Hi
I’m thinking of travelling to Chile from 26th August to 20th September this year, and I’ve heard mixed reports about the weather. Some people say anything south of the Lakes will be impossible at this time, particularly Torres del Paine; some say it’s perfect because everything will be open but it won’t be crowded with tourists. I would start in the north with the geysers and Atacama, and head down to the lakes and finish with the south, so it’d be early/mid September I guess by the time i get down there.
Can anyone advise me whether I’d end up missing some of the best bits of Chile, and have a very wet and snowy experience, or if it will still be a fantastic trip and worth going? I guess I could always swap to Argentina for this trip and save Chile till my timing is better?
Thanks!
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<hr>Some people say anything south of the Lakes will be impossible at this time<hr></blockquote> Nothing is impossible and in fact it is very easy, TDP in late september is definatly posible, Its just not posible to trek the full circuit but for sure you can do parts of the "W" if not all.
If you plant to visit Argentina it would be better if you fly to Buenos Aires and then enter Chile overland.
Previous reports:
Previous reports:
If you are simply transiting internationally at Santiago then you do not have to pay the reciprocity fee. I have done this a number of times, and only ever pay when actually entering Chilean territory via the airport border. As you know you do not need to pay the fee at land border. Having previous stamps in your passport makes no difference though, you still need to pay ( I have 14 Chile stamps, and still had to pay last time I went through the airport ). I actually like the sign they have saying "We welcome all people to our country free of charge, we only charge the citizens of countries whose government charges Chilean citizens to visit their country". I have paid the fee three times and chuckled to myself each time.
The fee does not apply if you stay in transit. The transit lounge is upstairs on the same level as you arrive when you leave the plane. If you go down the escalator then you will be heading to enter Chile. Remember that the reciprocity fee is only a kind of recompense for the exorbitant fees your governments charge Chileans for a visa.
The reciprocity fee pertains to Americans as well as Canadians entering Chile. In the case of Americans, it is US$ 100.00 but you get a visa valid for the life of the passport.
I am pretty sure that the fee is not for the life of the passport (for Australians at least). I first flew to Santiago in 2001 and had to pay it then. I went back to Santiago in 2003 and had to pay again (I showed them the stamp/receipt from 2001 but had to cough up again). I am not looking at the stamp in my passport right now, but from memory it said 90 days.
The reciprocity fee is US$56.00 for Australian passport holders and good for 90 days. Australia is the exception to the life of passport rule.
The reciprocity fee is not affected by where your flight originates from. If you are a US citizen and arriving in the Santiago airport on an international flight, you will have to pay the fee before passing through immigration. The only exception is that you have paid it before while using the same passport; the fee is good for the life of your passport. This fee is not charged when entering Chile overland.
Australia - 56.00 US$.
Canada - 132.00 US$.
USA ------ 100.00 US$.
Mexico ---- 15.00 US$.
Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.
Just one mention about your dates. The Chilean national independence day is celebrated on the 18th of September and Armed Forces day on the 19th. Both these days are holidays. It is a great time to visit as the whole country seems to celebrate. It does mean that intercity buses and flights get very booked up. It is likely that many people will take the 17th off as well as it is sandwiched between the weekend and the 18th. Just book any flights in ample time and, if travelling by bus, buy your ticket as soon as you arrive, especially if returning to Santiago on the 19th for your flight home as everyone who left will be returning to Santiago that evening.
From Lakes region you can go to Argentina, go to Peninsula Valdes to see wildlife. Whales, elephant seals, terrestrial wildlife, maybe some penguins in Punta Tombo, visit Gaiman and Dolavon in the region.
This is your guide to Chile and roadmaps and what to do, it is in Spanish but its definietly the one to llok into, even we, chileans , use it :
CHILE TURISTEL GUIDE
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