By Nancy Wong Bryan
03/01/2005
Chile prides itself on having low crime and a professional and reliable uniformed police force, the carabineros. As a result, Santiago is one of the safest South American cities. “An inexperienced or unaware traveler may consider Chile to be a stereotypical Mexican-type experience; yet it is a very developed country, and their police force is not corrupt,” notes Jack Stradley, a managing director of the Crucible, a Fredricksburg, Va.-based security operations and training subsidiary of Kroll. “They’re great police officers, and they’re proud of that.” Nonetheless, it is important to exercise caution and common sense; criminals do target travelers. The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs warns that street crime, especially during the afternoon rush hour on public transportation or in other busy areas, is an ongoing problem in Santiago.
“There is a checklist of standard dos and don’ts that is the same laundry list you would use in any crowded area, whether it’s New York City or Santiago,” Stradley says. The main thing is to remain aware of your surroundings.
Pollution: Santiago sits in a valley near the center of the country, and its climate is mild yet seasonal. The winter (June and July) sees heavy, quick bouts of rain, but no snow, while the summer (December to February) is dry and hot. In the winter, the city grapples with air pollution caused by industrial and vehicular emissions that settle above the skyline, trapped in the valley. Clouds of dust from unpaved roads and hillside erosion can add to the miasma. The pollution is worse than anywhere in the United States, Stradley notes. “If it doesn’t rain or there’s no wind for a few days, it begins to collect,” he explains. “It isn’t as bad as Mexico City, but in the summer, it can become very noticeable.”Earthquakes: Perils in the air are not matched by those underfoot, despite the occasional tremor. Chile is about as prone to earthquakes as California. It sits on a fault that runs along the continent’s west coast. “The city is very well constructed and building codes are very tight, so any hotel or public building is probably safe,” says Caroline Escher, associate director of Chile Intercultural, a Santiago consulting firm that helps expatriates adapt to their new surroundings. “The damage usually takes place in adobe structures—the ones used in the last century or ones in rural areas.”
Medical Assistance: There are several local hospitals and clinics in Santiago. Those who do not speak Spanish may wish to consider Clinica Las Condes, a private hospital on the east side of the city, which has a service for patients visiting from abroad, with translators and English-speaking staff members on site and available for house calls. (56.2.210.5876; www.clinicalascondes.cl) Some insurance companies may recommend a specific facility and can deal with the paperwork and claims directly; travelers should check prior to their trip.
Political Unrest: Demonstrations often take place near government buildings during the week of September 11, in remembrance of the 1973 coup led by General Augusto Pinochet; however, these marches may also occur at other times. At last November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, riot police restrained thousands of demonstrators who protested the event and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. These demonstrations can take on an anti-American tone (due to the United States’ tacit backing of the Pinochet coup), so U.S. travelers should avoid them if possible. However, demonstrations are, for the most part, peaceful. “Occasionally there will be some civil disobedience,” Stradley notes. “If you see a demonstration, it is better to avoid it, but the average Chilean person doesn’t have animosity toward the average American citizen.”
In Case of Emergency: Emergency services personnel are accessible by dialing these three-digit phone numbers:
Ambulance: 131
Fire: 132
Police: 133
U.S. citizens may also wish to contact the U.S. Embassy in case of emergency:
Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Avenida Andres Bello 2800,
Las Condes, Santiago
APO AA 34033
56.2.232.2600
56.2.330.3321 (after hours)