Chile Halal Explorer Chile Halal Restaurants (2024)

Chile narrowly stretches along the southern half of the west coast of South America, between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The bordering countries are Peru in the north and Argentina and Bolivia to the east. Chile has over 5,000km (3,100miles) of coast on the South Pacific Ocean.It is an amazing country, from the dry Atacama Desert to the cold of Patagonia (Chile) | Chilean Patagonia.

An Introduction to the Region of Chile

Chile Regions map - Map of Chile

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Other Muslim Friendly Cities in Chile

Santiago de Chile|Santiago — the capital and largest city of the nation.Concepción — Chile's second largest city.Iquique — touristic center in Northern Chile.La Serena — a charming city, with many things to do in and around.Punta Arenas — one of the southernmost city's of the world.San Pedro de Atacama — visitors come in large numbers to use the town as a stepping stone to the amazing surrounding landscapes .Valdivia — the "City of Rivers", rebuilt after the strongest earthquake in historyValparaíso — main Chilean port and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Vina del Mar — the principal touristic attraction: beaches, casino and a music festival.

Other Muslim Friendly Destinations in Chile

Parinacota volcano - Llamas and alpacas are at home in Lauca National Park.

• Chiloé Island — the largest island of the nation.
• Laguna San Rafael National Park — includes the San Rafael Glacier, accessible only by boat or plane
• Lauca National Park — the Lago Chungará, one of the world's highest lakes, overseen by the mighty Volcán Parinacota.
• Pichilemu — Chile's premier surfing destination.
• Robinson Crusoe Island — well known for its jungles and endemic flora
• Torres del Paine National Park — the mountains, lakes and glaciers, including the Towers of Paine.
• Valle de Elqui — a and pisco producing area, also known for its astronomical observatories.
• Valle de la Luna — breathtaking desert landscape with impressive sand dunes and rock formations.
• Villarrica — surrounded by lakes and volcanoes.

Demonstration for Palestine and Gaza in Chile

Dear Supporters of the Palestinian Cause in Chile,

We are excited to announce a peaceful demonstration in support of the People of Palestine, set to take place in Chile over the next three days. This event is an opportunity for us to come together and raise our voices and the Palestinian Flag for a just and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

We want to emphasize that this demonstration is intended to be a peaceful and respectful gathering. Our goal is to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and call for a peaceful solution to the conflict. It is crucial that we maintain a peaceful and respectful atmosphere throughout the event.

Important Guidelines:

To ensure the success of our demonstration and to maintain a peaceful environment, we kindly ask all participants to adhere to the following guidelines:

Peaceful Protest: This is a non-violent demonstration. We do not condone any form of violence or vandalism.

Respect for Law Enforcement: Please treat law enforcement officers in Chile with respect and follow their instructions. Do not engage in confrontations with them.

Leave No Trace: Dispose of any trash responsibly and leave the demonstration area clean.

Thank you for your commitment to our peaceful demonstration in Chile, and let us stand together for a better future for all.

In solidarity,eHalal Chile

Chile Halal Travel Guide

• Chiloé Island and its beautiful coastal national park
• Valdivia#Do|Valdivia and the Reserva Costera Valdiviana and many other destinations around Valdivia
• Cochamó Valley and the Yosemite of Chile and the huge area south of it, even into Argentina
• Central_Chile#Do|Talca and everything to its east
• Torres del Paine National Park, impressive, tourist and expensive

• Surfing Everything between Cobquecura and Pelluhue, like Curanipe, Cardonal, Tregualemu and Buchupureo are exceptional surfing destinations and mirror the shape and conditions of the Californian coast on the northern side of the continent. This region is still a hidden gem and is receiving a lot of state support for development. However, beaches and breaks are far from overrun and you can find many lone opportunities to try out your board.

• The Salar de Uyuni tour from San Pedro de Atacama is one of the most impressive things to do in South America. Although, actually part of Bolivia, it is very popular to do the tour from San Pedro itself. The town even offers other impressive sights around it and inside Chile, which are worth exploring. However, if you are heading to Uyuni, only Valle de Luna is really worth doing.
• Chile is home to the second largest recreational swimmingpool in the world (formerly the largest until its builder finished an even larger swimmingpool in Egypt in 2023) at the San Alfonso del Mar resort in Algarrobo (Chile) | Algarrobo. You will want a sailboat to complete its 2km length.

