Chile: Health
Potable Water
Tap water (agua de la llave) is generally safe to drink in Santiago. However, it has a high mineral content, so you might want to avoid it if you have a sensitive stomach. It's best to stick to bottled water outside the capital. Bottled water is ubiquitous, though in some places it's easier to find carbonated, or sparkling water (agua con gas) than still water (agua sin gas). You might even come across lightly carbonated water, or gas light.
Take caution with ordering or purchasing salads and fruits/vegetables without a peel (e.g. strawberries, bell peppers). If you purchase these yourself, wash them thoroughly with tap water in Santiago (or bottled) and bottled water outside of Santiago. Outside of the capital, salad greens and ingredients may have been washed in water that will upset your stomach.
Take caution with ordering or purchasing salads and fruits/vegetables without a peel (e.g. strawberries, bell peppers). If you purchase these yourself, wash them thoroughly with tap water in Santiago (or bottled) and bottled water outside of Santiago. Outside of the capital, salad greens and ingredients may have been washed in water that will upset your stomach.
Raw Food
Chile is well known for its delicious seafood, and with reason! Remember the following advisory when considering what to eat: "Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness."
Take special caution with shellfish. Each year a handful of people die from eating shellfish contaminated with red tide (marea roja) algae that become toxic when seawater temperature rises. The government monitors this issue closely and will ban commercial shellfish collection if the toxic algae is present. There is little health risk when consuming shellfish at restaurants or bought from markets as products at both places are regularly inspected. Do not collect your own shellfish! Red tide, when present, affects all shellfish whether cooked or raw.
Chile and Peru share (and debate about the origins of) the liquor pisco and argue about whose pisco sour cocktail is better. Choose your side wisely! In Chile, pisco sours may or may not be made with raw egg whites. Don't hesitate to ask for yours sin claras (de huevo) if you prefer.
Take special caution with shellfish. Each year a handful of people die from eating shellfish contaminated with red tide (marea roja) algae that become toxic when seawater temperature rises. The government monitors this issue closely and will ban commercial shellfish collection if the toxic algae is present. There is little health risk when consuming shellfish at restaurants or bought from markets as products at both places are regularly inspected. Do not collect your own shellfish! Red tide, when present, affects all shellfish whether cooked or raw.
Chile and Peru share (and debate about the origins of) the liquor pisco and argue about whose pisco sour cocktail is better. Choose your side wisely! In Chile, pisco sours may or may not be made with raw egg whites. Don't hesitate to ask for yours sin claras (de huevo) if you prefer.
Skin Protection
The sun can be very intense in Chile. It's good practice in any case to wear sunscreen on your face at least daily and it's a must if you plan to go skiing in the Andes mountains.
Wind and dryness (especially in the Atacama desert) during the winter months can make your hands dry, itchy, and painful. Be sure to moisturize and/or wear gloves particularly if you have dry skin in general.
Wind and dryness (especially in the Atacama desert) during the winter months can make your hands dry, itchy, and painful. Be sure to moisturize and/or wear gloves particularly if you have dry skin in general.
Smog Safety
With over 6.5 million people and a location between two mountain ranges (the Andes and the cordillera de la costa), Santiago and the Metropolitan Region in general suffer from a smog problem. You'll know the haze when you see it as it hangs out over the city, not unlike the smog in Los Angeles.
Smog can affect people in different ways depending on sensitivities. Take special care if you wear contact lenses and/or have asthma or other pulmonary issues. Change your lenses as directed (unless you want conjunctivitis, aka pink eye) and avoid outside exercise if you're sensitive to heavy pollution.
The Chilean government measures air quality daily and publishes a numerical rating in physical and online newspapers and broadcasts the information on television. Keep yourself informed! Good news though - after a winter rain, you will have relief from the smog and enjoy a spectacular view of the snow-covered Andes. Plus, the coast is only an hour away if you need to escape.
Smog can affect people in different ways depending on sensitivities. Take special care if you wear contact lenses and/or have asthma or other pulmonary issues. Change your lenses as directed (unless you want conjunctivitis, aka pink eye) and avoid outside exercise if you're sensitive to heavy pollution.
The Chilean government measures air quality daily and publishes a numerical rating in physical and online newspapers and broadcasts the information on television. Keep yourself informed! Good news though - after a winter rain, you will have relief from the smog and enjoy a spectacular view of the snow-covered Andes. Plus, the coast is only an hour away if you need to escape.
Altitude Sickness
Most students like to take a trip to the northern Atacama Desert to experience a landscape like none other. If you travel to the altiplano (near borders with Peru and Bolivia), be aware of the potential for altitude sickness, which can occur at 3000m (~9900ft). The famous El Tatio geyser, a popular tourist locale, sits at 4320m (~14,200ft). Symptoms include extreme tiredness, breathlessness, headaches, and nausea. Acclimatize if possible, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol and salt if you're planning to go to high altitude areas. Altitude sickness usually goes away in a day or so, but be sure to seek medical attention if you feel extremely ill or the symptoms do not seem to go away.