A Digital Nomad Guide to Santiago, Chile

Chile Visa for Santiago

To enter the country, you must have a Visa, issued by the Chilean Consulate. However, Argentines, Brazilians, Paraguayans and Uruguayans only need to carry their national identification documents, while citizens of the following countries do not need a Visa:

Germany, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, United States, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Ecuador, Holland, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Those who wish to extend their stay, must process a visa extension before their expiration to avoid being fined.

Foreigners who need a tourist visa can choose between a single or multiple entry visa. It can be obtained through the Government Visa Section. The tourist visa does not allow you to reside permanently or carry out paid activities in Chile. 

The requirements are:

• Valid passport for a period longer than the requested stay in Chile.
• Passport size color photograph with a white background.
• Criminal Record Certificate issued by the DCPJ, legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Accreditation of financial solvency, through a copy of the bank account, or other means that certifies the possession of at least 60 USD for each day of stay.
• Valid hotel reservation, or Letter of Invitation from a Chilean resident, signed before a public notary.

Culture and Food in Santiago

Chilean gastronomy fuses the ancestral with the recipes of its immigrants, resulting in a perfect mix between indigenous tradition, the colonial contribution from different parts of Europe and avant-garde. These elements have shaped what is known today as Chilean cuisine, which stands out for its flavor, its ingredients and the color of its dishes.

The country has three macro gastronomic zones: the gastronomy of the north, the center and the south. Meant to share in a group, it has typical dishes such as ajiaco, anticuchos and desserts such as alfajor or pan de pascua. Among the drinks, the chicha (from the fermentation of corn) or the Chilean pisco, from the brandy family, stands out.

I also recommend you try the charquicán that is prepared with beef, machas a la parmesana prepared with seafood and Parmesan cheese, sopapillas in the street stalls as an aperitif, curanto that is prepared in a hole in the ground covered with stones that are heated with a bonfire, and chorrillana which is the most powerful typical Chilean dish on the list: fried potatoes with meat, eggs and onion.

The Boragó

The Boragó restaurant (Nueva Costanera 3467) in Santiago de Chile, is second on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. On the outside, the restaurant looks like a cube. Inside, the dining room has earth tones and an internal garden with robust wooden tables and sheep’s mantles to support the trays. Most of the clients are foreigners, the waiters speak English and fulfill the role of culinary tour guides.

Here they have their own way of roasting the lamb by placing it tilted almost over the grill for 12 hours. The dishes may seem strange to the palate at first because they are highly innovative, which took Chilean society a while to get used to. They even have a gastronomic research center (Conectaz).

In Liguria (Av. Providencia 1353), you can also travel around the country without getting up from your chair. There you will find national dishes with flavors in all their splendor acclaimed by international chefs and by the Chileans themselves.

In the La Vega Chica market (Artesanos 721), located in the Recoleta commune between the Central Vega and the Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina, you can eat a good plate of pomegranate beans for 3 USD, buy a kilo of avocado, drink a freshly ground coffee and meet the most renowned chefs in the city, turning your day into a unique experience.

In the city you can find traditional foods for all budgets and tastes, which allows you to fill your belly and have the energy to explore it throughout the day.

Santiago Nightlife

Put on your best clothes, prepare yourself for the music and enjoy some of the world’s best nightlife. Chileans are said to be more reserved than the rest of South Americans, but that doesn’t apply to Santiago’s nightlife where it is enjoyed as if there were no tomorrow.

Santiago’s night starts late. Locals have a late dinner, then they meet up with friends for drinking at home and then they go to a bar or a disco. Most bars open at 11 pm, fill up after  1 am and close their doors at sunrise.

Going out in Santiago

There are three main areas in the nightlife of Santiago de Chile: Bellavista, Vitacura and Ñunoa. The most famous of the night scene is Bellavista. Located on the banks of the Mapocho River, it has a wide range of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. La Casa en el Aire offers candlelight dinner and live music, while at the small Club La Feria, housed in an old theater, you can listen to famous house, techno and electro DJs.

