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| A SNAPSHOT OF CHILE |
 Chile means, depending on the book you read, "where the land runs out" or "the end of the world"; also means snow and the deepest point on earth. Chile has also been called many other names, such as a country with a crazy geography, a geographical extravaganza, country of a comic geography. The historic name of Chile most probably comes from the mapuche word trih o chi, which means "a bird with yellow spots on its wings". And it's also called a country made for poets, just as Pablo Neruda once wrote. There is a legend which says that when God finished the Creation, he took the leftovers of desert, plains, jungle and mountains, and with that he created the patchwork that is Chile .
Approximately 16 million inhabitants live on the territory, which is 175 km wide and over 4300 km long ( 8000 km if you add the Antarctic), - including various ethnic groups like the Aymaras, the Mapuches, the Easter Islanders and a small number of people from Tierra del Fuego. The official language is Spanish; the dominant religion is Catholicism and the currency - the Chilean Peso - is valued at around CL$510 per 1 US dollar.
Chile, often regarded as one of South America 's safest and most economically and politically stable countries, has experienced a dramatic increase in tourism over the last few years. What foreign tourists look for and find in Chile is endless opportunities for recreation and leisure activities, astonishing beauty of the landscapes, uncommon cultural, geographical and historical diversity. If you look for diversity, you can go to different countries or you can just come to Chile .
Chile is a photographer's and traveler's paradise for all its colors and shapes. From north to south the landscape changes dramatically, and so do the colors. Only in Chile you will see lunar landscapes, deserts, active geysers and salt lakes in the North; densely forested areas, waterfalls, ice fields, glaciers, fjords and lakes in the South; first-rate shopping malls, five star hotels and international restaurants in the Metropolitan area; green valleys and wine yards in the Central region. In one day you can go trekking or skiing in the mountains and then enjoy a delicious seafood and premium wine dinner by the ocean.
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| WEATHER IN CHILE |
 Chile on the most part of its territory has a Mediterranean climate and well-defined seasons. Mine Closure 2010 Conference will be held at the end of November, spring month in Chile. Average day temperatures will be around 25 C. Nights, however, might cool down to 10 C. Conference will take take place in the coastal city Viña del Mar, where nights are rather chilly. thanMake sure to bring along the appropriate clothes (t-shirts for a day and sweaters or jackets for a night time). At this time of the year there will be no rains, but it might get rather windy. |
| BANKING AND ATM AVAILABILITY |
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 All major cities and many smaller towns with a significant tourist economy have ATMs. Some banks, however, charge rather exorbitant fees for international withdrawals, and per-day withdrawal limits are usually around US$300. Banks are open to public Monday through Friday, from 9:00 to 13:30. Please note that banks usually do not provide currency exchange services. Money can be exchanged at "casa de cambio" (currency exchange bureau). US dollars, euros and Latin American currency can be exchanged almost everywhere. Other countries' currency, however, might be more difficult to exchange, we therefore recommend to bring some cash in US dollars or euros. Foreign currency (including US dollars and euros) is generally not accepted as a form of payment in stores and restaurants, while major credit cards are widely accepted. Travellers checks are hardly ever used, exchanging them might be rather difficult. Chilean currency - peso - can be freely withdrawn from any ATM.
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| ELECTRICITY |
 Chile's electricity standard is 220 volts/50Hz. Electrical sockets have two openings for tubular pins, not flat prongs, make sure you have an appropriate adapter. |
| TIPPING |
| A 10-15% tip is usually given in bars and restaurants. In hotels tipping is left to the guests' discretion. The same applies to the hair salons and beauty parlors. Taxi drivers are not tipped. |
| HEALTH, SAFETY AND EMERGENCIES |
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 Viña del Mar is a safe city to visit during day and night. Visitors should, however, be aware of the pickpockets and avoid having expensive jewellery or electronic equipment on display. Neighbouring Valparaiso is safe to visit during the day on your own, but if you are venturing there after dark, it would be best to stay in a group.
Tap water is safe to drink and seafood is safe to eat, as it is very fresh. Serious infectious diseases (tuberculosis, yellow fever, etc) have not been reported in Chile, thus, no specific vaccinations are required.
Emergency numbers:
• To call an ambulance dial 131
• To report a fire emergency dial 132
• For a police emergency dial 133
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| TIME ZONE |
| The time zone in winter is GMT -4 hours; in summer it is GMT -3 hours. |
| LINKS, MAPS AND USEFUL INFORMATION |
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TOURISM
November is the spring month in Chile and the beginning of a high tourist season. It is a perfect time to travel around, as at this time of the year Patagonia passages will already be open and you can enjoy unfogettable adventures in the South of Chile. During the month of November the spring carnival will take place in the Eastern Island. Other great destinations include San Pedro de Atacama and central wine valley. If you wish to book tours, please contact directly these travel agencies:
ALTUE - provides first class services anywhere in Chile, http://www.altue.com/
Turistour - specialises in short trips and excursions, http://www.turistour.com/
Santiago Adventures - wine tours and outdoor adventures, http://www.santiagoadventures.com/
Navimag- boat trips in Southern Chile, http://www.navimag.com/
THINGS TO DO IN VIÑA DEL MAR AND VALPARAISO
Apart from the beaches and casino, Viña del Mar is famous for its restaurants and museums. A great variety of restaurants can be found on San Martin Ave. Cultural attractions include Wulff Castle and art gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Subercasaux mansion, Quinta Vergara gardens, Francisco Fonck Museum of History and Archeology and Rioja Palace. While you are in Viña it is worth traveling to the neighbouring port town Valparaiso and visiting La Sebastiana, one of Pablo Neruda's houses.
Valparaiso attractions map
Viña del Mar attractions map
For more information about Chile please use these links.
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