Panamgeo Chile 2024
INFORMATION FOR VISITORS
La Serena, Chile
Location: Capital of the IV Region of Coquimbo, Chile. It is part of the province of Elqui and is bordered to the south by Coquimbo and Andacollo, to the north by La Higuera, to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by Vicuña. It is located in the southern hemisphere of America. Click here for more Tourism Information
Climate: In La Serena, summers are short, comfortable, arid and clear, and winters are cold, dry and mostly clear. During the course of the year, the temperature generally varies from 9°C to 21°C and rarely falls below 6 °C or rises above 23°C.
Currency: Across the country you will find the Chilean peso, you may also hear the word “luca” which is equivalent to the thousand pesos bill, the green one. In general you can pay with credit cards but cash is recommended for more artisanal places of sale. Exchange money at exchange houses or formal banks and check the exchange rate before doing so.
Local time: La Serena has the time GMT-03:00. Check the current time in Chile at https://www.horaoficial.cl/.
Health requirements: Currently, no mandatory vaccinations are required to enter Chile. However, we recommend you to check the requirements according to your country of origin and take into account the use of masks in health centers, especially in emergency areas.
Medical care: It is suggested to take out travel insurance. In Chile you can go to both public and private health centers. The private ones usually offer faster attention, although at a higher cost.
Hotel check in/out policy: Check-in at most hotels is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00. Some hotels offer early check-in and late check-out at an additional cost, depending on availability.
Alternative accommodations: In La Serena you can stay in hotels, apartments or through platforms such as Booking and Airbnb. Due to the popularity of this destination, it is recommended to book in advance, especially in high demand seasons. Verify that the accommodation is officially registered in the National Registry of Tourism Service Providers.
Transportation: To get to La Serena, you can fly to Santiago airport (Arturo Merino Benítez) and then take a flight to La Florida airport in La Serena, which takes approximately 60 minutes. For international travelers, it is important to note that you will need to pick up your bags in Santiago to pass through the inspection of the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and then re-board them as domestic luggage for the flight to La Serena.
It is always recommended to use authorized or official transportation at both airports, such as registered cabs or licensed private transportation services, for safety and peace of mind.
If you are coming by car from Santiago, the trip takes about 5 hours. Consider carrying cash for the tolls along Ruta 5 Norte. Once in La Serena, you can use transportation apps such as Uber or private cab services. You can also check the cost of official cabs by downloading the app http://www.votchile.cl/.
Important information for foreigners: When entering Chile, you must complete an Affidavit for SAG control. Be sure to declare any animal, vegetable or handmade products that you carry with you. In addition, you will receive a tourist card, which you must present when leaving the country.
Tax free: VAT in Chile is 19%. If you pay for your hotel with foreign currency or international credit card, you may be exempt from this tax.
Visa information: You do not need a visa to enter Chile if you are a citizen of:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay.
Other Central and South American countries require a passport. Citizens of Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Dominica require a transitory stay visa, except Dominicans with a valid U.S. visa. More Information
Electric current: Chile uses C and L type plugs, with a voltage of 220V and frequency of 50 Hz. Make sure you have the necessary adapters for your electronic devices.
Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in enclosed spaces with public access, such as restaurants, bars, hotels and shopping centers.
Location
Capital of the IV Region of Coquimbo, Chile. It is part of the province of Elqui and is bordered to the south by Coquimbo and Andacollo, to the north by La Higuera, to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by Vicuña. It is located in the southern hemisphere of America.
Climate
In La Serena, summers are short, comfortable, arid and clear, and winters are cold, dry and mostly clear. During the course of the year, the temperature generally varies from 9°C to 21°C and rarely falls below 6 °C or rises above 23°C.
Currency
Across the country you will find the Chilean peso, you may also hear the word “luca” which is equivalent to the thousand pesos bill, the green one. In general you can pay with credit cards but cash is recommended for more artisanal places of sale.
Electric Current
In Chile you can find two types of plugs, type L with three pin sockets, and type C with two pin sockets. Voltage = 220 V Cycles = 50 Hz
Health Requirements
As of May 9, 2023, the request for the PCR test upon entering Chile, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate and the random testing of travelers will be eliminated. At the present there are no special health requirements.
Medical Care
When visiting Chile, it is recommended to take out travel insurance, and you may be attended in public or private health centers, the latter providing more immediate attention but at a higher cost.
Hotel Check in/out Policy
Normal check in and check out are prox 15:00 and 12:00 respectively. The possibility of using the room earlier depends on availability. On certain occasions there is an early check in with a surcharge, the same for late check out. Tips are welcome during the stay but not mandatory.
Transportation
You can arrive by plane to the Santiago airport (Arturo López Benitez) and then travel by air to the La Serena airport called La Florida. You can find from 2 or 5 flights per day, depending on the airline, with a duration of a little more than an hour. Or from Santiago you can travel by shuttle or car, which takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes. Already in La Serena Uber app is available, there are also private cab services. To find out the cost of your trip in official and authorized cabs download the app http://www.votchile.cl/
Alternative Accommodations
You can find hotel accommodation from their direct page, on Booking or even apartments through Airbnb. It is important to search for lodging in advance because La Serena is a very popular destination and there may not be availability on certain dates of high demand.