The Vitacura neighborhood, located to the northeast of the city, is less modern, posh and elegant than Bellavista, although here you will also find a large number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. La Previa is the ideal start point for dinner or a cocktail. I recommend that you then make your way to Las Urracas, a sophisticated lounge bar that has a restaurant and a nightclub. If you prefer to try another one, Club Eve is the most exclusive nightclub in Santiago, with a strict admission policy, a VIP area and a restaurant that is open until 5 am.

Another option is the rhythmic Ñuñoa, which offers places like the Santiago Jazz Club, inaugurated in 1943, where famous artists such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock played. The area around Plaza Ñuñoa is lined with cafes, and rock & roll lovers flock to bars like Batuta, House Rock, and Rock y Guitarras. If you are one of those who appreciate a good craft beer, I recommend that you try HBH bar.

Another must see in this destination are the Lastarria and Yungay neighborhoods, taken over by artists and bohemians. Depending on your taste, you may be interested in taking a walk there.

Have you already toured all these neighborhoods? Which one do you like the most?

Things to do in Santiago

• Tour The Historic Center

  The first point to go, and the closest one, is the historic center. There you can visit the superb Palacio de la Moneda (the most emblematic building in the country and headquarters of the president of the republic), Plaza Las Armas where Santiago’s Cathedral is located, the main headquarters of the Catholic Church in Chile, and the National Historical Museum, among other attractions.

• Visit Bellavista

  Bellavista, a neighborhood with a marginal past that flourished in the 80s while maintaining its original architecture, today is one of the most bohemian and cultural places in the city and also the center of nightlife. The Patio Bellavista is a good place to start walking aimlessly. It is a fashionable complex full of bars and restaurants, where you will find food from different parts of the world, signature cocktails and live music. In addition, in its streets you will find cultural halls, theaters and discotheques.

  Here you can also discover the classic tourist spot in the city: La Chascona, one of the three houses of Pablo Neruda. Neruda is one of the most influential poets of the 20th century and La Chascona, the house built in 1953 in which he lived with Matilde Urrutia, his third wife, until his last days. Today it is a museum declared as a National Monument in 1990. It houses the author’s collections and it is the headquarters of the Pablo Neruda Foundation.

• See the View from Cerro de San Cristóbal

  From Bellavista and by funicular you can go up to the best panoramic point of the city: the Cerro de San Cristóbal. If you are lucky and the sky is clear, you will see on the other side of the city the imposing mountain range of Los Andes. Its 880 meters can be climbed on foot or by funicular. Once at the top you can visit the Japanese Garden, the Mapulemu Garden and a lot of trails for outdoor walks.

• Hang Out at Lastarria Neighborhood

  It is worth investing a day to explore the picturesque Lastarria neighborhood, full of cafes, bars and designer shops. You can visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gabriela Mistral Center (GAM), two of the most important cultural centers in the city.

• Shop at Sanhattan

  Sanhattan, the nickname with which the financial district was renamed referring to Manhattan, is the preferred neighborhood for shopping. Between purchases, I advise you not to miss the sunset from the 62nd floor of the Gran Torre Santiago, the highest in Latin America. The sun sets behind the San Cristóbal hill and creates a unique colorful effect on the city. Go early because it is very likely that you will have to queue to enter.

• Walk Around Cerro Santa Lucía

  Cerro Santa Lucía is the most visited in the city and is in the heart of Santiago. At only 69 meters, it is a garden where you can get lost among ponds, fountains, statues and terraces, where you can breathe a certain European air.

• Take a Trip to Cajón del Maipo

  

  75 kilometers from Santiago is the Cajón del Maipo, an ideal place for a day trip. There El Yeso Reservoir frames the perfect photo between its turquoise lagoon, the snow-capped mountains and the huge birds that usually cross its sky. You can hire an excursion or go on your own by car. In winter, keep in mind that the last part of the route is not paved and is filled with snow. If you stay to sleep in the area I recommend La Petite France, a very comfortable hotel restaurant.

• Go Skiing

  Santiago de Chile is located just over 40 kilometers from the Andes Mountains. From there you can access three ski resorts that make up the largest skiable area in South America: El Colorado / Farellones, La Parva and Valle Nevado. The three of them are a good option for a weekend outing during the winter.

