Chile Forum

We have experienced thru the winter months a great deal of rain with few sunny days in between.It's absolutely a wet region! As far as the summer goes, I'm yet to know how really it is here in Valdivia.We got here 3 months ago and I'm looking forward to this new experience.I wonder how humid will it get, how uncomfortable will it be since it's one of the things that my body doesn't have a great deal of tolerance for. I just hope I won't have to make room in the fridge to put myself in it.

Hi I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Derrick and I live in Los Angeles.

I plan on visiting Chile later this year but I have a question was hoping someone could help me. I need to find out the best shipping service to send a friend a couple of books (9lbs total in weight) who lives in Santiago. I checked with the US Postal service and it is quite expensive ($57.00).

If anyone knows of an international shipping service with better rates I'd much appreciate that information.

Thanks!
~Derrick:0

derrick wrote:(9lbs total in weight) who lives in Santiago. I checked with the US Postal service and it is quite expensive ($57.00).

If anyone knows of an international shipping service with better rates I'd much appreciate that information.

That's about as good at it gets for 9 lbs. If you had 100 lbs, Procomex is better than USPS. Otherwise, you might consider bringing the books in your luggage. Airlines have a pretty good shipping rate if you extrapolate it from their "overweight" fee: $50 for the first 20 lbs (over 50 lbs), and $50 for the next 30 lbs. That's really pretty good compared to USPS. Especially when you consider it's essentially overnight delivery. It's right there, waiting for you when you arrive.

I leave for Chile Tuesday night. I'm making use of this overweight charge. Just because it's a good value compared to traditional shipping methods.

Mark

Zapallar is beautiful but there's not much going on there most of the time, and it's quite expensive. Valparaiso looks better on postcards and for an occasional night out than for day-to-day living, if you ask me. It all depends whether you are single or have kids, how much of a nightlife you're looking for, what kind of shopping options you want, whether you're likely to need high-end healthcare, whether you're sensitive to noise or dirt... The central region offers a good range of options depending on your needs and wants.

if you are from the northern US, you won't find chile cold except at high altitudes. i grew up in colorado and i know what weeks of sub freezing temps and high winds are all about. even in furthest southern parts of chile, like punta arenas, it doesn't get nearly as cold as chicago or minnesota or vermont. the ocean moderates the temperatures.

southern chile is more or less comparable to the pacific northwest...oregon, washington, BC, along the coast. lots of rain, but very rarely sub freezing temps...except when you gain altitude to 1500 meters or so. northern chile is kinda like southern california or baja....hot and dry as soon as you get more than a km or two away from the ocean. the central valleys of chile (the valleys between the coastal mountains and the BIG ones) are wine country...like italy, like california. grapes need a long, hot, dry season to mature into good wine making grapes.

my preference is for less sun, more rain, cooler temps, so i'm looking at places like concepcion, valdivia, osorno, puerto montt, calbuco....but i really won't know what i like until i spend more time there....can't wait til january....

this web page may help. it has lots of data regarding temps and precipitation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Chile

Thanks Mark for the feedback. I guess I just might as well go ahead and use the US Postal. You see, the books I'm sending are actually a birthday gift. They'd need to arrive at least by the end of this month. So the way it looks, US Postal is the way to go for now. However, I will remember the airline tips for future travel.

Have a wonderful time in Chile!

Best,
Derrick

Thanks Cali-chile48, your description of the climate(s) in Chile was very helpful. It really helps to compare it as you did to the US climate. I have a good idea what to expect.