Local Time
GMT -04:00. You can know the exact time in Chile in the following link https://www.horaoficial.cl/
Visa Information
The following countries do not require a visa or passport, only your Identity Card:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Perú
- Uruguay
- Paraguay
All the other Central and South American countries require a passport:
- Belice
- Venezuela
- Costa Rica
- República Dominicana
- Haití
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
- Santa Lucía
- Suriname
- Trinidad y Tobago
- Guyana
- Dominica
- Granada
- San Cristóbal y Nevis
- San Vicente y Granadinas
If you are from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, or Dominica, you must have a Transitory Stay Visa. Dominicans holding a valid North American visa are exempt from this requirement. Check which countries require a Visa to enter Chile in the button bellow:
Smoking
Is prohibited in enclosed spaces accessible to the public or for collective commercial use. Places such as bars, pubs, discotheques, restaurants and gambling casinos (former smoking areas are terminated). Hotels (except in outdoor locations). Shopping malls (except in outdoor or open courtyards), cabs or buses.
Tax Free
The tax in Chile is 19% and it’s called VAT. You do not see this amount on the receipts you receive when you buy something as it is included in the price of the goods and services. According to local laws, as a foreigner, you can avoid paying VAT if you pay for your hotel with foreign currency (such as U.S. dollars or euros) or with a credit card issued abroad.
Location
Capital of the IV Region of Coquimbo, Chile. It is part of the province of Elqui and is bordered to the south by Coquimbo and Andacollo, to the north by La Higuera, to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by Vicuña. It is located in the southern hemisphere of America.
Local Time
GMT -04:00. You can know the exact time in Chile in the following link https://www.horaoficial.cl/
Climate
In La Serena, summers are short, comfortable, arid and clear, and winters are cold, dry and mostly clear. During the course of the year, the temperature generally varies from 9°C to 21°C and rarely falls below 6 °C or rises above 23°C.
Visa Information
The following countries do not require a visa or passport, only your Identity Card:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Perú
- Uruguay
- Paraguay
All the other Central and South American countries require a passport:
- Belice
- Venezuela
- Costa Rica
- República Dominicana
- Haití
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
- Santa Lucía
- Suriname
- Trinidad y Tobago
- Guyana
- Dominica
- Granada
- San Cristóbal y Nevis
- San Vicente y Granadinas
If you are from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, or Dominica, you must have a Transitory Stay Visa. Dominicans holding a valid North American visa are exempt from this requirement. Check which countries require a Visa to enter Chile in the button bellow:
Currency
Across the country you will find the Chilean peso, you may also hear the word “luca” which is equivalent to the thousand pesos bill, the green one. In general you can pay with credit cards but cash is recommended for more artisanal places of sale.
Electric Current
In Chile you can find two types of plugs, type L with three pin sockets, and type C with two pin sockets. Voltage = 220 V Cycles = 50 Hz
Health Requirements
As of May 9, 2023, the request for the PCR test upon entering Chile, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate and the random testing of travelers will be eliminated. At the present there are no special health requirements.
Medical Care
When visiting Chile, it is recommended to take out travel insurance, and you may be attended in public or private health centers, the latter providing more immediate attention but at a higher cost.
Hotel Check in/out Policy
Normal check in and check out are prox 15:00 and 12:00 respectively. The possibility of using the room earlier depends on availability. On certain occasions there is an early check in with a surcharge, the same for late check out. Tips are welcome during the stay but not mandatory.
Smoking
Is prohibited in enclosed spaces accessible to the public or for collective commercial use. Places such as bars, pubs, discotheques, restaurants and gambling casinos (former smoking areas are terminated). Hotels (except in outdoor locations). Shopping malls (except in outdoor or open courtyards), cabs or buses.
Transportation
You can arrive by plane to the Santiago airport (Arturo López Benitez) and then travel by air to the La Serena airport called La Florida. You can find from 2 or 5 flights per day, depending on the airline, with a duration of a little more than an hour. Or from Santiago you can travel by shuttle or car, which takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes. Already in La Serena Uber app is available, there are also private cab services. To find out the cost of your trip in official and authorized cabs download the app http://www.votchile.cl/
Tax Free
The tax in Chile is 19% and it’s called VAT. You do not see this amount on the receipts you receive when you buy something as it is included in the price of the goods and services. According to local laws, as a foreigner, you can avoid paying VAT if you pay for your hotel with foreign currency (such as U.S. dollars or euros) or with a credit card issued abroad.
Alternative Accommodations
You can find hotel accommodation from their direct page, on Booking or even apartments through Airbnb. It is important to search for lodging in advance because La Serena is a very popular destination and there may not be availability on certain dates of high demand.
* Hotel alternatives will be available soon.
