Apologies for the clickbait title; here are my genuine experiences in Chile to help you navigate and avoid common pitfalls:
1️⃣ When exiting an Uber, ensure the driver ends the trip or opt for online payment. Otherwise, you might find yourself, like us, handing over 7000 pesos in cash for a 6900+ fare, only to receive a bill stating that you only partially paid in cash and need to cover the rest online. We reached out to customer service, and while the company covered most of it, we still had to pay the remaining amount ourselves.
2️⃣ The bus card, known as “Bip!”, costs 1550 pesos per card and can be shared among multiple people, valid for both buses and subways. Each ride costs between 700-800+ pesos.
❗️You can purchase and recharge the card at any subway station. Recharging at the counter requires cash, with a minimum of 750 pesos. Machines accept card payments, but the minimum is 1000 pesos.
3️⃣ La Moneda Palace, the presidential palace of Chile, is open for visits but requires a reservation, ideally two to three days in advance. Website: https://visitaspatrimonio.presidentia.cl
4️⃣ Cerro San Cristóbal (San Cristóbal Hill) offers stunning views, but safety is key. The day before our visit, I learned that someone was robbed at gunpoint while walking down the hill around 7 PM. It’s highly recommended to go during daylight hours and to use the small train and cable car. Take the small train from Estación Pio Nono to the top, then enjoy the scenic cable car ride down (the locations and starting points are different), which counts as a one-way trip.
To return to your starting point, it would be a round trip; refer to the map for details.
5️⃣ The Central Post Office (Correo Central de Santiago) is a beautiful building where you can buy stamps. We bought five for just over 30 pesos, making it a more cost-effective souvenir than fridge magnets.
6️⃣ Santiago has several bus stations, all located near Estación Central. Be sure to check carefully when purchasing tickets. For example, if you’re heading to Pucón, Terminal Sur, about 1 km away, has more frequent departures.
❗️Even with our phone hanging on a lanyard and held tightly with both hands, we were kindly reminded by two locals to put it away, so be extra cautious with your belongings near the station.
7️⃣ In Santiago, there’s a large Chinese supermarket called Huaxing. Many vendors outside can be mixed, so keep an eye on your belongings. However, we visited on a Sunday, and most of the vendors were off, making it quite safe.
8️⃣ The season for enjoying cherry freedom at 1 USD per kilogram is from December to February. If you visit now, you can still savor cheap watermelons, delicious peaches, plums, and grapes.
9️⃣ In Chile, UnionPay cards are not accepted for cash withdrawals. Here are three alternative methods to obtain cash:
A. Exchange currency with a local Chinese business owner.
B. Utilize your card to get cash back at supermarkets, though there is a limit of up to 50,000 Chilean pesos per transaction.
C. As a last resort, in the northern town of San Pedro, using a card typically incurs an 18% fee. For comparison, withdrawing cash with a CMB Visa credit card involves a 10 USD fee from the local bank, plus a 3% fee from the issuing bank and potential interest, which amounts to approximately 9%. This makes it a more cost-effective option compared to the 18% fee.
🔟 For whale watching tours, it’s highly recommended to book online with a travel agency in advance, as these excursions do not operate daily. We had planned our trip ahead of time, but due to rough seas, our whale watching experience in La Serena was unfortunately canceled, leaving us without the chance to see these magnificent creatures.
