Ask Pepe » Pepe's Chile

How much do you tip a waiter in Chile?

If you go to any restaurant in Chile, you’ll need to answer the question: “how much should I tip the waiter?” Regardless of the standard in your home country, the accepted norm for waiter tips in Chile is 10%. In fact, the bill you get will often suggest the tip or propina of 10%. The [...]

Posted November 2, 2011 in Ask Pepe, Travel Tips | 4 Comments »

Why Chile is Home to the World’s Largest Telescopes

The deserts and clear skies of northern Chile offer a nearly perfect environment for year-round star gazing. The Atacama desert and the dry northern regions of Chile average over 320 clear nights every year. Additionally, the area has extremely low humidity, allowing telescopes to see clearly though the atmosphere. In fact, the European Southern Observatory [...]

Posted July 14, 2010 in Ask Pepe, Destinations | Add Your Comment »

How bad is the smog in Santiago?

Chile’s capital city, Santiago, is well known for smog. Why is Santiago so plagued by smog? It is Chile’s largest city with the accompanying industry and transportation-related air pollution. This pollution is made worse by the inversion created since Santiago sits in a valley between the Andes and the coastal mountain range. Picture by Armando [...]

Posted June 9, 2010 in Ask Pepe, Destinations | 1 Comment »

What money can I use in Chile?

The official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso. You can use Chilean pesos to pay for purchases anywhere in the country. While you can on occasion pay with other major currencies, it is best to be prepared with Pesos in your pocket. Chilean Pesos Where can you get Chilean pesos? Exchange your currency for [...]

Posted June 2, 2010 in Ask Pepe, Culture, Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

What Shots and Vaccinations Do I Need to Travel to Chile?

On your next trip to Chile, you may be concerned about what vaccinations or shots you’ll need to travel to Chile. Are Vaccines Required? Chilean customs or immigration processing won’t ask for or check that you have any kind of vaccination record. So no, you aren’t required to get any vaccinations to enter the country. [...]

Posted May 26, 2010 in Ask Pepe, Travel Tips | 2 Comments »