You are packing for two climates, not one
Temperature drops about 6.5 °C for every 1,000 metres you climb. Between Santiago at 570 metres and Valle Nevado at 3,025 there are 2,455 metres: roughly 16 degrees less. That is physics, not a forecast.
In practice: the jacket you walk comfortably around Providencia in will not do up there, and a mountain parka is too much in the city. Pack for both and do not expect one garment to cover it.
What NOT to buy in Brazil
Snow gear: waterproof trousers, snow jacket, thick gloves and boots. All of it rents in Santiago for a fraction of what buying costs, gets used for one day and goes back.
Rent it in Santiago the day before rather than on the mountain: the price gap is wide and you also go up already dressed, instead of losing the first hour of the day at a counter.
What you do need to bring
Sunglasses, no argument. Snow bounces light far more than a beach does, and at 3,000 metres it hits harder. High-factor sunscreen too, even in the cold: getting burnt on the snow is the most common thing that happens to a Brazilian on day one.
Thick socks, a warm hat and something for your neck. Those are the three things almost nobody rents, and the difference between enjoying the day and counting the hours.
For the city and the coast
In Santiago, layers: mornings are cold and the winter afternoon sun is deceptive. Comfortable closed shoes; the historic centre is walked and Cerro Santa Lucía has stairs.
For Valparaíso, add a windbreaker. The coast is windier than Santiago and the Pacific is cold even on a clear day. And there is real walking: the city is hills, stairs and slopes.
What gets forgotten and is needed
A plug adapter: Chile uses type C and L sockets, different from Brazil’s. You can buy one here, but arriving at night unable to charge your phone is a poor start.
And something for motion sickness if you get it. The climb into the Andes is about two hours of tight hairpins, and it is worse on an empty stomach at five in the morning.
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.
How much money to bring to Chile, and how to pay
What takes a card, what needs cash, and the costs that appear up the mountain that nobody warns you about.
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.
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.