Currency - Business hours - Transportation - Internet - Basic conversation guide - Langages spoken

The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). It is issued in coins of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 pesos, and in bills of 500, 1.000, 5.000 and 10.000 pesos.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)
To find out the locations of ATMs in Chile , click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Business hours

Banks: Monday to Friday, from 9.00 to 14.00.
Public administrations: from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 14.00.
Businesses in the town centre : from Monday to Friday from 10.00 till 19.00 and on Saturday from 10.00 to 14.00.
Small businesses of district :from Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to 20.00.
Shopping centres: from Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 21.00 and on Sunday from 11.00 to 20.00.
Supermarkets : every day from 8.00 to 21.00.

Transportation

Road
The road network is in good condition. However you should avoid leaving the main roads with a regular vehicle and take gas reserves if you plan to go for long journeys. Very dense and effective network of buses throughout Chile.
Public transport: dangerous because of the fierce competition between the companies which push the drivers, who are under pressure, to drive dangerously.
Metropolitan network: little developed but reliable and clean.

Rail
Old network which is little effective, which does not meet with the required maintenance.

Air
The state of the domestic aircrafts does not call particular remark.

Internet

The Internet suffix is: .cl

Basic conversation guide

Yes = Sí
No = No.
Thank you = Gracias
Hello = Hola
Good morning = Buenos días
Good afternoon = Buenas tardes
Goodbye = Adiós
I do not understand = No entiendo
What's the price? How much does it cost? = ¿Cuánto esta? ¿Cuál es el precio?
I would like to buy = Me gustaría comprar...
Do you accept credit cards? = ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
Where is? = ¿Dónde está?
Post office = el correo
The bank = el banco
The police station, the police force = la estación de policía; la comisaría de policía
The pharmacy = la farmacia
An airport = el aeropuerto
The train station = la estación del tren
One ticket to..., please. = un billete para..., por favor.
Would you have any available rooms for tonight? = ¿Tiene habitaciones para esta noche?.

In business, Spanish is the most frequently used language even if some Chilean businessmen know English. Indeed, in Chile, the majority of business documents, correspondence and commercial brochures are printed or written in Spanish.