Resources for Travel, Study Abroad, or Living in Santiago, Chile

Santiago is a great city to live in if you want to learn Spanish and have a life changing experience. Here is a list of sites that can help you travel, study or work in Chile.


The Chile Information Project – From the website, “CHIP is a definitive news, information and travel resource for Chile.”
Transitions Abroad – This is basically the ultimate guide to living or alternative travel in any country. The Living in Chile article has tons of great resources.
Saborizante Santiago – Although in Spanish, this site usually has pretty up to date info on nightlife and events going on in Santiago.
Chileno – A Santiago blogger who covers current events in Chile and has been running a feature on Living in Chile, an Expat Guide. He also has a list of Chile blogs written in English.
La Guía de Santiago – Another events guide in Spanish.
Blogtrotter: Chile – The detailed accounts of one man’s travels in Santiago (I think he’s been here like 4 times).
Love to Travel Chile – Kyle’s in-depth blog of things to see and do in Chile’s capital.
The Santiago Times – An English language newspaper in Santiago, Chile.
El Mercurio – The main Chilean newspaper.
Compartodepto.cl – Through this site I found my first apartment in Chile and lived with a bunch of chilean university students. Register for free and find your own housing through this great site.

Santiago Weather

Santiago enjoys Mediterranean climate due to its location. The city experiences four distinct seasons. Summer season extends from December to February, spring from September to November. March to May experiences autumn and winter season stretches between June and August. Summers are generally dry and hot during daytime with temperatures shooting

Chile’s top tennis player ends 2011 with a big win

González rejects retirement claims and says he intends on playing the Latin American tour.

Chile’s star tennis player Fernando González, currently ranked 298 in the world, thanked his local fan base after beating France’s top tennis player Gael Monfils, ranked 16, in three sets at a friendly match on Tuesday in Santiago. González won by 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4.

After the match, González expressed his appreciation for the public’s support during a year full of injuries and “very difficult moments.” González underwent hip surgery in late 2010, leaving him in recovery for months, and later suffered a torn muscle during a Davis Cup match in September.

“I have had plenty of time on a physical and personal level, and those physical and emotional rest periods have been very important to me recently,” González said, according to EFE press agency.

He also took the opportunity to reveal his plans for the future, after recent reports by the local press suggesting his desire to retire in the immediate future. “Depending on how I feel week to week, I will be choosing my next matches.”

González is scheduled to begin his 2012 season in the ATP World Tour in Auckland and the Australian Open, however he has yet to confirm whether he will attend.

González did express his interest, however, in the Latin American tour. “It’s my intention (to play). I would love to do the whole tour,” he told Chilean TV station Mega before the Tuesday win.

The two-time Olympic medalist also added “it would be a great challenge to play in the Olympic Games. For me the Olympic Games are very important.” But he added, “I don’t see myself being a tennis player forever, I just want to end my career on a good note.”

Santiago geography

Santiago city occupies a narrow strip of land between the high Andes Mountains and the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The geographical coordinates of Santiago are 33º 27' south latitude and 70º 40' west longitude. The city is situated 521 meters above sea level. The city is located on predominantly flat land and encloses an urban area of 22.4 sq. km. Santiago geography throws light on the location and orientation of Santiago. Santiago time zone is calculated 4 hours advance to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During winter, day light saving time is observed in the city.

My favourite place in santiago

Cerro San Cristóbal: Although it’s almost exclusively a tourist site, there is really no view of the entire city that compares to the panorama at the top of this hill. Take a ride up in the funicular from Bellavista and make sure you visit the statue at the peak. Go a half an hour before sunset on a clear day and watch night fall over the city. You will be amazed.

La Chascona: One of the 3 homes of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, the place is decorated with an incredible collection of anything you can imagine from all over the world and is also host to his Nobel Prize. There are rooms designed to create the feeling that you are on a ship, and there are some great views of the city. Check out his Nobel Prize here too. Neruda’s other two houses aren’t too far from Santiago (one in Valparaiso, the other in Isla Negra) and all are worth seeing if you have time (there are tours that take you to all 3 if interested)

La Moneda: The courtyard of the Presidential house of Chile is very easy to enter and there are awesome sculptures by Chilean artists worth seeing. Tours of the inside of the building need to be planned in advance. Be sure to toss a coin into the fountain and make a wish

Have a Terremoto at La Piojera: – The terremoto (translation: earthquake) is a Santiago staple “copete” (drink) that every traveler needs to try. What is it? A mix of wine, pisco (a domestic liquor made from grapes), pineapple ice cream, and a hint of grenadine. Make sure to mix well and you will walk out feeling like a tremor just hit you. La Piojera is only a minute’s walk from Mercado Central


Parque Arauco: If you want to see where the upper echelon of Santiago buys its clothes, check out some of the department stores at this huge indoor/outdoor mall. Has a year-round ice-skating rink, a Nike store, an Apple store and live music Saturday evenings. My favorite store here is Zoo Concept, which has awesome shoes and odds and ends. For even classier shopping, head to Portal La Dehesa.

TRANSPORT IN SANTIAGO

In February 2007, Santiago went through a complete overhaul of its public transportation system and most travel literature on Santiago has not yet accommodated for the change. This article will explain in depth how to get around the Chilean megalopolis using public transit. Riding on Transantiago (the name of the new system) is pretty safe and efficient, even for foreigners. I get around the city almost exclusively on “micros” (buses) and “metro” (subway). The only times I ever take a taxi are if it’s late at night (past 11), and even then I’ll still take a bus after midnight (the metro closes around 10:30) if I’m with friends. However, I don’t recommend doing so if you don’t feel comfortable with the system nor speak spanish. Taxis at night are pretty cheap since there is little traffic.


I understand this is a lengthy article, so if you don’t have time to read it now, I suggest you print it out and bring it with you to Santiago, as it will give you all the information and resources you will need to navigate the city.


Tarjeta bip!


This charge card allows you to get on any metro or micro for 380 pesos (about 75¢ US). Furthermore, you can transfer from metro to a micro or vice versa and not get charged extra, as the fare carries over for 90 minutes from your first point of entry. The card itself costs 1,000 pesos ($2 US) and can be charged in any metro station or any corner store where you see the bip! logo. Sometimes when I go out at night, the only things I carry are cash and my tarjeta bip!

Founding of the city

1541 founding of Santiago
Santiago was founded by Italy/Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia on February 11, 1541 with the name Santiago de Nueva Extremadura, as a homage to Saint James and Extremadura, Valdivia's birth place in Spain.[1] The founding ceremony was held on Huelén Hill (later renamed Cerro Santa Lucía). Valdivia chose the location of Santiago because of its climate, abundant vegetation and the ease with which it could be defended—the Mapocho River then split into two branches and rejoined further downstream, forming an island.[2] The Inca ruler Manco Cápac II warned the new rulers that his people would be hostile to the occupiers. The Spanish invaders had to battle against hunger caused by this resistance. Pedro de Valdivia ultimately succeeded in stabilizing the food supply and other resources needed for Santiago to thrive.[3]
The layout of the new town consisted of straight roads of 12 varas (14.35 m, 47.1 ft) width, in equal intervals of 138 varas (165.08 m, 541.6 ft) perpendicular to each other. With nine roads in the east-west direction and 15 in the north-south direction, there were 126 blocks that formed the so-called manzanas, or square cut.[4