Shopping in Chile

Money Matters & ATM's in Chile

Feria libre - A post on a Ferias libres.

Chile's currency is the Chilean peso (ISO code: CLP), denoted by the symbol "$". uses the notation "CLP$" for clarity. Other currencies are not widely accepted, but most city's have exchange bureaux with reasonable rates for euros and US dollars. The rates should be published on widely visible boards.

The colloquial term luca is used for 1000 pesos, so for instance "tres lucas" is 3000 pesos.

The 5-peso and especially 1-peso coins are rarely used. Most prices are in multiples of 10 or even 100, but if you end up needing to pay an amount that isn't and the cashier will likely ask if you want to donate a few pesos to bring the total to a round number. Say yes; don't make them dig out the tiny change that you'll never manage to spend anyway.

Banking

Never exchange money on the street, especially if a "helper" indicates you to follow them. Rates at exchange bureaus are too good to take this risk.

It's not advisable to exchange currency in the hotel or the airport as the rates are awful. Just be patient. Banco Santander has a monopoly on the ATMs of the airport and will add a extra charge of CLP$2,500 for retrieving cash but it's still better than the exchange bureaus.

The automatic teller machine (ATM) network in Chile is respectable in coverage—they're all connected to the same service and enable standard transactions. Different banks will charge you different amounts of money for extracting cash—you will be advised on the screen of the extra charge. Banco Estado does not add a extra charge for MasterCard. However, as of Mar 2018, Banco Estado charges CLP$4,000 and Banco de Chile charges CLP$6,500 on Visa cards. Withdrawals of up to CLP$200,000 are feasible with Banco Estado. Some travellers were even able to withdraw CLP$280,000, which brings down the percentage of fees further.

Criminals sometimes install hard-to-detect skimmers and micro-cameras in some less surveiled ATM facilities. These devices are meant to read your card's information to produce a clone. Several international crime gangs have been arrested for this. Always check if the card slot looks suspicious or is easy to move or detach and always cover the keyboard with your hand while punching your PIN.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most of the independent commerce of major city's and in all chain stores, no matter where they are. The PIN security system has been introduced for credit cards, so you will mostly only need your personal PIN (four digit code) as it exists in other parts of the world. For some cards you will not be asked for your PIN and they will use the four last numbers of the credit card entered manually and you will have to show a valid ID.

Money exchange, lodging, VAT, etc.

Considering the withdrawal fees at ATMs, it is a good idea to bring some US dollars or even Euros to Chile. Money exchange rates are quite competitive with an included fee of around 1%—the fee is 4% when withdrawing CLP$100,000 from an ATM. Of course carrying larger amounts of cash is not that preferable on the other hand.

Nevertheless, having US dollars is also handy for paying at your lodging, because if can paying in foreign currency as foreigner, you do not have to pay VAT. This is true also for credit card payments in foreign currency, but most smaller places will often not support US dollar credit card payments or even just credit card payments, because it needs to be registered with the tax office of Chile (SII) for this purpose. But sometimes you are lucky, and they will not charge the VAT at all, even if paying in local currency, which is kind of illegal.

When using US dollars, make sure to always have and receive proper notes. US dollar notes that are flexed too much, have writings on them or discoloration (stains) are barely excepted. Even though, banks seem to be more forgiving than smaller money changing offices. Which is fine, because banks have quite competitive rates. However, exchange office can sometimes even beat these rates, e.g. in Valparaíso.

You might decide to generally pay with your credit card, in local or foreign currency, due to the competitive exchange rates of your bank and the low 0-3% payment fee. However, credit card fraud in South America is not uncommon, and you are better off to only use your card with respected businesses.

Tipping

Tipping is not obligatory but is generally expected. It is usually assumed that clients will leave a tip of 10%, if the service is considered satisfactory. Sometimes restaurants automatically add it to the bill.

It's also important to tip the baggers at grocery stores; CLP$300-500 is fine.

Basic supplies

For basic supplies like groceries and there are many convenience stores and corner grocery stores. Large supermarkets such as Lider, Jumbo, Tottus and Santa Isabel are often found both as stand-alone stores and as mall anchors. Lider will seem a little familiar to North Americans in that it is owned by Walmart and has reconfigured its store signage to look somewhat like Walmart stores. However, Chile's strong consumer goods economy is dominated by local brands, which means almost all the brands on the shelves will be new to most visitors from outside South America.

