Winters in Chile are cold and often very wet and rainy.
Most homes you’ll visit in Chile don’t have central heating.
A typical family home will use a combination of a propane-powered space heater (estufa), lots of blankets, or even a wood burning stove to heat the living space and keep warm.
Chileans will typically only heat the room in which they are spending any time. So bedrooms are very cold because they don’t get any heating resources while a living room will likely have the space heater running all day.
Because heating is inconsistent you’d be wise to dress in layers during Chile’s cooler months.
This may sound obvious but you may be used to wearing a simple outfit covered by a large parka or winter coat during your winter months. If you try this in Chile, you’ll have no middle ground to adjust to the heating of the home or apartment you are visiting.
For sleeping, be sure you have several warm blankets. You won’t want to run your space heater overnight so prepare for a big drop in temperature as you sleep.
Cold, winter mornings always make it difficult to want to get out of bed so don’t forget your wool socks or a warm pair of slippers.
Picture by Maximiliano
I usually love your info and I’m glad I signed up. Thanks for your letters.
I just thought this one was a little too general. Chile is a long state. Wouldn’t it be warmer in the north? Maybe more of a discussion about how it varies as you travel, and if stoves or fuel differ too. Does the desert get colder than the wet areas? The mountains than the coast? If I can’t stand the cold, am I condemned to visit only in the summer or is there at least one warm spot? Thanks for your interest in Chile. I count on it. Sarah
@Sarah – Good point. Chile is a very long country and has very distinct climates.