Questions & answers
Questions you may have about traveling in Chile or the wedding weekend.
Chile is a safe country. Like any place when you travel, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and keep an extra eye on your phone or wallet when out and about. The biggest concern in Santiago is petty theft and pickpocketing.
Younger generations and those who work in tourism often speak some English. However, it’s safe to assume that whoever you are communicating with will only speak Spanish. Brush up on some Spanish phrases, and when in doubt, it’s always polite to ask “hablas ingles?”
Central Chile (where Santiago is located) has a mediterranean climate, just like California. You’ll notice a lot of similarities between Chile and the pacific coast of the US, just flipped upside down.
March is the end of summer and beginning of fall, and temperatures are generally warm (usually in the low 80s), with cooler nights and mornings. March is also grape harvest season for wineries.
In the northern regions of Chile, such as the Atacama Desert, March is still warm and dry, with general high temperatures of 80-85ºF. Keep in mind it’s the high desert and temperatures drop significantly at night.
In Southern Chile the climate starts to cool down, and highs generally range from 50s to 70s, depending on where you are. It tends to rain in the summer, but not as heavy as other seasons. If you’re planning on traveling to the south, March is a great time as the high season has passed, but the weather is still generally good. We recommend visiting the south in early March before the wedding for the best chance at avoiding rain.
We recommend a minimum of 7-10 days to experience some of the vast differences in this beautiful country. If you’re planning on just staying in Santiago and the surrounding wine regions, 4-5 days is probably enough. If you want to visit San Pedro de Atacama, add 3-4 days. If you’re planning on visiting the south of Chile and Patagonia, plan to add at least a week.
It depends on your preferences and travel plans. Pretty much all major US carriers have flights to Santiago. LATAM/Delta offers a direct flight from LAX to Santiago, and we've had good experiences with this flight. Copa is usually more economical and breaks the journey up into 2 roughly 6 hour legs, with a layover in Panama City.
In Santiago, getting around via public transportation is super easy. The metro and bus system is extensive and Google Maps will show you the best routes to take. You’ll have to purchase and charge a BIP card in the metro station that you can use for both the metro and the bus. Uber is also a great option. It’s way cheaper than in the US, a ride within the city will rarely cost more than $10.
To travel around Chile, you can rent a car, fly, or travel via bus. Buses are comfortable, economical, and will take you almost anywhere, but flights can be pretty economical and much quicker. Feel free to ask us for advice as you plan your trip!
Make sure to have your hotel or Airbnb address available when you land, they’ll ask where you’re staying when you pass through immigration. At baggage claim, you’ll have to fill out a customs form and declare any animal or plant products you’re bringing in. You can take a taxi, uber, or even the bus from the airport to your hotel. We recommend the company Transvip, they have private car and shared shuttle options, you’ll see their kiosk as you walk out of baggage claim.