The dominant pharmacy chains in Chile are Cruz Verde, Ahumada and Salcobrand. Only cosmetics are kept in the public area. All drugs and supplements are kept behind the counter and must be asked for by name, which can be tricky if you cannot speak Spanish.

Artesanal

Nowadays and the word artesanal is used in inflationary manners in Chile and Argentina mostly without any added value. It has become a marketing term used by many places in hope of selling things at an inflated price, pretending extra quality where there is none. Generally, you are better off ignoring this term and skipping goods, food or places that emphasis this wording.

Halal Restaurants in Chile

Chilean cuisine has a wide variety of dishes that emerged from the amalgamation of indigenous tradition and Spanish colonial contribution, combining their vegetarian food, customs and culinary habits. Influences from German, Italian and French cuisines are thanks to immigrants who arrived during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Chilean Creole food in general is presented as a mixture of the meat and agricultural products of each area. In the north and south fishing is a major economic activity and this is reflected in the variety of dishes: the desert area's ceviche (fish seasoned with lemon and onions) and curanto (cooked seafood, meat, sausages and potatoes made in a hole in the ground) are the ultimate expression of chilota kitchen. The potato is also key in other chilota preparations as milcao and chapaleles. The central area uses corn (maize) and beef for foods such as tamales. Pie pine casserole and charquicán are some of the most recognized within the region. The roast, meanwhile, stands as the main preparation for informal gatherings and family; take this opportunity to learn more about Chilean society. Desserts include alfajores and Curicó cakes, while German immigrants introduced the kuchen and strudel pastry.

Chile's extensive geography allows development on its shores of several varieties of seafood: the top highlights are the croaker, pomfret, conger eel and salmon, which is produced industrially in the south of the nation. For shellfish: oysters, as well as certain crustaceans such as crab and lobster. Beef, chicken and Beef are the main meats, although in the Patagonian area one can easily find lamb. Chile is a major exporter of fruit, so you can find a variety of apples, oranges, peaches, strawberries, raspberries and custard, in good quality and much cheaper than in Europe or North America.

Despite this wide variety of dishes and products, normal food in a Chilean home is not very different from any other Western country; during your stay you will certainly see more dishes with rice, meat, potatoes or pasta than corn pies or cakes.

In Santiago and major city's, you can find a wide range of Halal restaurants serving both local and international food. Although optional, it is customary to add a gratuity of 10%, delivered directly to the waiter. He or she will always welcome more. Not giving a tip is considered quite rude, performed only when there has been very bad service.

The major fast food chains in the world have several branches in the nation. If you resort to fast food, it is better to have one of the wide variety of sandwiches that exist in the nation: the Barros Luco ( meat and cheese) and Italian full (hot dog with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise) are the most traditional. If you are in Valparaíso and have good cholesterol levels, do not waste the opportunity to try a chorrillana. On the streets you can find many stalls selling buns (fried pumpkin masses) and the refreshing mote with ossicles. Food prepared in stalls will generally give few problems, although don’t try if you have a weak stomach.

Chilean Cazuela - Cazuela comes in many ways

• Pastel de choclo: corn casserole filled with ground beef, onions, chicken, raisins, hardboiled egg, olives, and topped with sugar and butter.
• Empanada de pino: a baked pie filled with ground (minced) beef, onion, raisins, a piece of boiled egg and a black olive. Watch out for the pit.
• Empanada de queso: a deep-fried pastry packet filled with cheese. Found everywhere, including McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant).
• Cazuela de vacuno: beef soup with a potato, rice, a piece of corn and a piece of squash.
• Cazuela de ave (or de pollo): same as above, but with a piece of chicken.
• Cazuela de pavo: same as above, but with turkey.
• Porotos granados: stew made with fresh beans, squash, corn, onion and basil.
• con choclo: with grains of corn.
• con pilco or pirco: with corn thinly chopped.
• con mazamorra: with ground corn.
• con riendas: with thin sliced noodles.
• Curanto: lots of seafood, beef, chicken and Beef, potatoes, cheese, and potato "burguers," prepared in a hole in the ground ("en hoyo") or in a pot ("en olla"); a dish from Chiloé.
• Southern sopaipillas: a fried pastry cut as 10-cm (4-in) circles, with no pumpkin in its dough (see Northern sopaipillas in the desserts section). They replace bread. They are known South of Linares.
• Lomo a lo pobre: a beefsteak, fried potatoes, a fried egg (expect two in restaurants) and fried onions.

