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OTHERS :::
Climate: Santiago
enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate with
four distinct seasons. During April the
weather is in fall, after a very sunny
summer, temperatures gradually decreases,
ranging from a maximum of 22 º C to
a minimum of 7 º C.
The main characteristic of this climate is
the presence of a long drought station and
a well market winter with extreme temperatures
that come to zero degrees. Santiago registers
an annual average temperature of 14 º C,
but the thermal contrasts are strong in summer
and the maxims reach values superior to 30 º C
during the day.
A typical stamp of the temperatures is constituted
by the rains, which variations allow to emphasize
conditions precarious enough, reaching annual
averages of 356,2 mm. The rainfalls are registered
during the winter seasons, specially during
the months from May to August, which decrease
from the coast towards the intermediate depression,
to increase again in the mountain chain of
The Andes; originating hereby general bioclimatic
lines from the region and from the central
zone of Chile.
Clothing: Fall clothing
is recommended.
Time zone: Chilean Continental
standard time corresponds to the time zone
UTC-4:00 (Universal Time Coordinate). It
is two-hours ahead of Lima, Peru and New
York, USAChile uses a military time of 24 hours
(e.g.: 3:00 PM are 15:00 hours).Chile uses
the European format for date (day, month,
year. E.g.: The 29 of December
of 1980 is 19-12-1980)
Electricity: Electrical
voltage in Chile is 220 volts, 50 cycles (220V
50 Hz). All electronic devices designed for
110V require a transformer. All portable appliances,
including portable computers, usually have
transformers of high voltage (110V-240V) which
are adaptable to the Chilean electrical system.
Some hotels have 110V lines.
Water: In general, Santiago's
drinking water is completely safe for ingestion.
For people who are generally more susceptible
to changes in their environments, we suggest
that you drink only bottled mineral water
(you can choose between effervescent water,
"natural" or water without bubbles
"sin gas") during your first days
in Chile. This water is commonly found in
supermarkets, corner stores and restaurants.
Raw Foods: It is not advisable
to eat raw vegetables, especially those grown
near the ground (e.g. lettuce, carrots, strawberries,
etc.), unless they are bought at established
supermarkets, which normally monitor the sources
of their products. Thus, there is a great
variety of vegetables in which you should
feel free to partake, as they are guaranteed
of having been watered with clean well water.
Established restaurants also offer this guarantee.
City Schedules: In general,
commercial malls, restaurants, public performances
and public transportation function within
the following hours:
| Offices |
Mon to Fri |
9:00-18:00 |
| Banks |
Mon to Fri |
9:00-14:00 |
| Commercial Malls |
Mon to Sun |
11:00-21:00 |
| Supermarkets |
Mon to Sun |
8:30-22:00 / 23:00 |
| Shops |
Mon to Sat |
10:00-20:00 |
| Lunch |
Mon to Sun |
13:00-15:30 |
| Dinner |
Mon to Sun |
21:00-24:00 |
Personal Security: Santiago
is widely known as a safe city for foreign visitors,
much more so than most other large cities in
Latin America. Nevertheless, it is advisable
that you take normal safety precautions against
pickpockets For example, avoid interactions
with unknown people and keep valuables out of
sight, or leave these items at home altogether.
