Chile

OUTLOOK ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION IN CHILE

Chile has been politically stable and safe in the last three decades, despite significant social inequalities. As of March 11, 2022, a new government has taken office under President Gabriel Boric.

Currently, a group of 155 elected constituents  are drafting a new Political Constitution (Magna Carta), which will be voted in a plebiscite for its approval or rejection on or about the last quarter of 2022.  Due to eventual coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the exact date in which the plebiscite for the new Political Constitution is going to take place, is still under discussion.

We foresee no problems for participants attending the conference. Traveling to Chile, Puerto Varas or other locations within the country will not present any difficulties as long a Chilean regulations regarding the COVID19 pandemic are followed. Should the situation change for some reason and give rise to concerns, we will certainly provide all the necessary information immediately. For the moment, there are no safety issues in or near Puerto Varas, nor in Santiago, and we expect this will remain so in the months to come.

General

Chile is located in South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes mountain range to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north and Ice Fields (glaciers) to the south. Chile also shares borders with Argentina, Peru and Bolivia.

Chile has a population of approximately 17.5 million, divided into a diverse mix of ethnic groups:

White and non-indigenous 88.9%
Mapuche 9.1%,
Aymara 0.7%,
Other indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)

Chile has historically been a country of emigration but has slowly become more attractive to immigrants since transitioning to democracy in 1990 and improving its economic stability (other regional destinations have concurrently experienced deteriorating economic and political conditions). Most of Chile's small but growing foreign-born population consists of a mix of other Latin American countries, especially Peru, and most recently from Colombia, Bolivia, Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Spanish is the country’s official language, 99.2%. About 10% of the population speaks English and 1% speaks indigenous languages, such as: Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui.

Roman Catholic is Chile’s predominant religion, with 66.7% of the population. 16.4% claims to be Evangelical or Protestant, 1% Jehovah’s Witness, other 3.4% and 11.5% of the population does not profess a religion.

Chile’s urban population is 89.5% of the total, Santiago, its capital, being the largest, with about 6.5 million of the population, followed by the port city of Valparaíso, 907,000 and the southern capital of Concepción, 816,000.

Geography

Chile is the longest north-south trending country in the world, extending across 38 degrees of latitude. It has a strategic location relative to sea lanes between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage). The country boasts the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world, spreading across the northern part of the country, and also the crater lake of Ojos del Salado, the world's highest lake at 6,390 m.

Area:

Total: 756,102 km² (291,933 sq mi)
Land: 743,812 km² (287,187 sq mi)
Water: 12,290 km2 (4,745 sq mi)
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua), Robinson Crusoe Island (Isla Juan Fernández) and Isla Sala y Gómez

Climate: Temperate in general, Desert in the North; Mediterranean in the Central Region; Cool and damp in the South

Puerto Varas, also known as "La ciudad de las rosas" or “the city of roses”, is a city located in the southern Chilean province of Llanquihue, in the Los Lagos Region or Lake District. 

The city is famous for its German traditions, its natural environment, and its popularity as a tourist destination. It enjoys a scenic location close to mountains, lakes, forests and national parks.It is located 20 kilometres from the city of Puerto Montt on the shore of the Llanquihue Lake, the second largest lake in Chile.The conical Osorno Volcano and the snowcapped peaks of Mt. Calbuco and Mt. Tronador are clearly visible from the lakefront. Puerto Varas is the southernmost of a string of towns on the western shore of Llanquihue Lake that includes Frutillar, Llanquihue and Puerto Octay. The lake spans an area of 4,064.9 km² (1,569 sq mi).

It was founded by German immigrants who settled the shores of Lake Llanquihue as part of a government colonization project during the presidency of Manuel Montt (1851-1861).

Puerto Varas is very near the airport. The airport is located between Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, a bustling port town.  Puerto Varas is located on the southtern end of the Lake District.  It has a great variety of nearby parks and locations in which to appretiate the natural beauty and hiking terrain of the Lake District, such as the Reserva Nacional Llanquihue, the waterfalls Saltos de Petrohue near the lake Lago de Todos Los Santos, and the Parque Nacional Alerce Andino, to name a few examples.  The nearby quaint town of Frutillar holds examples of German architecture, and thus gives testament to a portion of the inmigration history of the area and Chile.  Further to the south, more adventurous travelers, with sufficient time (a couple days), might consider visiting the large island of Chiloé, which is accessible via ferry and which costs various cities, and associated smaller islands.  The island of Chiloé is famous for its striking ocean-whipped coast and natural spaces (such as the Parque Nacional Chiloé), potatoes, wool, and the local culture and mythology. 

Weather

The weather in Puerto Varas is cool and damp. Weather in September/October can be rainy and cool, although climate change has made the area drier and warmer throughout the years.

It is recommended to bring warm clothing and rain gear. For more information please go to: https://www.yr.no/place/Chile/Los_Lagos/Puerto_Varas/

Santiago

Santiago, Chile’s capital, largest and most populated city (7 million inhabitants) sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes and the Chilean Coastal Range. Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city’s old colonial core, is home to two neoclassical landmarks: the early-19th-century Royal Court Palace, which houses the National History Museum, and the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral.

Santiago’s city center also features museums such as the recently remodeled Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, and the Cultural Center La Moneda that sits below the Presidential Palace, el Palacio de La Moneda.

The impressive Museum of Memory and Human Rights seeks to draw attention to human rights violations committed during the Chilean dictatorship between 1973 and 1990, after the coup d'etat by the military junta. Its mission is to allow dignity for victims and their families, stimulate reflection and debate and to promote respect and tolerance in order that these events will never repeat themselves. https://ww3.museodelamemoria.cl/english-version/

Barrio Brasil, Barrio Italia, Barrio Lastarria and Barrio Bellavista offer a lively and bohemian style nightlife, full of restaurants, cafés and boutiques. The neighborhood dubbed as Sanhattan, located in Las Condes, at the intersection of Av. Andrés Bello and Av. Isidora Goyenechea, boasts five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants, bars and a shopping center. 

The Sky Costanera, the tallest tower in Latin America (300 meters high), located in Providencia and part of the Costanera Center Shopping Center, offers a spectacular 360 degree view of Santiago. 

Parque Araucano, a 30-hectare park in Las Condes, is nestled in between high rise office buildings and one of the city’s oldest shopping centers, Parque Arauco, which features a large selection of shops, boutiques, restaurants, luxury brand stores and a movie theater.