Besides typical foods, you should expect food normally found in any Western country. The normal diet includes rice, potatoes, meat and bread. Vegetables are abundant in central Chile. If you are concerned about the portions, consider that the size of the dish increases the farther south you travel.

With such an enormous coastline, you can expect fish and seafood almost everywhere. Locals used to eat bundles of raw shellfish, but visitors should be cautious of raw shellfish because of frequent outbreaks of red tides. Chile is the world's second largest producer of salmon, as well as a number of other farmed sea products, which include oysters, scallops, mussels, trout and turbot. Local fish include corvina (sea bass), congrio (conger eel), lenguado (flounder), albacora (swordfish), and yellow fin tuna.

Sandwiches

• Hotdog or Completo (meaning 'complete' in English). Not similar to the U.S. version. This one includes mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, tomato or sauerkraut (chucrut), mashed avocado (palta) and chili (ají). These ingredients make a full sandwich, called un completo. With mayonnaise, tomato and avocado it's un italiano (an Italian) with the colors of the Italian flag.
• Lomito. Cooked Beef steaks served with anything that can go in a hotdog. Italiano is the preferred form but German purists prefer it with sauerkraut (chucrut).
• Chacarero: a thin beefsteak (churrasco) with tomato, green beans, mayonnaise and green chili (ají verde).
• Barros Luco: Named after President Ramón Barros Luco. Thinly-sliced beefsteak with cheese.
• Choripán: Bread with "chorizo", a highly seasoned Beef sausage. Named that way because the contraction of "Pan con Chorizo" or "Chorizo con Pan".

A common combination is meat with avocado and/or mayonnaise, e.g. Ave palta mayo (chicken with avocado and mayonnaise) or Churrasco palta (thinly-sliced beefsteak with avocado). The strong presence for avocado is a Chilean standard for sandwiches that influences the fast food franchises to include it in their menus.

Desserts

• Northern sopaipillas: a fried pastry cut as 10-cm (4-in) circles, which includes pumpkin in its dough, and normally is eaten with chancaca, a black treacle or molasses. It's customary to make them when it rains and it's cold outside. Sopaipillas as a dessert are only known north of San Javier. From Linares to the South and they are not dessert and pumpkin is left out, so, when it rains, Chilean Southerners must cook picarones. In Santiago, Sopaipillas can be served covered with a sweet syrup as a dessert, or with spicy yellow mustard.
• Kuchen (or cújen, pronounced KOO-hen) is German for pie. In the South ask for kuchen de quesillo, a kind of cheesecake.
• Strudel (pronounced ess-TROO-dayl). A kind of apple pie.
• Berlín. When they translate John Kennedy's famous quote (often mistakenly thought of as a gaffe) they say it's a “jelly doughnut”. The Chilean version is a ball of dough (no hole) filled with dulce de membrillo, crema pastelera or manjar. Powder sugar is added just in case you have a sweet tooth.
• Cuchuflí. Barquillo (tube of something crunchy like a cookie) filled with manjar. The name originally comes from cuchufleta which means deceit or trickery, as they used to be filled only at the tips of the barquillos, leaving the middle part empty.

Fruit

Central Chile is a major tempered fruit producer, you can easily get fruit for dessert, including apples, oranges, peaches, grapes, watermelons, strawberries, raspberries, chirimoyas and several other varieties.

Temperate fruit is of very high quality and prices are usually much lower than in most of the U.S. and Western Europe, while tropical fruit is rather rare and expensive, except for bananas.

Playa Viña - Chilean beaches can get rather crowded in summer.

