Chile Orphanage Volunteers

Country Information

The long, thin expanse of land that occupies a significant proportion of South America’s western coast belongs to Chile. With over 2,700 miles of pacific coastline, Chile encapsulates a magnificent variety of geographical features, with rugged glacial features in the Patagonian South, and the world’s driest desert (Atacama) to the north.

The Andes mountain range form Chile’s eastern border with Bolivia and Argentina, and in addition to providing a stunning backdrop, offer fantastic opportunities for outdoor activities.

Having developed significantly over the past 20 years, Chile is one of South America’s most stable economies. It is also considered to be one of the safest countries in Latin America and is rapidly modernising with a growing tourist industry, Chile remains essentially South American, with all the traditional cultural flavours you would expect.

Time
The time in Chile is four hours behind GMT (three hours behind GMT from second Sunday in October to second Saturday in March due to daylight saving).

Getting There

You will need to arrange flights to Santiago's Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport. The airport is approximately 17km northwest of the city. You will be met at the airport by one of our representatives, and taken to your accommodation.

Climate

Chile has several distinct climate regions. Northern areas are very hot and dry, the very south is stormy and cold. The Chilean heartland (where Santiago is located) has a Mediterranean climate with temperatures averaging 80° in January and dropping to an average of 50° in July. Evenings and nights can be cold and you will need some warm clothes even during summer. Rainy season in the Santiago area is May to August. The weather is generally at its nicest from October to April.