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| VISA INFORMATION |
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 Citizens of the majority of countries of Europe, North, South and Central America do not need a special tourist entry visa. Upon entry you will only have to present a valid passport and tourist card (given to you by the flight attendant or your travel agent).
To confirm the information on visa requirements for your particular country, please contact the nearest Chilean Embassy or Consulate. A complete list of Chilean foreign missions can be obtained at www.minrel.gov.cl (once on the website go to the very top right corner and click on "English Version", the click on "Chile Abroad" on the right-hand side).
In case your country requires a tourist visa to enter Chile, the procedure is usually simple and takes on average about 7 business days. You will normally be asked to fill out a visa application form (obtained from the Chilean Embassy or Consulate) and present a valid passport, a round trip ticket, proof of financial resources (usually a copy of an international credit card) and a passport-size photo. In some cases, you may be required to present a letter of invitation. Should this be the case, Gecamin Ltda. will write such letter, but we request that you contact us in advance, specifying your case.
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| RECIPROCITY TAX |
| Please note that upon arrival, citizens of Australia, Canada, The United States and Mexico must pay a reciprocity tax before passing through the International Police, Immigration and Passport Control. This tax should be paid in cash in US Dollars and it is recommendable to have exact change. Values are as follows: |
| COUNTRY |
TAX |
Australia
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USD $ 61 |
| Canada |
USD $ 159 |
| United States |
USD $ 131 |
| Mexico |
USD $ 23 |
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If you have any questions regarding this tax, please contact the airport Cash Desk at (56-2) 690-1063.
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A SNAPSHOT OF CHILE
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| Chile means, depending on the book you read, "where the land runs out" or "the end of the world". It also means "snow" and "the deepest point on Earth". Chile has also been called many other names, such as a country with crazy geography and a geographical extravaganza. The historic name of Chile most probably comes from the mapuche word trih o chi, which means "a bird with yellow spots on its wings". It is also called a country made for poets, just as Pablo Neruda once wrote. There is a legend which says that when God finished the Creation, he took the leftovers of the desert, plains, jungle and mountains, and with that he created the patchwork that is Chile.
Approximately 16 million inhabitants live on the territory, which is 175 km wide and over 4300 km long (8000 km if you add the Antarctic), - including various ethnic groups like the Aymaras, the Mapuches, the Easter Islanders and a small number of people from Tierra del Fuego. The official language is Spanish, the dominant religion is Catholicism and the currency - the Chilean Peso - is valued at around 500 per US dollar.
Chile, often regarded as one of South America's safest and most economically and politically stable countries, has experienced a dramatic increase in tourism over the last few years. What foreign tourists look for and find in Chile are endless opportunities for recreation and leisure activities, astonishing beauty in the landscapes and uncommon cultural, geographical and historical diversity. If you look for diversity, you can go to different countries or you can just come to Chile.
Chile is a photographer's and traveller's paradise for all its colours and shapes. From north to south the landscape changes dramatically, and so do the colours. Only in Chile you will see lunar landscapes, deserts, active geysers and salt lakes in the North; densely forested areas, waterfalls, ice fields, glaciers, fjords and lakes in the South; first-rate shopping malls, five star hotels and international restaurants in the Metropolitan Region; and green valleys and vineyards in the Central Region. In one day you can go trekking or skiing in the mountains and then enjoy a delicious seafood and premium wine dinner by the ocean.
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| WEATHER IN CHILE |
 Santiago has a Mediterranean climate and well-defined seasons. Spring (September-November) is mild and contributes to the flourishing green colour of the plants and trees. Summer (December-February) is dry and hot with temperatures reaching 37º C. At night it cools down slightly, and on the coast this temperature can drop significantly. Autumn (March- May) temperatures decrease gradually to average high 25º C. In winter, mornings are cold, as low as 0º C, and although the temperature rises at midday, it rarely exceeds 15º C. Precipitation begins in April and reaches its highest level during June and July, then decreases gradually to almost nothing in November. The average annual rainfall in Santiago is 384 mm (14.9 in). |
| BANKING AND ATM AVAILABILITY |
 All major cities and many smaller towns with a significant tourist economy have ATMs. Some banks, however, charge rather exorbitant fees for international withdrawals, and per-day withdrawal limits are usually around US$300. Banks are open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9:00 to 13:30. |
| ELECTRICITY |
 Chile's electricity standard is 220 volts/50Hz. Electrical sockets have two openings for tubular pins, not flat prongs, so you'll need a plug adapter. |
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Santiago is probably the safest big city in South America. Serious violent crime is not unheard of, but it's not common either. A visitor's principal concern will be pickpockets and vandals, but even then your chances of being a victim are rare.