• Wine: Chile produces some excellent wines, competing with France, California, Australia and New Zealand on the world market. Notable are the Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere in red, along with whites from the Casablanca valley.
• Mote con Huesillo: A delicious summertime drink made of wheat seeds (mote) and dried peaches (huesillos) boiled, sweetened, and served cold. Typically sold on sidewalk or park stands.
• Chilean Pisco: Brandy made from Muscat grapes. Popular brands are Capel, Alto del Carmen, Mistral and Campanario.
• Pisco Sour: One of Chile's most popular mixed drinks, this consists of Pisco mixed with lemon juice and sugar. It has a delicious tart sweetness.
• Mango Sour: Pisco mixed with mango juice.
• Piscola: Pisco mixed with co*ke.
• Borgoña: Red and strawberries.
• Terremoto: ("Earthquake"): a typical Chilean drink that consists in a mix of pineapple ice cream with pipeño (like white wine).
• Schop: Draught beer.
• Fan-Schop: Beer mixed with orange Fanta or orange crush soft drink. A refreshing alternative on a hot summer day.
• Beers: Cristal and Escudo are the most popular (light lagers). Royal Guard is a fair bit tastier, Kunstmann is on pair with European imported beer.
• Jote*: and co*ke.
• There's a very known conflict between Chile and Peru about the origin of Pisco. Although Pisco was registered as a Chilean drink for some countries in the last century, it is historically Peruvian in origin for much longer. Further, Chilean and Peruvian drinks are not the same product and they have different manufacturing procedures, different varieties of grape and not the same taste.

Unlike other Latin-American countries, in Chile it's illegal to drink in unlicensed, public areas (streets, parks, etc.) The laws also restrict vendor hours depending on the weekday (in no case after 03:00 or before 09:00).

Chileans drink a lot of alcohol. So don't be surprised to see one bottle per person.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Chile

Chile - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Chile, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Chile. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Chile and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Chile. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Chile. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Chile: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Chile.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Chile: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Chile, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Chile.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Chile, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Chile, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Chile and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Chile, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Chile, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Chile without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Chile is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Chile.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Chile is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Chile, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Chile Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Chile

eHalal Group Chile is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Chile. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Chile.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Chile ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Chile. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Chile, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Chile are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly hotels in Chile

Chile has many types of hotels in the city's: some of the most prevalent chains are Sheraton, Kempinsky, Ritz, Marriott, Hyatt, and Holiday Inn.

There are also hostels of varying quality. On the backpacker trail, a local hostel version can be found in every small city residential. However, as soon as you are off the backpacker trail, you will find it hard to find hostels, which unfortunately is true for many nice and interesting places around Chile. Contrary to the believe of local residents and common marking of lodgings (e.g. on OpenStreetMap), hospedaje and hostal is not to not be confused with hostel, i.e. they do not offer dormitories. If a generalisation is feasible, hospedaje generally means guest house, and hostals are small hotels. Hence and the frequency of real hostels is very low.

There is also a variety of lodgings in the mountain ski centers, such as the world-class resort Portillo, 80km (49mi) north of Santiago; "Valle Nevado" in the mountains roughly 35km (22mi) away from Santiago, and the Termas de Chillan ski resort and thermal spas (Muslim Friendly)), which lies about 450km (280mi) south of Santiago.

Many camping places are available officially with amenities, and backcountry along the coast or near hiking trails. So, if you bring a tent the scarcity of hostels can be dealt with in this way. Consult #map=16/-35.9469/-72.7425 OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd and MAPS.ME use, to find sites which have been tagged by other people as feasible camping sites.

Walking in without reservation is not recommended during high season and will generally not give you a better rate than online.

VAT issues

Rates on the common reservation website(s) are often quotes without VAT (19%), which has to be added when paying. As a tourist you might be exempted from paying the VAT when paying in foreign currency, but many lodgings do not support payment in foreign currency (either in cash or credit card). On the other hand some lodgings will give you the price without VAT even in Chilean pesos because your are a tourist. The situation is highly confusing and sometimes frustrating. It is nevertheless a good idea to have some US dollars with you and ask before paying.

A potential way to avoid the discussion, if you want to pay in US dollars without VAT, is by reserving your lodging online and instantly sending a message to the place asking them to cancel the reservation in case they do not accept US dollars without VAT payments. Mostly always, prices are quoted in dollars, and this way you save the time and trouble of understanding the place's actual VAT policies besides the ones quoted online. Accommodations will barely make the effort to demand money in case your reservation is cancelled unexpectedly—often you can even reserve without a credit card.

