Las Condes
“A commune to know and to enjoy”

Las Condes is an urban centre located in Santiago City's east sector, some fourteen miles away from the international airport “Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez”. Expect a taxi from/to the airport to cost US$ 10 to US$ 15, depending on traffic.

Las Condes is one of Santiago's more avant-garde areas, offering a great range of high end services, nature and cultural attractions, shopping malls and a complete public and private infrastructure making it an ideal urban center for business and tourism.

The commune has 37 hotels of varying categories and prices. Among these are some of the best in the country, most notably the Hyatt, Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels.

There are many tourist attractions, like cultural centers, parks, squares and many activities. A destination not to be missed is “El Pueblito de los Dominicos” (Littlle town of of the Dominician order), located in Av. Apoquindo 9085, a center of Chilean traditional crafts with 180 artisan shops. Inside, there are restaurants offering typical chilean food, art exhibitions and stores. You can also visit the Parish of St. Vicente Ferrer, located besides the cultural center, a national monument that goes back to the time of the spanish colony.

The Municipality offers a free bus sightseeing tour every saturday and sunday. The tour includes the most significant highlights of the commune, such as the San Vicente Ferrer centenial Parish, The Cultural Institute and La Casona of Las Condes, as well as the Monastery of the Benedictine Order. Contact the tourism direction for further information and reservations.

Las Condes is a privileged place to enjoy exquisite and varied gastronomy. In the El Bosque and Isidora Goyenechea neighborhoods you can find some of the best restaurants and cafe's in the country. You can also visit municipally sponsored events like the antiques fair, La Plaza del Mimo (mime's square), theater functions as well as other attractions. Please check schedules in the website.

If you plan to go shopping, the comunne has two of the best shopping malls in the country, Alto Las Condes and Parque Arauco, both having magnificent cinemas as well. Alto Las Condes opens monday to sunday from 10 to 22 hrs, Parque Arauco opens monday to sunday, from 10 to 21 hrs.

The chilean currency is called Peso Chileno, or simply Peso. At the time of this writing, one US Dollar equals 630 Pesos. For up to date exchange rate information, please visit the chilean central bank homepage at http://www.bcentral.cl/eng/ . There are no special requisites for money exchange, all banks offer the service, as well as dedicated exchange offices, some opening weekends.

As a price reference, a cup of coffee costs some two dollars, a urban bus or subway ride costs about fifty cents, Lunch at a fast food restaurant costs some three to four dollars, the same as a cinema ticket.