Chile Holidays
Overview
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A country of outstanding natural beauty, embraced by the Andes Mountains in the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West, Chile holidays boast a variety of experiences, as diverse as the country's cultures and scenery, to enjoy. This long and narrow country stretches from the driest desert in the world in the North, to the ice flows of Antarctica in the far South, with an array of contrasting landscapes in between.
Chile Highlights
Patagonia's Torres del Paine and stunning Lake District: A visit to Torres del Paine National Park is a must on everybody's itinerary. Located in the heart of Patagonia, it is home to a truly magnificent mountain range, emerging seemingly from nowhere and contrasting strongly with the plains of the Patagonian steppe. A unique scenery and certainly the most idyllic in the whole country is the majestic Chilean Lake District, where lakes and mountains seem to blend together in a harmony of colours and reflections. Puerto Varas on the shores of Lake Llanquihue is the main centre for day trips, treks and a good starting point for the famous lake crossing to Bariloche in Argentina and cruises south through the dramatic fjords to Punta Arenas.
Great outdoors: A perfect destination for any type of holiday experience, you are spoilt for choice in Chile when it comes to the great outdoors. If you fancy skiing, climbing volcanoes, glacier hiking, white-water rafting or kayaking through ice-carved fjords, you have come to the right place.
Atacama Desert: In this land of extremes though, head to the north of the country and you come across the spectacular Atacama Desert. At an altitude of 2,400m, this is arguably the driest place on earth and no ordinary monotonous desert scenery, made up of unusual rock formations, deep valleys, boiling geysers and extensive salt flats dotted with flamingos.
Easter Island: And to add mystery to this enchanting land, Easter Island, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, holds a very special magic: due to the hundreds of huge stone figures
populating the island. Nobody knows who and why they were put there but their mystery keeps on stimulating everybody's imagination.
Santiago and the vineyards: From the first moment you set foot in Santiago, you understand that Chile offers much more than you expect. A modern, cosmopolitan capital with a thriving economy and a huge array of art galleries, bars, quality restaurants and fine shops, Santiago enjoys magnificent views of the Andes but is also the gateway to the famous vineyards of the Maipo and Colchagua Valleys, which can be easily visited and where you can taste their full bodied wines and learn more about the history of wine-making.
Chile Factfile
When to go
Temperature Range: 3°C - 30°C
Most popular: November - March
Best value: April - October
Best weather: November - March
Travel Information
Direct flights: None
Indirect flights: British Airways, BMI, TAM, Iberia, Delta Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines and Air France
Visa information: None for British citizens
Health information: No specific vaccinations required
Time Difference: GMT -4 hours
When To Go
Best Value
To avoid the highest prices of November to March, stick to before and after the high season. Most of the hotels in Patagonia will be closed during the winter season between May and August but this time of the year you will find the best deals in Santiago. There will be fewer crowds and you could get that same stunning scenery for a bargain price.
Best Time to Go
The northern Atacama has a pretty constant climate year round which makes it an easy and versatile place to visit. The days are generally hot and evenings chilly with clear skies if you're lucky! It will be that little bit hotter during the summer months, December to March. The best months in Santiago are between October and April when the days are generally fine. It can, however, get very hot in December and January so watch out! The most pleasant weather in the Lake District is between December and March when the rains are less frequent, it can become pretty overcast during other times in the year. Patagonia can only really be visited between November and March, it is simply too cold to go during any other month and heavy snow can make certain areas inaccessible.
Hottest
December to March can be quite humid and unpleasantly hot around Santiago (and during the day in the Atacama Desert) with temperatures soaring to the high 30sºC but it is generally comfortable in the rest of the country.
Climate
Santiago and the nearby vineyards region enjoy a temperate climate year round, with autumn (April and May) and spring (October and November) being the most pleasant. December to March can be very hot and this is normally the time of year when the locals head to the seaside resorts, therefore the city is ideal if you want to avoid crowds. The northern Atacama has a pretty constant climate, which makes it an easy place to visit year round. Daily temperatures are mostly comfortable (warmer months are December to March), but evenings can be quite chilly, especially at the higher elevations bordering the Andes. In Patagonia, the warm season is November to March and it is vital to make reservations well in advance due to the popularity of the destination, as the tourist infrastructure is very basic at other times of the year and many hotels close down between May and August. On Easter Island, December through February are the warmest and consequently busiest months (and when schedule flights are more regular), with October-November and March-April being quieter and cooler. July and August temperatures can drop to 13ºC but it can feel a lot colder due to the constantly blowing chilly winds.
Chile Travel Information
Flight information
There are a number of carriers offering flights to Chile from the UK.
Direct Carriers: There are no direct services to Chile from the UK.
Indirect Carriers: British Airways, BMI, TAM, Iberia, Delta Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines and Air France offer indirect services to Chile.
Departure Taxes: An international departure tax of USD30 must be paid at Chilean Airports (unless it is included in your flight ticket price).
Visa information
British Citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Chile for tourist stays up to 90 days only but your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Chile. Please contact the Chilean Embassy for up to date country and visa information on 0207 222 2361.
How to obtain a visa
If you need a travel visa for your upcoming trip, Hayes & Jarvis are pleased to offer our customers the expertise and experience of CIBT, the Global Visa and Passport Professionals. CIBT UK Ltd specializes in fast, dependable visa application services. Don't wait until the last minute, for an application form and discounted pricing. Call 0844 800 4650 or visit www.uk.cibt.com/hayesandjarvis