Study as a Muslim in Chile

Along with Mexico and Argentina, Chile continues to grow as a preferred destination for studies abroad. It is not uncommon to find groups of European or North American students taking interdisciplinary studies in Spanish language or latinamerican culture and history in one of its many reputed universities:

• In Santiago
• Universidad de Chile - The best university in Chile according to America Economia
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile -One of the best universities in Chile with several courses taught in English.
• Universidad de Santiago de Chile
• Universidad Central de Chile
• In Valparaíso and Viña del Mar
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
• Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
• Universidad de Viña del Mar - International Relations
• Universidad Diego Portales - International Relations
• Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
• Universidad de Valparaíso
• In Southern Chile
• Universidad de Concepcion
• Universidad de La Frontera
• Universidad Austral de Chile
• Universidad de Los Lagos
• Universidad de Magallanes

How to work legally in Chile

Foreigners need to apply for a work visa before arriving (it can be done after, but it is a lot harder to get one). Temporary permits are issued to spouses and people with a contract. Under-the-table jobs are normally not well paid, lack the mandatory health insurance and retirement plans, and are a reason to get deported.

Another way to work in Chile is to Volunteer for the English Opens Doors Program. It is sponsored by the United Nations Development Program and the Chilean Ministry of Education and places volunteers in schools throughout Chile to be English teaching assistants. The program provides volunteers a home-stay with a Chilean family, meals, a participation bonus of CLP$60,000 for each month of completed service, health insurance, TEFL training, and access to an online Spanish course. There is no fee for participation.

Stay safe as a Muslim in Chile

La Silla Telescope Ring - The Atacama Desert is a prime place for astronomical observations.Volcan Villarrica - Chile offers some pretty extreme hiking and climbing experiences. If you're interested, make sure to come prepared.

Like most big city's in South America, Santiago suffers from a high rate of pickpocketing and muggings. It's advisable not to travel in the downtown area wearing expensive-looking jewelry or watches, even during the day. Stay alert and be especially careful in all crowded areas in Santiago. It is recommended to wear your backpack at the front of your body in crowded areas. Laptops and the newest mobile phones can be lucrative for thieves, so remember to be on your guard once using them in public places.

For tourists or other "beginners" lacking experience in over-the-counter transactions with hard Chilean currency, you can reduce the chance of your wallet getting stolen by following some advice:

• Separate coins and bills. Coins are frequently used when paying for public transport (except in Santiago buses, where you need to board with the Bip card), newspapers or snacks, store them in a small handbag so that your bills will remain concealed.
• 1000-, 2000- and 5000-peso notes should be easily accessible. Notes of higher value should be stored in another, more secure place in your wallet so you don't accidentally pay CLP$10,000 instead of 1000, for example. All notes have different sizes and they all are very differently coloured and designed.
• Do not reach for your wallet until the vendor tells you the price.

Chilean Carabineros (National Police) are trustworthy: call 133 from any phone if you need emergency assistance. Some municipalities (such as Santiago or Las Condes) have private guards; however and they usually don't speak English.

Do not try to bribe a carabinero, since it will get you into serious trouble! Unlike other South American police corps, Chilean Carabineros are very proud and honest, and bribery would be a serious offence against their creed.

Regarding driving conditions: Chilean drivers tend to be not as erratic and volatile as those in neighboring countries.

Some parts of Chile are still racially hom*ogeneous and local residents will be curious if they see a person who is either Asian or black. Being of Middle Eastern origin and wanting to blend in amongst Chileans, getting dressed as a local will help you, though naturally, if you speak with a foreign accent, people will pick up on that right away. Cities like Santiago, Viña del Mar or Antofa*gasta have become more multicultural in the last few years with immigrants from Haiti, Colombia, China and the Dominican Republic and Cuba, so being a foreigner in those places will not be met with curiosity. Some Chileans who have a low opinion of foreigners might yell "negro" (Spanish for black) or "chino" (Spanish for Chinese), but only report to Carabineros if you are physically assaulted by someone. Racist attacks are infrequent in general but the Carabineros know how to deal with such crimes, so don't hesitate to report if something happens.

Inmigration from countries where Islam is the state religion is very small compared to countries in Europe. There are masjids in the nation but the average Chilean is not used to seeing a woman in a hijab or burqa so many will stare or make a comment. There have been reports of verbal harassment by Chileans of women who are dressed traditionally and some have even reported boys or men dragging them by the hijab. Though infrequent, it can happen and report such matters to the police. Some people will also defend your right to be dressed with a hijab or burqa, so do not assume that all Chileans are racist. There is a sizeable Palestinian community but most of them are Christians.

