Looking to do Chile on the cheap? No worries, we’ve got you covered! Have a read of this to find out how long you can make your pesos last!
Accomodation
Generally in Chile, you should be able to find a bed in a clean, safe hostel with good vibes for around $15 USD. In Santiago check out La Chimba and Los Andes Hostel for a good hostel experience. However there are two excellent cheaper options! For between $7 and $15 you can find a variety of pleasant rooms on Airbnb, but make sure to book early to avoid disappointment! If you’re really looking to save the pennies, you can check out coachsurfer.com, a platform where you can meet locals willing to offer you a spot on their coach for a few nights, absolutely free of charge!
Getting Around
In Santiago, public transport is an incredibly cheap and efficient mode of transport, The Metro allowing you to get anywhere in this sprawling metropolis for $1 USD. Furtermore, avoiding peak hours, UBER offers a safe fast service which will leave you with money to spend once you reach your destination! Beyond Santiago, the best way to get around is undoubtedly by bus with thousands of comfortable coaches running throughout the country everyday at exceptionally cheap rates. However if you’re not keen on spending the day on the road, check out Sky Airlines, a budget airline offering domestic flights from as little as $24 USD.
Food
Surprisingly food in supermarkets is often quite expensive in Chile, however as you’re on holiday, why not eat out, particularly as to do so is so cheap! In a mid-range restaurant you can expect to pay less than $5 for a litre of beer, while a great Chilean dish, for example, chorrillana, a binge-eaters divine dish consisting of fries, beef, sausage, onions, egg, and all manner of weird and wonderful ingredients, or churassco, a thinly cooked steak often served in sandwiches, should cost no more than $10 USD. If you fancy eating in, dabble in some Chilean flavours by buying locally sourced products such as avocado, fish, egg and a great bottle of wine, none of which are hard on the pocket!
Seeing The Sights
Chile is known as the land of a million mountains, in fact there are so many that nobody has ever managed to count! This is great news for the budget traveller as hiking up a mountain is free, and you have a lot to choose from. Unless you take a trip to the coast, you will almost always be within sight of a ‘Cerro’ which you can scale. If you’re looking for a more leisurely day out, museums are all free in Santiago on Sundays, while elsewhere many museums will either charge a small fee, or nothing at all!
Now that I’ve given you a glimpse of what can be done in Chile for little or no expense. There are hundreds of more low cost activities for you to discover! Download TheBesty from the App Store or on Google Play, and have a personal concierge in your pocket for your trip that will answer your questions in a live chat, or help you book tours, activities, and local experiences.
