Language & Chilean Currency
The official language of Chile is Spanish, and the currency is the Chilean peso. The unit of currency is the peso ($ or CLP), which exists in banknotes of $1000, $2000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 and coins of $1, $5, $10, $50, $100 and $500.

Visas
Listing of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Chile: Argentina Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, United Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Uruguay and Venezuela, among others.

Keep in mind:

Residents of countries who are members of MERCOSUR do not need a visa to enter Chile.
Residents of countries who are members of the European Union do not need a visa to enter Chile.

Individuals entering with passports from the following countries must pay the corresponding obligatory administrative fee:

-AUSTRALIA US$ 61.-
-CANADA US$ 159.-
-UNITED STATES US$ 131.-
-MEXICO US$ 23.-

These fees should be paid in cash in either Chilean pesos or US dollars in the Santiago International airport. Credit Cards and Travelers Checks are not accepted.

This fee is to be paid ONCE for the duration of the passport. Therefore, if you get a new passport the fee must be paid again.

Average Temperatures
The average temperatures during the winter are the following:

June
day : 23° F/-5° C
night : 5° F/–15° C

July
day : 25° F/-4° C
night : 10° F /–12° C

August
day : 28° F/-2° C
night : 10° F/–12° C

September
day : 32° F/0° C
night : 14° F/–10° C

Airlines that fly directly to Chile
From Argentina: Lan, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Lufthansa, Air France and Air Canada
From Peru: Lan and Taca
From Venezuela: Lan
From Colombia: Lan and Avianca
From México: Lan, Aeroméxico and Mexicana
From Spain: Iberia and Lan
From the United States: Delta, Lan and American Airlines.

Proper Ski & Snowboard Equipment
Many guests ask us if they should bring their own equipment or use the rental equipment at Portillo. We believe that it is a personal decision, but we also stand by the quality of the equipment we offer in our Rental Shop. You should feel comfortable with the wide variety of skis we have available at Portillo. Also, it is important that you check with your airline if they charge extra for transporting ski/snowboard equipment. For more information about equipment rental, please visit the following page: Equipment Rentals

Ski/Snowboard Clothing Rental
Portillo does not offer ski/snowboard clothing rental. We suggest that you buy your clothing and accessories in our store, located on the first floor, or ask your driver to stop by a specialized store in Santiago on your way up to Portillo.

Time
Chilean standard time corresponds to the time zone UTC-04:00 (Universal Time Coordinate, formerly Greenwich Mean Time). The daylight savings time (DST) stays one hour ahead (UTC-03:00) between the second Saturday of October (changes at 12 PM) and the second Saturday of March. That is, during the summer (October to March) Chile is 2 hours ahead of the US Eastern Time (New York, Miami, Washington DC). During the rest of the year (including the Portillo ski season), Chile has the same time as US Eastern DST.

Transport
You will need to arrange transportation to and from Portillo (visit Getting to Portillo). Once at the Hotel Portillo you will not need a car since everything is located in the same hotel and the skiing is ski in/ski out.

Tap Water
In Portillo you can safely drink the tap water. Portillo’s water comes directly from the Inca Lake, and is subsequently treated. If you are concerned you can also find bottled water in the mini-bar in the hotel rooms or you can request bottled water in the bar or restaurant.

Dress Code
Ski clothes in the dining room for breakfast and lunch are perfectly fine. At dinner, however, you will feel more comfortable wearing nice yet casual clothes. We politely request that guests use the following guidelines as a dress code during dinner: men should wear shirts with collars (no T-shirts); closed shoes are requested (if you chose to wear sandals, please use socks); no baseball caps or swimsuits. For those guests who really like to dress up for dinner - we encourage you to do so!

Food at Portillo
The food served at Portillo is international. Chile offers a cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish - especially shellfish - and meats. Our menu is varied and offers many choices - even a kid’s menu. During lunch and dinner we offer three different entrée choices, including a vegetarian option. There is also a static menu with a number of options to please any palate. Standards of hygiene are high, so you don’t have to worry.

Voltage
Electric voltage is 220 volts, 50 cycles (220v 50Hz). The use of appliances or electric devices designed for 110V need a transformer. If you need an adaptor please ask your maid or you can also find them in the Portillo store. We do not have transformers available. Most travel appliances like notebook computers have an auto volt (110V-240V) transformer that will adapt to Chilean electricity.

Measurement system
The decimal metric system is used throughout the country; this means that 1 meter is equal to 3.3 feet, 1.6 kilometers is equal to 1 mile, and 1 liter corresponds to 0.26 gallons. Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius; 0°C is equal to 32°F and 100°C equals 212°F.

Alcohol
The minimum legal drinking age is 18 years old in Chile.

ATMs
In Portillo you can pay all your bills with any of the following credit cards: Visa, Master Card, Diners or American Express. It is important to note that there are no ATMs at Portillo. Therefore we recommend that you withdraw money before arriving to Portillo, either in the Santiago International airport or in Santiago city. ATMs found in Chile honor Cirrus cards, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the exchange rates are very good. In case you want cash once you are already at Portillo you can exchange dollars at the cashiers desk in the lobby or you can request Chilean pesos from the cashier, who will then apply this charge to your hotel bill.

Cigarette & Cigar Smoking
There are designated smoking areas in Portillo for those guests who smoke cigarettes or cigars. Ask in reception or staff members working in the living room where these smoking areas are located.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us and we will be happy to help you.