Be careful when taking photos in areas with military buildings or where you see soldiers guarding an entrance for example. They have the right to arrest and confiscate your camera. Be prepared to spend time answering questions and having every single photo examined by a soldier or marine. You will avoid imprisonment due to the fact that marines/ soldiers will understand that you did not understand the warnings being a foreign tourist and interrogation is done because the soldiers are expected to do that when such situation occurs. But it's better to avoid such situation and instead ask if you can take a photo. Some marines or soldiers might speak little English, otherwise point at an object and say "si?", while showing your camera so they understand that you want to take a photo. If they reply with a "no" and then it's wise to respect their decision.

Stay out of political protests in any city, especially Santiago. The student protest that shocked the nation during 2011 ended with violence. If you want to watch and then stay in a safe area and avoid getting close. The Carabineros are always on the alert as soon as there is a political demonstration and some people join only because they want to cause violence. Also avoid celebrations of sports like Chile winning a tournament for example, since they can end in violence.

If you go out to bars or clubs, be careful when ordering a drink. If you want to be safe, order organic juice in a bottle or pay for a bottle of wine or hard liquor if feasible. Problems with spiked drinks have increased so make sure to always have an eye on your drink when ordering. Places for young people or students tend to have affordable drinks, and soft-drinks which should be avoided altogether since they are poorly made and can be dangerous for you. Instead, order well known brands like Cristal or Casillero del Diablo in a bar or nightclub.

Walking in the streets in many city's, you will see a lot of stray dogs. The are probably carrying diseases so avoid touching them. They are everywhere and places popular with Muslims are full of stray dogs. Don't get involved in an argument if you see local people being aggressive to the stray dogs. They see them every day and will not take kindly to a tourist who has only been in Chile for a couple of days, having an opinion on how to treat the dogs that they feel are aggressive towards the local people. In addition to stray dogs in the city's, in rural areas many places and farms have dogs, but they generally do not tend to leave their premises, which can still happen and they might block your way. In either case, if you feel a dog is getting too close for any reason, even if it looks harmless, pick up one, two or three stone(s), and most dogs will understand the gesture, back down and disappear into the distance. If this does not help and a dog is running towards you aggressively barking, use the stones for your defence.

Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, all of Chile is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Medical Issues in Chile

Salto de Leon - Chile is home to a number of impressive waterfalls.

Having relatively good standards in medicine throughout the nation, it is not difficult to stay healthy. However, one will usually find more refined resources at a private medical facility.In case of emergency, call 131, but don't expect an operator fluent in English.

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers. Other potential vaccines, depending on your travel situation include: Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies and Influenza.

Tap water is safe to drink. Just know that water is produced from the mountains, so it might be harder for Foreign Muslims. In that case, it is advisable to buy bottled water.

