The official Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice for Chile says "You are advised to leave your passport, tourist card (given upon entry into Chile), most bank cards and larger amounts of money in a safe place and to carry a photocopy of the details page of your passport with you at all times." It is also worth taking a photo of key documents on your smartphone as a back up of last resort. Having said that Chile is generally a safe place to visit and that should not put you off visiting.

Street crime and theft are common throughout Chile, particularly around well-known tourist areas such as bus stations and areas of Santiago frequented by foreigners like Las Condes, Vitacura and Providencia. You should pay particular care to your belongings in popular foreign cafes and restaurants where there has been an increase in bag theft.

Chilean Pesos are widely traded by all the major banks and larger bureau de change but very few places will buy them back. Because of this you should be careful how how much currency you take with you unless you intend to visit Chile frequently. In general you should budget between $25 CLP to $60 CLP per day.

It is possible to change US Dollars for Chilean Pesos at many locations but you may be charged an additional fee of up to 6% to cover their charges so you may be better off checking for the best exchange rates before you leave and estimating your budget beforehand. Many charities and appeals will accept Chilean Pesos as a donation at your high street branch if you find yourself stuck with left over currency when you return or you could check out currency buy back section to see if we can find a buyer for you.

If you hold a British passport you do not need a visa to visit Chile for up to 90 days. If you wish to stay longer than 90 days you must consult the Chilean Embassy or the Chilean Immigration Department to apply for an extension.

When you enter Chile you will be issued with a Tourist Card "Tarjeta de Turismo" that you must keep and present back to immigration officials when you leave the country.