Chile

Travel tips for Chile: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Cards widely accepted. While contactless cards are widely accepted, travelers report needing cash for buses outside Santiago, some tours, and rural areas, so keep small local bills on hand since breaking large ATM notes can be difficult.

Try the food

Empanada de pino: A baked pastry stuffed with a savory mixture of ground beef, onions, black olives, raisins, and hard-boiled egg.
Pastel de choclo: A hearty casserole featuring a sweet, caramelized corn crust over layers of minced meat, chicken, olives, and boiled eggs.
Completo: A massive Chilean hot dog heavily loaded with mashed avocado, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut, and a generous squeeze of mayonnaise.

Say it in Spanish

Hello: Hola
Thank you: Gracias
Please: Por favor
Excuse me: Disculpe
How much is this?: ¿Cuánto cuesta?
The bill please: La cuenta, por favor
Yes / No: Sí / No
Goodbye: Chao

Essentials

Plugs: Type C / Type L
Voltage: 220V, 50Hz
Driving: Right side
Tap water: Safe to drink
Emergency: 133 (police), 131 (ambulance), 132 (fire)
SIM tip: Purchase a prepaid Entel or WOM SIM card at the airport or local kiosks, or install an eSIM like Airalo before arriving for instant data access.

Etiquette

A 10% tip (propina) is standard in restaurants and is usually added to the bill automatically; the server will ask if you want to include it before you pay.