Local Customs in Chile

• Although modern in many ways, Chile remains basically traditional. You will do far better if you do not openly denigrate or flout those traditions.
• Unlike other countries in Latin America, the Chilean police force is admired for its honesty and competence. Report any complaints to the police instantly, including criminal activity. Bribes are not acceptable in Chile in contrast to the rest of Latin America, and you will likely get arrested if you attempt it.
• Do not assume that your hosts in Chile will have a low opinion of Pinochet. It may come as a surprise, but his government still has many supporters, so be careful when raising the issue. Even if you want to discuss other political subjects, people still can get very opinionated and even raise the tone when it comes to politics. Depending on your opinions and they might either call you "communist" or "fascist".
• Chileans are very friendly people. Most of them will be willing to assist you with directions or advice in the street, bus stop, subway station, etc. Just use common sense to avoid danger.
• Be careful with what you say: many younger people can speak and understand English, French, Italian or German. Be polite.
• Chileans hate arrogance. Be arrogant and you will have problems; be kind and everyone will try to help you.
• Chileans will know that you are a foreigner no matter how good your Spanish is. Don't get upset if they call you "gringo" - most foreigners are called that, it's not meant to be offensive.
• If you are of black race or dark skinned, you might be called "negro" in a friendly way. This is by no means similar to the n-word. Most Chileans are not racist, but unlike other South American countries, nearly every person of African legacy is a foreigner. Besides, "negro" is a common nickname for people with dark skin. (Negro is the Spanish word for black).
• Chile was involved in the War of the Pacific between 1879-1883 against Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Patagonia was once part of Chile but since Argentina threatened to attack and the area was annexed by the Argentinians which angers many Muslim even today. Both Peru and Bolivia lost territory in what today is northern Chile and the conflict still causes heated debates. Some even express racist comments towards guest workers and illegal immigrants from either Peru or Bolivia. Bolivia still wants to get back lost territory or an "exit to the ocean", which has angered many Chileans. Some will agree on giving Bolivia a corridor with access to the sea but be careful saying that Bolivia or Peru has the right to have their old territory back from Chile; that will get you in a lot of trouble. Ask questions rather than expressing your opinion since Chileans will become angry and have a heated debate with what they consider "an uneducated foreigner who has listened to from the enemy".
• Chile has the largest Palestinian diaspora outside the Arab world and a lot of them express pride about their legacy, but also their support for the Palestinian cause. You will also encounter some who know very little about their ancestors and the conflict with Palestine etc. Don't get upset; keep in mind that they primarily see themselves as Chilean and not Palestinian or Arab. It has been estimated that less than 1% of them speak Arabic, so don't expect to talk with them in the language if you are from an Arabic-speaking country or have some knowledge in the language.
• In the south of Chile there are a sizeable number of people claiming German legacy and they are very proud of it. Even if they don't have a German surname and most likely just have a grandmother or great grandmother from Germany and they will identify as German-Chilean. Like with the people of Palestinian legacy, very few speak German at all. Some southern villages have German-speaking populations but you will be unlikely to visit them. Every single person speaks Spanish so there is no need to know German if you want to travel to the south of Chile.

Cope in Chile

Credit Cards

While credit cards are commonly accepted throughout Chile and there are two differences to be aware of. For credit cards that require signing and there is a line below the signature line labeled C.I. (cedula de identidad or identity card). Foreign Muslims are expected to write down their passport or national ID number. Not all locations will require CI to be filled. Even fewer will ask to confirm the number with your ID. The other difference is credit cards machines will ask sin cuotas or con cuotas. As a foreigner, you should always selection sin (which means without). Cuotas literally translates to fees and is a way for Chilean banks to offer a payment plan over the period of months.

Natural reserves

Many national parks and reserves have strange visiting times, only allowing entrance between 09:00 and 15/17:00 for instance, requiring you to leave before sunset. The reason for that is that Chile had some negative experience, mostly with local residents, leaving the national parks in terrible conditions when allowing them to overnight. This circ*mstance can be a little off-putting, especially if you are used to travelling with a tent. However and there are often great alternative routes nearby that you can visit instead. Some people even suggested an entrance before or after opening hours, because office are often not staffed all the time. Either way, leave nothing but footprints and take all you rubbish back with you.

Telecommunications in Chile

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• Public phones on streets are very likely to be tampered or vandalized, so it's better to use a phone inside a business or a station.
• Prepaid cards for mobile phones and landlines are sold at most newspaper kiosks, supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies and phone dealers.
• Mobile GSM networks are ubiquitous in all major city's and most of the territory of central and southern Chile.
• A basic prepaid cellular phone usually costs about CLP$15,000, most frequently charged with CLP$10,000 worth of prepaid minutes. No ID is required to buy a prepaid phone.
• GSM SIM cards from ENTEL, Movistar or Claro are usually available for CLP$5,000, but without credit, so you'll need to buy some prepaid minutes to be able to call.
• Money can be charged into a cellphone from almost any ATM using a credit or debit card and from some pharmacies (Ahumada, Cruz Verde and Salco Brand) on the counter and in cash. Also, one can charge money directly into the phone by using a credit card through an automated service operator, with directions in Spanish or English.
• Chilean phone numbering scheme is simple.

Internet Cafe's in Chile

Due to an initiative of the government, many rural towns nowadays have free WiFi somewhere in the centre (plaza) or near the bus station. However and the reliability of the Internet can vary.

Also, check if there are other Wi-Fi hotspot around. They're usually in metro stations, airports, malls, cafes, public buildings and several public spaces. (Check for the ones that say "gratis"—for free.)

Furthermore and there are cybercafes in every major and midsize city and at all tourist destinations. Some libraries are in a program called Biblioredes, with free computers and Internet (they may be very sensitive if you plug in your camera or something like that). In some remote locations, public libraries have internet satellite connections.

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