There is no doubt: after Buenos Aires, Santiago is Brazilian tourists’ favorite Latin American city, at least when it comes to traveling abroad. Organized, relatively clean, with an excellent public transport network, full of attractions and even cheap – this is the Chilean capital, which for this reason alone has the attributes to be part of many people’s holidays.
But Santiago has more. There’s snow! Okay: there’s a reason for Brazilian travelers to go crazy. Do you dream of seeing Santiago, Chile, snow, all at once? See our post index with everything we’ve written about the city and region. Articles include tips for surrounding cities, such as Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, as well as a guide with everything you need to know before skiing for the first time. Anyway, have a good trip!
Traveling to Chile: before leaving home
With more than 6.5 million inhabitants in its metropolitan region, Santiago is one of the largest Latin American metropolises. So expect to find exactly that: people in your busy life, some structural problems here and there, lots of history, museums, art and urban life. Modern and charming, it has options for all tastes and budgets.
With four well-defined seasons, Santiago can be visited at any time of year. The average annual temperature is 14ºC, due to the Andean winter that gives Brazilians the opportunity to take their coat out of the closet and enjoy the snow in the nearest ski resorts. But make no mistake: summer is hot and has long days. The rainy season runs from May to September. The rest of the year, dry weather predominates.
Brazilians do not need a visa to travel to Chile and can enter the country with only their ID in good condition (it is recommended that the issue date be less than 10 years old). The cost of living there is similar to that of São Paulo. So expect to spend between 50 and 100 dollars per day, depending on your savings level and the type of activity you intend to do.
Know more:
Is it worth traveling to Chile in the summer?
Where to stay in Santiago: the best neighborhoods
Hotel tips in Santiago
Santiago Airport: how to get to the center
Santiago: travel tips for the Chilean metropolis
The main attractions in downtown Santiago are historical and cultural. Highlight is the many museums spread across the city, most of which have had free entry since 2016, thanks to an initiative to promote culture by the Chilean government. The most unmissable of these is the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, which highlights the horrors of the Chilean dictatorship and other Latin American countries.
Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago: unmissable tour
Santiago also has several hills from which, on clear days and without the cloud of pollution that creates a gray veil over the city, it is possible to have stunning views of the Andes. The streets of the Bella Vista neighborhood are full of street art panels and, of course, many bars to enjoy cumbia until the early hours.
Know more:
Free museums to visit in Santiago
Tourist attractions and what to do there
Visit to Cerro San Cristóbal
The history of the Chilean dictatorship in Santiago
Where to eat and drink in Santiago
Concha Y Toro: one of Santiago’s wineries
Visit to the houses of Pablo Neruda (Santiago and region)
Skiing in Chile: what you need to know
It’s a fact: most Brazilians who arrive in Chile only care about snow. Next to Bariloche, in Argentina, the Andean mountains that surround Santiago are the Brazilian gateway to the world of skiing, dolls and snowball fights.
Valle Nevado may be the most famous ski resort in the region, but it is far from the only one. Farellones and Colorado are also good options for those who want to go down the mountain. There are still two other options: La Parva and Portillo. You can rent clothes both in the ski resorts themselves (more expensive) and in specialized stores in Santiago (a little cheaper). The snow season usually runs from June 21st to September 23rd, but the best months are July and August.
Know more:
What you need to know before climbing the mountain
How to ski in Valle Nevado, in Chile
Skiing in Chile: El Colorado and other stories
Other cities around the Chilean capital
In Chile, like the Chileans. Any Santiago resident does not miss the opportunity to go down to the coast, which is just an hour away, and spend time in the resort of Viña del Mar and the electrifying Valparaíso. The tour can be done in a day trip, but it is recommended to sleep at least one night near the sea, to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Chilean bohemian Ouro Preto. In addition to these two coastal stars, the Pacific route is beautiful and full of villages with a peaceful and bucolic climate. So much so that it inspired even the country’s greatest poets.
Know more:
Viña del Mar, the resort of Chile
Valparaíso: colorful houses and elevators in Chile
Route along the Coast of Chilean Poets
Where to stay in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar
What is the gastronomy like in Santiago, Chile
Chileans: how do they live, what do they eat? The food in Santiago is diverse and was influenced by indigenous Americans, Spain and Italy and is based on potatoes and meat, with a large use of corn and beans. In the busy day-to-day life of the metropolis, the most popular dishes are the completo (hot dog) and the barbecue (meat sandwich).
Know more:
Peruvian pisco or Chilean pisco: it doesn’t matter to me
Earthquake: the Chilean drink that makes you lose your feet
Don’t forget to read it too
Are you going to explore the rest of the country? Be sure to explore other posts already published here.
Know more:
Atlas 360: Chile
Chiloé: tips and travel itinerary