• Explore the Vineyards

  The city is also surrounded by vineyards less than an hour away from the center, which contrast with the snowy peaks. Chile is known worldwide for its wines, because the valleys, the type of soil and the climate caused by having the mountains nearby, create ideal conditions for the cultivation and production of a wide variety of wine strains. The closest vineyards are Concha y Toro, Cousiño Macul, Undurraga, Santa Carolina and Santa Rita wineries.

• Have Something to Eat

  Finally, eating is one of the best things you can do in Santiago. Its gastronomic offer is an interesting mix between the indigenous tradition, the colonial contribution of different parts of Europe and the avant-garde of our times. The specialty is seafood although they also handle well red meat. If you prefer to taste the fruits of the sea at home, in the Central Market you will find fresh merchandise. Before leaving the city, I recommend that you visit Boragó restaurant, which is second on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Best Time to Visit Santiago

Santiago de Chile is located 500 meters above sea level and at the foot of Los Andes. It is surrounded by peaks over six thousand meters high, which makes its climate a continental Mediterranean; a little colder than the Mediterranean climate.

Summers run from November to March and are relatively hot and dry with temperatures up to 35°C and average lows of 11°C.

Winter, from June to August, is the rainy season, although on average it only rains 37 days a year. Annual precipitation ranges around 300mm, with June and July being the rainiest months.

In winter, the average maximum temperatures oscillate between 14°C/16°C while the minimum around 3ºC. Winters are humid, with cold mornings and generally cero snow. There is usually a lot of fog between May and August, which adds to the pollution making it difficult to see the panoramic view from the hills.

Due to its mild climate, Santiago can be visited throughout the year, although the best time to go is the hottest and driest months between October and April.

Living in Santiago

Santiago Transportation

To move from one point to another inside the city, I recommend using bicycles. Obviously, being very careful and to have them locked up at all times. There are many cycle tracks throughout the city on roads that are functioning very well.

In addition, the public transport system offers different alternatives such as the Transantiago (urban buses or “micros”), subways, taxis and “colectivos”, which will take you through almost all of Santiago. The payment method is only with the Bip prepaid card, which can be purchased at any Metro station or at the Bip Centers. The card is charged at the different Charging Points and Bip Centers distributed throughout the city, or at all Metro stations. The Bip card is not personalized, therefore it can be used by more than one person.

Buses in Santiago run both day and night. The hours go from 5:30 am to 1:00 am, where the buses travel with a normal frequency. The night schedule, with a lesser frequency, goes from 1:00 am to 5:30 am.

For those who want to visit the city in a more touristic way, there is the Transantiago Cultural Circuit, which consists of 15 stops of historical and cultural interest in Santiago. This service is available every Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.

The Metro in Santiago de Chile has 5 lines that cover a large part of the city. Just try to avoid it at peak times between 8 and 9 am and between 6 and 8 pm.

The taxis are black with a yellow roof and an orange patent. This means of transport is relatively inexpensive, and taxis can be found throughout Santiago and at all times. There is no defined rate per destination, but a taximeter measures the distances traveled. If you want to book a taxi in advance, you can use radio taxis, which are safer and slightly more expensive.

Colectivos

Another common means of transport is the “colectivos”, which are similar to taxis but are shared between four unknown people. In general, they have distances and prices established per person. They are cheaper compared to taxis, and they usually wait at the exit of the most important metro stations and in other central points of Santiago. You can distinguish them by their completely black color and a small poster on the ceiling.

Fitness and Health

Healthcare in Santiago consists of a mix of public and private systems. Expats can expect affordable and high quality medical treatment for both sectors. Santiago has modern equipment and facilities and it’s position is similar in ranking and expenditure to Australia and Denmark.

Chilean nationals and residents have access to free public healthcare but the facilities of the public government hospitals available are not usually as sophisticated as those in the private sector. Also, long waits are common and English may not be spoken. 

