Chile - Profile
Facts
- Chile is a 2600 mile (4185 km) long strip of land that stretches from the Andes down to the southern tip of South America where lies the notorious Cape Horn, the island of Tierra del Fuego, which Chile shares with Argentina, and the Magellan Straits.
- An increasing number of yachts cruise the islands and channels in the southern part of Chile, a spectacular area with magnificent fjords and imposing glaciers.
- The rest of Chile is rarely visited by foreign yachts, except those on their way to or from the southern fjordland.
- Chile's offshore possessions in the Pacific, Easter Island and the Juan Fernandez Islands , are dealt with separately.
Security
Cruisers report that security in Tierra del Fuego is just simply not an issue. Many never lock their boats and dinghys with outboards can be left at the jetty without any problems.
October 2011.
Pick pocketing and theft are common throughout Chile, particularly around well-known tourist sites, bus stations and areas of Santiago frequented by foreigners like Las Condes, Vitacura and Providencia. (UK FCO advice Feb 2013)
Weather
October to April are the warmer summer months, while May to October is colder. The Chilean climate varies considerably according to latitude, being dry and hot in the north, wet and windy in the south. The coastal areas are cooled by the cold Humboldt current. In the south, the most settled weather is between December and March, which is dominated by westerly winds. In this area, northerly winds usually bring rain and poor visibility, while southerlies are accompanied by clear skies.
For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page
Main Ports
Arica * , Chiloe Island , Puerto Eden * , Puerto Montt * , Puerto Natales * , Puerto Puyuhuapi , Puerto Williams * , Punta Arenas * , Talcahuano * , Valdivia * , Valparaiso *
* indicates port of entry
