Chile

SAFETY: good
In general, the country has no particular risk situations or areas. However, petty crime is on the rise, especially in the capital's urban area but also on the outskirts of other cities, so caution and common sense are advised. The country has several seismic zones (including the capital) and many active volcanoes.

TRANSPORT: fair
Santiago is connected with the other capitals of the Americas, with Asia and with Europe. The country is well served by numerous domestic airports; coach connections are good, rail links less so. Road surfaces are often in poor condition, local drivers are reckless and petrol stations in the centre-south are rare; travel is difficult in winter. There are flights and ships from Santiago to Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands.

Main airports: Santiago.
Main ports: Coronel, Huasco, Lirquén, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaíso

ACCOMMODATION: good
A good choice of accommodation of every kind and price, especially in the larger cities and along the classic tourist circuit.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of Chile – Location: South America (south-west). Borders: Peru to the north, Bolivia and Argentina to the east, Pacific Ocean to the west - Time zone: UTC -4, 5 hours behind Italy; no daylight saving time – Area: 756,000 sq km – Capital: Santiago – Population: 16,280,000 – Religion: 70% Catholic, 15% Evangelical, 8% other – Languages: Spanish (official language), indigenous languages; English is understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: Chilean peso (CLP). No currency restrictions – Credit cards: the most widely used credit cards are accepted in the larger cities and larger businesses; elsewhere, local currency –Exchange: bring euros; exchange is easy.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: types C and L; bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: passport with 6 months' remaining validity; no visa is required for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For stays of more than 90 days, a residence permit must be requested from the consulate – Driving: Italian driving licence– Car:local third-party insurance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: Int. dialling code: 0056 – GSM: partial coverage, concentrated in the centre of the country and the larger cities. Standard: GSM 1900. Local operators: Claro Chile, Entel Movil, Telefonica Movil – Internet: widely available in the larger cities and in high-category hotels – Web domain: .cl – Emergency numbers: police 133, ambulance 131, fire brigade 132, Andean mountain rescue 136.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: with regard to legislation on the use or trafficking of drugs, prostitution and offences against minors, severe criminal penalties including imprisonment are in force. The age of consent is 18; same-sex relations have been legal since 1998, though only in the private sphere: public displays are not permitted and are punished. As always, the capital is livelier and more open-minded; in the rest of the country a Catholic, traditionalist culture prevails.

HEALTH: no preventive vaccinations are required. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the northern rural areas, as is vaccination against hepatitis A and B. The health situation is fairly good, although outside the capital public facilities are not comparable to European standards; the larger cities have good private facilities, but at very high prices. For the Andes, good health and a gradual ascent are recommended.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:1 January, New Year's Day; Holy Week; 21 May, Anniversary of the Battle of Iquique of 1879; 30 May, Corpus Christi; 29 June, Feast of Saints Peter and Paul; 15 August, Assumption; 11 September, 1973 Coup d'État; 18 September, Independence Day; 19 September, Armed Forces Day; 12 October, Commemoration of the Discovery of America (Día de la Raza); 1 November, All Saints' Day; 8 December, Immaculate Conception; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Banks: Mon-Fri 10.00-13.00 – Post offices: Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00, Sat 9.00-12.00. Shops: Mon-Sat 10.00-20.00 (variable) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: Highly varied: an arid, temperate zone in the north, a temperate maritime climate in the central zone, and a humid polar climate in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Temperatures fall from north to south, while rainfall increases.

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USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy of Chile
Via Po, 23 – 00198 Rome – Tel. 06/844091 – Fax 06/8841452 – Web: www.chile.gob.cl/italia/en

Consulate General
Via Ricasoli, 2 – 20121 Milan – Tel. 02/76016070 – Fax 02/76016067

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN CHILE

Italian Embassy
Clemente Fabres 1050 – Providencia – Santiago – Tel. 0056/2/4708400 - Fax 0056/2/2232467
Web: www.ambsantiago.esteri.it/ambasciata_santiago/it - E-mail: info.santiago@esteri.it

Honorary consulates
Barros Arana 243 – Concepción – Tel. 0056/41/229506 – Fax 0056/41/229506
Prat 827 di 702 – Valparaíso – Tel. 0056/32/253177 – Fax 0056/32/253177