Chile

• Pickpocketing on Santiago metro during rush hour.
• Taxi overcharging from airport — use official transfer services or Uber.
• Fake police asking for documents then demanding money — real police carry verifiable ID.

• Good healthcare system. Private clinics in Santiago are excellent.
• Altitude sickness possible in northern Atacama region.
• Strong UV radiation — sunscreen essential everywhere.

• Routine vaccines only. No special requirements.

• Try Chilean wine — Carmenere is the signature grape.
• Visit Valparaíso for street art, bohemian culture, and Pacific coast views.
• Explore Torres del Paine — one of the world's great national parks.

• Don't discuss Pinochet casually — it's a divisive and painful topic.
• Don't expect things to happen quickly — Chilean pace is relaxed.
• Don't skip the empanadas — they're a national treasure.

Tip 10% at restaurants (often suggested on the bill). Small tips for hotel staff and drivers.

Casual and practical. Santiago is more formal than beach towns. Layers essential for Patagonia.

Predominantly Catholic but increasingly secular. Churches welcome visitors.