Participants should make their own arrangements for international and domestic travel to La Serena. We give, below, some information which we hope will be helpful to those traveling to the dedication event from the US or Brazil.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
U.S citizens may enter Chile as tourists, and as such will require a valid passport. You will be given a "tourist" card by the airline bringing you to Chile; please attach the card to your passport and safeguard it as it is required upon your departure. US passport holders must pay a "one-time entrance fee" of US$100 on arrival at the Mertino Benítez International Airport in Santiago (this is a reciprocal tax charged because the US charges Chileans when they enter the US).
Brazilian nationals may enter Chile without a Visa on presentation of a valid passport.
Participants from other countries are advised to consult with their travel agent, well in advance of their travel date, regarding current visa requirements for Chile.
CURRENCY
Currently, the official exchange rate of the Chilean peso is approximately 597 pesos per U.S. dollar. It fluctuates daily, so please check the exchange rate before you depart for Chile. Pesos can be obtained at the Bank, or money exchanges located in the baggage collection area between passport control and Customs at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago.
You may also use most major credit cards to obtain pesos from automatic teller machines ("Redbank") at the Santiago and La Serena airports, at most banks and many supermarkets and gas stations in Chile. Having inserted your card and entered your PIN select the option "Titulares de Quentas Extranjeros" near the bottom left hand corner of the screen, and you will be given the option to select the language to use for the remainder of your transaction.
We recommend that you exchange sufficient funds to cover incidental expenses (such as taxis and meals) that might be incurred in Chile; costs of these services are comparable to those in major U.S. cities. Most hotels, including those used for the dedication, will accept payment by credit card. Some restaurants will accept credit cards others won't, so we recommend that you check before you dine.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES IN SANTIAGO
The airline, or your travel agent, will provide you with two forms: the "tourist card" or "entry/exit form" which has to be presented to the immigration authorities (Policia Internaciónal); and a declaration that you are not bringing certain animal or vegetable products into the country ("Declaración Juridica") which is required by the agricultural authorities (SAG). Both these forms should be completed before arrival.
On arrival at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago:
- If you are the the holder of a US, Canadian, Australian, or Mexican passport, and this is your first visit to Chile, you must first pay the corresponding "one-time" entry fee (US$ 100, $US 55, $US 30, and $US 15, in cash, respectively) at a counter to your right as you enter the passport control area. The official in charge of receiving this fee will affix a stamp on the back of your passport; this stamp should be valid until the passport expires.
- Then continue to "Policia Internanciónal" where you should present your passport, and completed "tourist card". The immigration official, will stamp your passport and the form; be sure to attach the stamped tourist card to your passport and safeguard it as it is required upon your departure.
- Proceed to the baggage claim area and collect your bags. It is common practice for the baggage handlers to remove bags from the conveyor belts and stack them on the floor; if you don't spot your bag on the conveyor be sure to search for it in the pile, before you panic. Carts are available for your use, free of charge, in this area.
- You may also wish to exchange some money at the bank, or money exchange, located in this area.
- Continue to Customs where you have the choice of taking either of two lines, the "Nothing to Declare" or the "Declare" queue. Custom agents may ask you to pass one or more bags through the X-ray machine or have you open one or more bags even if you do chose the "Nothing to Declare" line. You must also hand the "Declaración Juridica" form to the agricultural authorities.
CONNECTIONS TO LA SERENA
LAN Chile offers daily flights from Santiago to La Serena (flights are listed as LA), departing from the Domestic Terminal; the flight time is approximately 50 minutes. Current flight schedules are available at http://www.lanchile.com/english/us/ . The cost for a round trip airline ticket Santiago/La Serena/ Santiago is approximately US$170.
The International and Domestic terminals at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport are housed in the same building. On exiting from Customs Control you will find yourself on Level 1 of the Terminal's lobby. To proceed to the Domestic Departures section, take the elevator to Level 3 and on exiting turn left and walk to the LAN Chile Check in counters.
In case you have a long wait between flights in Santiago you will find a number of fast-food restaurants and the usual variety of souvenir stores, both before, and after the security check point in domestic departures..
ARRIVAL IN LA SERENA
Flights from Santiago arrive at the "La Florida" airport in La Serena. Please contact the LOC , well in advance of your arrival date, if you would like a taxi to meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.
Prices from the airport to:
- Hotel Costa Real (downtown) $US 6 (Ch$ 3.600)
- AURA Recinto (SOAR, CTIO and Gemini South offices) $US 6 (Ch$ 3.600)
- Hotel Carrera or Caja de Compensación Los Andes Resort $US 8 (Ch$ 4.800)
RENTAL CARS
Rental cars are available from a number of major rental car companies at La Serena airport. It is strongly recommended that you make reservations in advance. Note that you must have a valid international drivers license (available, in the US, from the AAA) if you intend to drive while in Chile.
Company
Main Office Airport AVIS +56-51-227171 +56-51-200921 reservas@avischile.cl Budget +56-51-297916 +56-51-200919 budgetlsc@entelchile.net Hertz +56-51-226171 +56-51-200922 hertz_laserena@entelchile.net La Florida +56-51-271947 +56-51-271947 rentacarlaflorida@entelchile.net DEPARTING LA SERENA AND SANTIAGO
We recommend that you reconfirm your return, domestic, and international flights, 48 hours prior to departure. Your hotel, or the LOC can assist you with this if necessary. Phone numbers in La Serena and Santiago for some airlines are given in the table
Airline La Serena Santiago American Airlines +56-51-211724 +56-02-679-0000 Delta - 800-202-020 Lan Chile 600-526-2000 600-526-2000 Varig - +56-02-707-8000 You should plan on arriving at the "La Florida" airport, at least, 60m before the scheduled departure of your flight. Please contact the LOC , well in advance, if you would like a taxi to take you to the airport, or arrange this through your hotel.
Depending on which airline you are using for your international flight(s) you may be able to check all the way through to your final destination at the La Serena airport. However, due to heightened security measures, you must, anyway, collect your bags in Santiago, and recheck them for your international flight, so that they can be subjected to rigorous security screening.
On exiting from the baggage claim area in the domestic arrivals section of the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport you will, once more, find yourself on Level 1. You may want to procure a cart to transport your luggage to the international departures area, located on the 3rd. level of the same building. Having re-checked yourself and your luggage at your airlines check in desk, proceed to Passport Control where you will again have to present your passport and surrender your "tourist card".
If you have a long wait between flights in Santiago note that the various airlines VIP lounges, Duty Free shops, and more comfortable seating are to be found beyond passport control.
