Chile Healthcare and Money

By | May 9, 2022

Health care

Vaccinations

Vaccination needed receipt required
Eat Drink 3
malaria no
Typhoid & Polio 2
cholera 1
yellow fever no

Overview

Medical care in the country can only be directly compared with Europe in large cities. It is often technically, apparatus-related and/or hygienically problematic. There is also often a lack of European-trained English/French-speaking doctors. An individual first-aid kit should be taken with you and protected according to the temperatures on the way. Taking out travel health insurance and travel repatriation insurance is strongly recommended. Check indexdotcom for more information.

Notes vaccinations

[1] A cholera vaccination is not an entry requirement, but the risk of infection exists nationwide. To protect yourself, you should practice careful drinking water and food hygiene. Since the effectiveness of the vaccination is disputed, it is advisable to seek medical advice in good time before you travel. [2] Typhoid occurs, poliomyelitis does not. Typhoid vaccination is recommended for backpacking and long-term stays. [3] Water should generally either be boiled or otherwise sterilized before it is used for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice cubes, or it should be bought packaged. When purchasing bottled water, care should be taken that the original packaging has not been opened. Only mix milk powder with sterile water. Meat and fish dishes should only be well cooked and served hot. The consumption of undercooked pork (risk of trichinosis, especially in the south of the country), raw salads and mayonnaise should be avoided. Vegetables should be boiled and fruits should be peeled. Warnings are given against consuming food from cheap street restaurants and markets. Due to an above-average number of illnesses after eating seafood in recent months, it is recommended to exercise special caution and to refrain from eating raw seafood if possible.

Other risks

There are increasing reports of hantavirus infections, which can cause hemorrhagic fever. When backpacking with camping outdoors or in similar situations, travelers should stay away from rodents and practice careful food hygiene.Chagas disease is caused by predatory bugs, which are found in the slums mainly in the north and central areas of the country. Travelers who stay in simple huts and in the open air are recommended to use mosquito nets to protect them from insects. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is widespread and a great danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: Unprotected sexual contacts, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can pose a significant health risk. Epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occur primarily in the slums of large cities. To protect yourself, get vaccinated and avoid large gatherings. Rabies occurs nationwide. Carriers include dogs, cats, forest animals and bats. Vaccination is recommended for backpackers, children, occupational risk groups and for longer stays. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Health certificate

A health certificate and an HIV test in German and Spanish are required for work stays (form available on request from the embassy).

Money

Currency

1 Chilean peso = 100 centavos (does not matter in practice). Currency code: Chil$, CLP (ISO code). Notes come in denominations of $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 Chil; Coins in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 Chil$.

Credit cards

Diners Club, Visa, American Express and Mastercard are the most widely accepted. With the exception of smaller towns, credit cards are accepted. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.

ATMs

Bank cards The Girocard (formerly EC card) with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol is accepted worldwide. It can be used at ATMs with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol. The Girocard with the V-Pay symbol is not accepted. To be on the safe side, travelers should have an alternative money supply in addition to their bank card. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.

Travelers cheques

Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Traveller’s checks are accepted in Chile in a few exchange offices in the big cities. They should be in euros or US dollars.

Bank opening hours

Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., sometimes also 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Foreign exchange regulations

No restrictions on importing and exporting national and foreign currency, obligation to declare when importing and exporting means of payment with an equivalent value of US$ 10,000 or more.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices (cambios), authorized shops, restaurants, hotels and clubs. It is advisable to take US dollars with you in cash, as these can also be easily exchanged in more remote areas. Visitors should not be tempted by better exchange rates (10-15%) on the black market, where counterfeit bills can easily be found.

Currencies

Code Symbol Exchange rates (no guarantee)
CLP CH$ 1 EUR = CH$705.38
1 CHF = CH$840.10
1 USD = CH$678.28

Chile Money