Guatemala is an incredibly diverse country that offers some of the best natural attractions and hiking in the region.
18.09.2023 - 07:43 / lonelyplanet.com
Travelers arriving in Chile from neighboring countries often have the same first reaction: shock. It’s not the height of the Andes, the size of the glaciers or the barrenness of the desert – though those also surprise – but rather the cost of living.
Chile is South America’s second-wealthiest nation by GDP per capita (just behind Uruguay), which is why your daily expenses will be notably higher. While alcoholic drinks tend to be relatively cheap (including the wonderful wines), meals, groceries, transportation and hotel prices aren’t all that different from many destinations in Europe or North America, particularly as you head south into the remote wilds of Patagonia. There are, however, some easy ways to save if know how.
We've rounded up some tricks and tips to help keep more of those colorful Chilean pesos in your wallet, as well as a handy guide to daily costs you can expect on a trip to Chile.
All visitors entering Chile on tourist visas will receive a Tourist Card. Hold onto it! Not only will you need to return this paper document upon departure but it’s also your ticket to avoiding the 19% room tax at hotels, which domestic tourists must pay. Most hotels don’t automatically deduct the tax, so be sure to show your passport and Tourist Card at check-in and pay with a foreign credit card.
Chilean multinational LATAM is Latin America’s largest (and best) airline, but to travel domestically (or even from South American neighbors), it’s often cheaper to fly on low-cost alternatives. These include JetSmart and Sky Airline, both of which have a wide network of domestic and international destinations. Be aware, however, that the base fares only include a small backpack (even carry-on luggage is extra!).
Wine in Chile can be as cheap as Coca-Cola – though you might want to take the opportunity to splurge on a higher-quality bottle for much less than back home. Supermarkets (especially Jumbo but also Lider) tend to have the widest and cheapest selection. Sharing a bottle in the evening with your travel companions can be a great way to save. Just make sure the bottle doesn’t include the word dulce unless you prefer your wine extra sweet.
Markets selling seasonal fruits and vegetables directly from the farmers may be quaint and expensive in other parts of the world, but in Chile, they are lifebloods for local families and one of the best ways for self-catering travelers to eat well on a budget.
Not only are the prices typically half of what you’ll find in the supermarket, the ferias (as markets are known in Chile) typically offer stands with local cheese, eggs, seafood and preserves, giving visitors a peek into Chilean home cooking. Note that, unlike elsewhere in Latin America, bargaining is frowned upon here.
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Guatemala is an incredibly diverse country that offers some of the best natural attractions and hiking in the region.
Nature lovers will be thrilled to spend as long as possible in the Atacama Desert and Tierra Atacama is the perfect luxury outpost to begin your adventure. Guests arrive via an adobe-lined path to enter a glass-enclosed lobby with spectacular open vistas. All public areas of the hotel provide views of the Andes and the imposing Licancabur Volcano. Lush foliage welcomes guests into the outdoor area where you can lounge by the pool in the daytime and snuggle up on a couch in front of a firepit after dark.
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