U.S. Visa Questions

Hello! I've heard that U.S. citizens don't need visas to enter Chile, but must pay a $100 reciprocity fee if they arrive into Santiago's airport. My friends and I are probably going to be coming from Bolivia into Chile by bus, and we're wondering if we will still need to pay. The embassy's website is confusing as well as the State Departments. Thank you!
-Chris Curd

If you enter by land or sea or any airport other than Santiago, you don't pay the reciprocity fee.

If you enter by land and fly out of Chile via Santiago's airport, you will not have to pay. The fee is collected on entry only.

Only if you ENTER or EXIT thru Santiago airport you have to pay the $ 100 reciprocity fee, as it is called! I agree with other posts that the fee does not apply when entering by land or water. I am not sure if there are other international airports to enter Chile but if there is, my sense is that you also need to pay.
Let us know what you find out!

Sorry...I should have confirmed that no visa is required for USA citizens to enter Chile

Post 465,

Then I am wrong. I stand corrected if the reciprocity fee is only collected upon entry, and not upon exiting. When leaving Chile the immigration official seemed so anxiously searching for my $ 100 entry receipt that I assumed one pays during exit also, if not paid upon entry!

We're just planning to come in through San Pedro de Atacama and exit through Arica's airport to Arequipa, so it looks like we should avoid the fee. If anyone thinks otherwise, please let me know!