The last 17 years I have spent 95% of my time living and travelling in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay and 5% of my time in Canada and the USA.
Number of credit card scams in Canada and USA FOUR
Number of credit card scams in South America ZERO
One mans experience................
What's about citizens of other South Amreican countries, who are foreigners, too? Brazilians, Columbians... In Chilean Patagonia it could be some revenge against Argentinians. I don't remember the same policy in the north of Chile.
Some Museums in AR even had reduced rates for "Latinamericans", who ever that is (Hispanics from the US, French from Quebec, other French territories in the region, Citizens of Belize, Falklands/Malvinas....)
Someone has a burr in their lederhosen. Or perhaps someone has pissed on his wiener schnitzel.
Amazing how some tourists will pay a lot for air tickets and then complain about the small amounts for incidentals. There was a couple on another travel forum the other day who wanted to get to Valparaiso as cheaply as possible to catch a cruise they were booked on. The cruise must cost thousands for two people. They said they always make their own bed on cruises (they have been on several) so they don't have to tip the staff!
Other national parks in Chile are much cheaper than Torres del Paine, many parks are even free. TdP is overcrowded, and the TdP entrance fees are designed to finance other NP's which receive very few visitors.
Other National Parks in South America are quite similar in price. Iguazu Falls is about 28 USD (at the official Rate). Machu Picchu is 38 USD. The more popular the park, the higher the fee. Go to somewhere like Chapada dos Veadeiros in Brazil, and its free entry. Go to Los Glaciares in El Chalten - its also free.
Amazing how some tourists will pay a lot for air tickets and then complain about the small amounts for incidentals. There was a couple on another travel forum the other day who wanted to get to Valparaiso as cheaply as possible to catch a cruise they were booked on. The cruise must cost thousands for two people. They said they always make their own bed on cruises (they have been on several) so they don't have to tip the staff!
Priceless! (quite literally in this case)
Problem is discrimination against foreign visitors, not the entry fee itself.
All breathe the same air and use the same trails.... Therefore the fee shoud be the same for all.
Some countries even devaluate their currencies to be more competitive against other and promote their countries as destination for foreign tourists....
Of course , there are everywhere guys who want to take advantage of benevolent foreign visitors. These people shouldn't work in positions where they can make decisions.
Supposed, an avarage income in CL is USD 800,. in CL, than an entry fee for foreigners of USD 25 to TdP NP is about 3% of a monthly Chilean income. Crazy! Some people seem to think elsewhere money is growing on trees....
Of course, Southern Peru is worse tham Northern Peru und Chile.
Some Bolivian sights charge foreigners maybe USD .50 more. Why? This amount makes nobody poor and nobody rich. Just to show the local population how rich the foreigners are? To encourage some crooks to grab their part of the assumed wealth of the foreigner, maybe the illegal way, too?
Dear Benevolent Foreign Visitor,
I must apologize for not devaluating our currency enough to make your visit truly enjoyable. We did not realize that you were not a rich visitor. We mistakenly assumed that because you had enough money to fly from Europe to South America that you had money to burn and we could squeeze you for every coin. You probably hitchhiked due to your lack of funds. Señor Huinca Culiao, formerly in charge of Gringo Gouging, has been moved to another post (Ambassador to the Northern Hemisphere) and Señor Limpiapies has replaced him. We forwarded your comments to the local tourist board and they were delighted to receive them. They still haven't stopped laughing.
Yours truly,
Señor S. Loque S.