The currency and the order of magnitude
Chile uses Chilean pesos. Prices are written with a dot as the thousands separator, so a CLP 38.000 tour is thirty-eight thousand pesos, not thirty-eight.
Worth training your eye before you land: mistaking 38.000 for 38 is what makes someone think they were overcharged at their first restaurant.
Cards yes, cash too
In Santiago cards work almost everywhere: restaurants, supermarkets, shops and ride-hailing. You can do the whole trip without changing much cash.
Cash is for small things and places where the signal drops: a market, a tip, a roadside stall, a vending machine at a ski resort. Carrying some loose change saves you staring at a reader that will not read.
How you pay us for tours
We take Pix and cards, with the exchange rate locked when you book: the figure in reais you see at booking is what you are charged, and it does not move afterwards.
A deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due before departure. That balance can also be paid in pesos on the day if you prefer.
What is paid separately — and what blows the budget
A snow day does not end at the tour price. The resort entry ticket, clothing rental, equipment if you ski and food up there are all extra. None of it is included, with us or with anyone else.
The tip that saves the most: rent snow clothing in Santiago the day before rather than on the mountain. The gap is wide and you also go up already dressed.
Rates and fees: check them the week you travel
Exchange rates and what your bank charges on a foreign purchase move constantly, so any figure we put here would be stale by the time you read it. Check your card’s foreign transaction fee before you leave: it is the most common surprise when the statement arrives.
And one that is not money but feels like it: restaurant tipping runs around 10% and usually appears suggested on the bill. It is not compulsory and can be removed, but leaving it out after good service is frowned upon.
The tours in this guide
Keep reading
Farellones, El Colorado, La Parva or Valle Nevado?
All four sit on the same road, one above the other. Here is the real difference between them.
When is there actually snow in Chile?
The season runs June to September. But altitude matters more than the month, and that changes how you plan the trip.
What a day in the snow in Chile really costs
The tour is one part of the spend. Here is every line item, so none of them surprises you up there.
How many days do I need in Santiago?
Three cover the essentials and five let you breathe. But what shapes the itinerary is not the number of days: it is which days of the week.
Is Valparaíso worth it in winter?
Yes, if you are going for the hills and the street art. No, if you are going for the beach. It is a full day, and it helps to know what for.
What documents do I need to enter Chile?
Brazilians need no tourist visa. What does need checking before you leave home is something else.
Is renting a car in Chile worth it?
For the coast and the wineries, yes. For driving up to the ski resorts in winter, no — and not because we sell tours.
What to pack for the Chilean winter
There are 16 degrees between Santiago and Valle Nevado. That, not the forecast, is what decides your suitcase.
Chile with children: which tour works at which age
Five of our tours do not admit under-18s and three more have a minimum age. Better to know now than at the door.
Which neighbourhood to stay in in Santiago?
It depends what kind of trip it is. And on one practical detail: where we can pick you up at five in the morning.
SIM cards, internet and phones in Chile
Three options and all of them work. What is worth knowing is where there is no signal — which is where you will want it.
Is Santiago safe for a tourist?
It is a big capital and behaves like one. What helps is not a yes or a no, but knowing where you are and at what hour.
When is the best time to travel to Chile?
It depends what trip you want. Nine of our 25 tours are winter-only; the other sixteen run all year.