadth,
yet is 4300 km long. To the north, Chile borders
Peru and Bolivia, whilst to the west the Andes separate
it from Argentina, and the Pacific Ocean runs the
length of its’ eastern coast line. It has
the largest European population in South America
(5%) yet the traditions of its’ Indian population
(5%) continue to thrive in the Andean foothills.
Just over 14 million people live in Chile, of which
5 million are based in Santiago. |
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The many highlights
include
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Santiago *
Lake District * Patagonia
* Atacama desert * Amazon Jungle
* Easter Island * Exciting nightlife * Great food
and wine * Museums * Friendly people
|
| Q. |
When is
the best time to go to Chile? |
| A. |
The best time
to Visit Chile is from September to March. There
are wide variations in temperatures between different
regions. Generally, October to March is the most
pleasant. It may be 8 degrees Celsius in Patagonia
and 25 degrees Celsius in Santiago in the middle
of summer. |
| Q. |
What is
the size of the group? |
| A. |
If you are traveling
on one of our featured group departures, the participation
is limited to 16. |
| Q. |
Can we
have exclusive arrangements? |
| A. |
All our tours
are designed to operate with a minimum of 2 participants.
All arrangements are made exclusively for you. Note:
You do not join a group at any stage, but enjoy
private arrangements. |
| Q. |
What is
the mode of travel? |
| A. |
All local transportation
is by private air-conditioned cars, mini-vans or
buses. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking
shoes. |
| Q. |
Where
will I stay? |
| A. |
Accommodations
are chosen on the basis of the level of comfort,
quality, and in-house service, a touch of the local
charm with en-suite facilities. Most are at
least 4 star. |
| Q. |
How can
I register for a tour? |
| A. |
We require a deposit
of US 500 / C$ 500 to ensure a place on a tour. The
balance payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
|
| Q. |
How about
meals? |
| A. |
In Chile a range
of international food is available. The high quality
of Chilean wine is well known. Several local dishes,
including empanadas (generally meat filled pastry)
as well as pork and lamb are available. Also excellent
pastas and delicious seafood, along the coast, can
be ordered in most restaurants. |
| Q. |
Can you
book our flights? |
| A. |
The cost of the
internal flights is included in the tour price.
We have a full service air-ticketing division who
will be glad to assist you with your international
flight arrangements. However please note that if
you are traveling on frequent flyer mileage you
will have to make reservations yourself. |
| Q. |
Will someone
pick me up from the airport? |
| A. |
If you are making
your own flight arrangements, please let us know
the flight details and we will make arrangements
for the pick-up. |
| Q. |
Do I
need a visa to go to Chile? |
| A. |
American &
Canadian citizens do not require a visa for Chile.
However, if you are travelling on an US or Canadian
passport and you are entering Chile in Santiago
a special tax must be purchased on arrival. If you
enter Chile by land border you will not be charged
for this tax.
All travellers will require a valid passport. It
is your responsibility to ensure that there are
sufficient blank pages for any visas required and
for entry/departure stamps. Please also check that
your passport will be valid for 6 months after the
end of the trip. If you are travelling on more than
1 passport, please use the same passport for the
entire trip.
|
| Q. |
Do I
require inoculations? |
| A. |
No statutory inoculations
are required. However, we recommend that you visit
a travel clinic for more information. |
| Q. |
Do I
need insurance? |
| A. |
You have made
an investment into your trip; we strongly recommend
that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance.
We will be pleased to provide you with a quote. |
| Q. |
How much
luggage can I bring? |
| A. |
If your travel
originates in North America you are allowed 2 suitcases
plus a handbag. Suitcases must not weigh more than
32 kilograms (70lbs) each. Some domestic flights
only permit 20 kilograms, so we recommend that you
stick to one suitcase with 20kgs. That will also
enable you to bring back all your shopping.
|
| Q. |
What about
tipping? |
| A. |
Tips are not included
in the tour price and tipping is entirely at your
discretion. |
| Q. |
Can I
use my hair dryer? |
| A. |
Electricity in
Chile is 110 V or 220V-250. However most deluxe
hotels have 110V sockets in their bathrooms. Alternately
carry an adapter with a two/three round pin plug.
Most Laptops / Notebooks have adapters that will
work anywhere between 110V – 250V. |
| Q. |
Should
I worry about food or water? |
| A. |
All establishments
we use have high standards of hygiene while preparing
food. Although in Chile drinking tap water is safe,
we suggest using bottled water only. If you have
a really fragile constitution, stay away from salads. |
| Q. |
But I
have special meal requirements? |
| A. |
Please inform
our travel counselors at the time of booking and
we will ensure that your requests are forwarded
to the providers. We have handled vegetarian,
kosher or similar requests. We ask you to reconfirm
the same while visiting the dining area. |
| Q. |
How much
money should I carry? |
| A. |
Your package tour
includes accommodations, sightseeing, entrance fees,
transportations and 2 meals a day. So you really
require enough money for one-meal, tipping and sundry
expenses. US$20-US$40 a day will take care of the
above. As far as shopping is concerned, that is
another matter. |
| Q. |
Can I
use my Credit Cards? Are there ATMs? |
| A. |
Most reputable
establishments accept Visa, Mastercard, American
Express or Diners Club cards. Major metropolitan
centers have Automated Teller Machines (ATM) as
well; however do not count on them as the primary
source of money. |
| Q. |
Do I need
formal clothes? |
| A. |
You can dress
casual during the day. It is OK to wear shorts (only
while visiting mosques you will have to cover your
legs). We also recommend a wide brimmed hat, plenty
of sunscreen and walking shoes. You may like to
carry smart casual clothes for evenings and dinners.
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