- Geography and History
- Chile spans 4,300 km between Andes and Pacific Ocean
- Borders Peru to north, Argentina and Bolivia to east
- Claims 1.25 million km2 Antarctica territory
- Northern Chile was under Inca rule, central and southern under Mapuche
- Major Cities
- Santiago serves as capital and largest city
- Valparaíso known for bohemian culture and UNESCO World Heritage
- Punta Arenas important Antarctic and Falkland Islands gateway
- Valdivia called "City of Rivers" and "Beer Capital"
- Culture and Tourism
- Spanish is official language with distinct Castellano dialect
- Tourism season runs from December to March
- Christmas and New Year main religious celebrations
- Independence Day celebrated in September
- Transportation
- Santiago International Airport serves as main international hub
- Bus system provides cheap and comfortable local transportation
- Chilean roads generally good, but older city streets in poor condition
- Car rentals available in major cities, manual transmission standard
- Practical Information
- Visa required for most nationalities, except Australia
- International Police checks passport and prints tourist receipt
- Customs declaration required for imported goods
- Chilean driving generally safe, but speeding common