The private sector has many doctors that were educated overseas and are able to speak English. Hospitals are usually public facilities, while Clinicas are typically private hospitals. Santiago has some excellent private hospitals like Clinica Las Condes and Clinica Alemana de Santiago, two of the best and most expensive private hospitals in town with English and German speaking staff.

If you don’t have a residency card, insurance is practically a must. There are many companies that provide health insurance for expatriates in Chile like Allianz Care, Cigna Global and Foyer Global Health.

For most health issues you will need to make an appointment to see the doctor at your local hospital. There, a general practitioner will recommend you to the appropriate specialist. Don’t worry if you have an emergency, you can go directly to the hospital and pharmacies are often open 24 hours.

Santiago People

Chileans are ethnically a mixture of Europeans and South American natives. Few Africans were brought to Chile as slaves during colonial times because a tropical plantation economy didn’t develop here. After independence English, Italian, and French merchants established themselves in Chile and joined the political and economic elites. During the second half of the 19th century an exceptional number of German and Swiss people came to the country and, during the 20th century, small numbers of displaced eastern European Jews, Christian Syrians and Palestinians arrived. The Araucanian Indians form the only significant ethnic minority.

Many of the local people living in Santiago have never left their home country and are relatively isolated from the rest of South America. This means that they like tradition and have a strong sense of cultural identity based in the Spanish language and the Roman Catholic religion. Though, once sleepy and conservative, Santiago is changing fast and today you see a great mix of colors, tastes and spirits.

Knowing some Spanish is vital for being accepted but also because most Chileans don’t speak English. It is a good idea to start with Spanish lessons as it is a great place to practice. Though, they have a unique accent that can take some time getting used to. 

Making Friends in Santiago

The circles of friends are usually closed and difficult to access. However, the people of Santiago are friendly, considerate and open with foreigners. it may take a bit of time to enter the capital’s social circles, but once inside one, it is easy to meet more people. Your new friends will introduce you to their friends, family and acquaintances inviting you to each event of their lives. You will be one of their family.

I advise you to contact locals before arriving through forums on Facebook, Couchsurfing.com, apps to practice English and, perhaps, others like Tinder.

Santiago Insurance and Medical Care

Before traveling to Santiago de Chile, there are some pre-travel vaccinations you should take into account. There aren’t any specifically required vaccines but some of them are still recommended. For example: polio, measles mumps rubella, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid. 

Also, if you don’t have a residency card, insurance is practically a must. There are many companies that provides health insurance for expatriates in Chile like Allianz Care, Cigna Global and Foyer Global Health. If you are traveling for a short period of time, I recommend hiring a travel insurance agency like 365 Assist that has many providers in the area.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Santiago

Searching for a job in Chile can be challenging but it doesn’t need to be discouraging if you take on board a few key points. Chile’s growing economy is in need of individuals to help develop Chile’s standards. To be legally employed in Chile you will need a working visa based on a contract with an employer. Obviously, a transfer within the company might be the simplest solution to these questions. If you are looking for a job for yourself, take into consideration that positions in technical or professional fields are strict about qualifications and higher education certification is generally expected.

Below is a selection of helpful resources for searching for employment opportunities as a foreigner in Santiago de Chile.

• • • https://chile.xpatjobs.com/
    • www.zonajobs.cl/postulante/welcome.do
    • www.trabajando.cl/index.cfm
    • https://startupchile.org/joinastartup/
    • www.laborum.cl/
    • https://www.overseasjobs.com
    • https://www.goabroad.com
    • Linkedin, last but not least, is a huge professional social network that can help you to build your contact network in the field and location of your interest. Chileans use it on a daily basis as contacts are the most important resource in South America. 

Also, large businesses will publish available positions on their websites and local newspapers and classified websites will advertise work opportunities. Another alternative is to look at the bi-weekly classified paper El Rastro.

If you come with the idea of teaching English, you can search in the web pages of ESL Employment, Total ESL, ESL Cafe, Tesall, Footprints recruiting and Transitions Abroad. 

For a volunteer job at an organic farm, a lively bar or a trendy hostel, check out the Backpackers website.

Check out our in-depth Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.