From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Chile Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 14:02:51 GMT Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1475 Path: world!crb Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199709221006_MC2-2163-DC85@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: crb@world.std.com (daemons) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 144 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Chile ============================================================ Chile - Consular Information Sheet June 9, 1997 Country Description: Chile has a stable government and a strong economy. Civil disorder is rare. Facilities for tourism vary according to price and area. Entry Requirements: A passport is required. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for a stay of up to three months. At the international check-in point, a "processing fee collected under reciprocity" of $20.00 (U.S.) is levied on U.S. citizens. The fee is payable in cash only and in exact change only. The receipt is valid for multiple entries. Travelers considering scientific, technical or mountaineering activities in areas classified as frontier areas are required to obtain authorization from the Chilean government at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the expedition. The portions of Antarctica claimed by Chile are exempt from these pre-approval requirements. Officials at the Torres del Paine National Park require mountain climbers to present an authorization granted by the Frontiers and Border Department, obtainable at the Chilean Embassy or Chilean consulates throughout the United States. For current information concerning entry and customs requirements, travelers may contact the Chilean Embassy at 1732 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20036, tel. (202) 785-1746, or a Chilean consulate in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Miami, Honolulu, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Charleston, Dallas, Houston, or Salt Lake City. Medical Facilities: Medical care is good but may not meet U.S. standards. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance which includes specific overseas coverage, including provisions for medical evacuation, is highly recommended. In-country medical evacuation from outlying areas to Santiago costs $2,000 (U.S.) or more. Costs for international medical evacuations begin at about $10,000 (U.S.) and can be as high as $90,000 (U.S.), depending on the remoteness of the area in question. For travelers to the Antarctic and/or Easter Island, additional insurance to cover the cost of air evacuation specifically from that remote region is strongly recommended. In the event of illness, injury or even death, the cost of evacuation from the Antarctic region to Santiago alone can exceed $50,000 (U.S.). All areas of Santiago are affected by a high index of pollution, which appears as a heavy smog in the winter and dust in the summer. The most severe pollution occurs during the months of May to October. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Center for Disease Control's international travelers' hotline at (404) 332-4559; Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Visitors should be aware of the criminal environment in Santiago. Street crime, endemic to many South American cities, is a problem in the metropolitan area in general and in downtown Santiago, specifically. One should be particularly alert while walking in the downtown area, especially in the late afternoon and after dark, or on weekends, even in well-traveled areas. In Santiago and other large Chilean cities, thieves thrive on rush hour crowding on the street and aboard public transportation. Crime is also prevalent at crowded tourist locations, at Metro (subway) stations and on trains and buses. Police sources also report that robbery is on the rise in taxis. Persons wearing expensive-looking jewelry or carrying luggage or cameras are favorite targets for pickpockets and purse snatchers. Bags and briefcases are swiped from chairs in restaurants and outdoor cafes. Outside Santiago, robberies and assaults have occurred most frequently in the Vina del Mar and Valparaiso area, which becomes increasingly crowded during the height of the Chilean summer season (December through February). The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy. Useful information on personal security and guarding valuables while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad," available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Available from the same address is the State Department publication "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America." Terrorist Activities: There have been no violent acts committed against U.S. business facilities or institutions in the last two years, except for two incidents in which molotov cocktails were thrown at Mormon churches. Traditionally, September 11-18 is an active period for terrorists and general public disorder. Visitors should actively seek information regarding planned demonstrations if they are in the Santiago area during that week. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties in Chile for possession and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Although major roads in Chile are generally in good condition, secondary roads are sometimes poorly maintained and/or lighted. Traffic jams during peak hours in downtown Santiago and other neighboring areas are common. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. Driving under the influence of alcohol in Chile is severely penalized and can lead to incarceration if the driver is involved in any accident. Additional road condition and safety information may be obtained from the Chilean Automobile Association, Avenida Vitacura 8620, tel. 56-2-212-5702. The national tourist bureau, Sernatur, is located at Av. Providencia 1550, Santiago, tel. 56-2-236-1420 or -1416. The U.S. Embassy also advises visitors to Chile that, according to local law, they must have an international driver's license in order to drive. Although car rental firms will rent to a client who has no international driver's license, several persons driving with only a U.S. license have been detained by the police for prolonged periods. Aviation Oversight: In March 1992, the Federal Aviation Administration assessed Chile's civil aviation authority as in compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for Chile's carriers operating to and from the U.S. The same level of safety oversight would typically be applied to operations to other destinations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register and to obtain updated security information at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Santiago. The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago, tel. (56-2) 232-2600. U.S. Embassy home page: http://www.rdc.cl/usemb. No. 97-097 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet of September 2, 1994, to update information on entry requirements, medical facilities, crime, and terrorist activities, and to add a paragraph on traffic safety and road conditions. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories