move to Chile

Hi, and welcome to a2k.

If you have health problems and plan to live in Chile, a good advice would be to keep out of Santiago, the capital, due to heavy smog. I honestly don't know how much of it is legend, but the tales are amazing, even for one who lives in a city with air polution.

From what I've heard, Chile is now a real nice country to live in. So, good luck.

If you like port towns, Valparaiso is pretty nice, and I'm sure their hospitals are probably some of the better ones in Chile outside of Santiago. Puerto Montt is also a small quaint port town. I didn't know this before my cruise to South America in Nov-Dec 2002, but many Germans live in Chile. They settled Puerto Montt in the middle of the 19th century.

thankyou
This is very kind of you both, thankyou.
Santiago may be a little warm, Puerto Montt perhaps a little cold, but Valparaiso is a definite candidate, and it would be nice to be able to continue living close to the sea. You're right, there is quite a bit of content about Germans moving to Chile. I don't share the British media vilification of Germans, I actually find them very similar to the typical British person. My better alternate languages are Welsh and Italian, which would suggest that Argentina would be the better venue ~ but Chile just looks so great !
Am still looking for any further help with Chile, thankyou again.
G

silly m efor confusing Valparaiso with Valdavia

Nice cities to live in Chile
Just to avoid confusions Valparaiso is about 2 hrs drive from Santiago and Valdivia is in the south about 10 hrs drive or 2 hr flight from Santiago.

Both are beautiful cities next to the sea, but are quite diferent because Valdivia is smaller and quiter than Valparaiso, it's like a modern town.

Valparaiso is next to Viña del Mar which is also a very good alternative to live in.

If you are concerned about air pollution in Santiago I have to tell you it is not THAT bad unless you have really serious respiratory problems.

Someone mentioned Concepcion... FORGET IT! I've been there twice and it's the kind of city that is loved only by those who were born there.

Good luck!

csd, Welcome to A2K. Nice to have somebody aboard from Chile.

Ditto....here's hoping we read you in some threads.

I've just recently joined this discussion board and it's rockin' to see people from Chile (not currently living in) responding to this forum; I haven't been living in a shoebox or anything it's just really refreshing for me because I'm from Houston,TX and nearly every Hispanic person I meet is either Mexican or Mexican- sometimes a little of both... It's a bit harder for me to meet other Chilean folk around my age....

With open heart and open mind,
me~

It depends on what kind of climate you are looking for. In general you could say that the south of Chile is somewhat cold and rainy; on the other hand the north is warmer but drier and the central valley has a mix of both.
This is only a general idea. If you want more specific information I could direct you to some, but you should tell us what kind of climate you are looking for.
By the way the problem with Stgo is not that bad, the main reason for the pollution is that the city is sorrounded by hills and that makes air flow in the city very poor.

Santiago is a bit like southern California in terms of climate, seasonal rainfall and smog, but a good deal less cosmopolitan. The eastern suburbs of Santiago are nearly a thousand feet higher than the central city in elevation and the smog there is a good deal less. The valleys a few miles farther East are quite beautiful.

Services work well in Chile, security is good, and - unlike Mexico - the police are incorruptable. Compared to Mexico city Santiago is a bit provincial.

Re: move to Chile

Concepción is a nice place, it has a huge river and the Pacific Ocean and the food is fantastic. There are several good universities there also. I prefer Santiago, but you can live a quiet life in Concepcion. They have all what you need, great shopping malls, supermarkets, open markets, culture etc... At the Universidad de Concepcion there are several USA. professors working.
Good luck.
Regards
Xavier

Welcome to the newer members!

I have found A2K an exceptional site for interaction among the members of the world community.

Where in Chile?
I hope I am not jumping in here too late. I currently live in the Lakes District of Chile with my Wife and Son. It is beautiful here but yes, it rains a lot. It is similar to the Pacific Northwest of the US. We are "Gringos" from the Mountains of California (Lake Tahoe area) and have been living here in Chile for a couple of years now. It is everything we had hoped. Nice people, a simpler lifestyle and very reasonable Real Estate prices compared to California or many areas of the world, now days.

I agree that Conception is nice although we have only visited there for a couple of days. Vina del Mar is also nice. The smog in Santiago is worse in the Winter and not so bad in the Summer when many people are on vacation out of the city and I am assuming the "inversion layer" is less severe. Keep in mind that Summer is January/February, not July/August like in the North. It is not so hot in Santiago but the coast is more temperate and the areas West of Santiago have very nice year-round weather.

You might look at the Zapallar area which is north of Vina del Mar along the Coast. Santiago is still a big city and I guess we are not city folk but living just two hours from Santiago in Zapallar is a nice compromise, it is on the beautiful Pacific Coast and it is an "upscale" area. It depends on your budget and your personal likes/dislikes.

Edit: Moderator: Link removed

chile
Good luck with your move to Chile . We are also moving there in a few months . If you do not like too hot and too cold I think the best would be coastal towns between Concepcion and La Serena. Vina del Mar and Valparaiso are good starters . They have good services and excellent weather . Zapallar is beautiful - upscale. We are moving to Algarrobo . It is very small , most of the year except tourist season it is empty . There is plenty to chose from so it is good to spend there some time before buying anything. Greetings.

Athos, I'll be in Santiago on April 4. Where are some of the better restaurants?

Depends on what kind of food you are talking about: meat, sea food, traditional food, international dishes, etc. Since I don't usually go to restaurants I can hardly give you advice, although I can tell you this: more expensive restaurants don't necessarily mean better.
I'll check with my friends and try to come up with a recommendation list to post later.

It just occurred to me...Why the sudden interest of coming to live here? In general terms I mean. Is it some kind new fashion?

I'm traveling to Santiago on holiday for just a few days. I've been there before, but it was only a transit place from the airport to Valparaiso to catch a ship for a South America cruise to Buenos Aires.

The reason I asked about "good food" in Santiago is the simple fact that you mentioned; cost is not necessarily the best. I like to try local food when I visit, so I'm looking for popular places that the locals go for good food.

Gracias for anything you can suggest.

We are thinking about moving to Chile, we are from Missouri, would like to live in the country, where ther is hunting and fishing, could a small house, near a small town.