Electricity
Electricity is supplied throughout Patagonia at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz. For all other equipment, an adapter/converter is necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option. Please note that in Chile power outlets only accept rounded 3 or 2-pin plugs, depending on whether an earth connection is fitted. In Argentina power outlets accept rounded 2-pin and diagonal 2-pin plugs. It is easy to find adapters anyways...

Telephone
The telephone systems in both Chile and Argentina a very modern and relatively inexpensive.Public telephones offices can be found around the centres of all cities and even small towns. Most public call-phones accept coins and take cards purchased from bookstalls and newsagents. Some public call-phones also accept credit cardsand some accept only coins. Per minute rates from public telephones to Europe and USA are around 50 cents (USD) per minute. Some places are higher, like to Australia.

Area codes are used throughout the Patagonia, and you need to dial first before dialing the telephone number, except when you are within the area code. Chile phone numbers appear in the White Pages (alphabetical listings) and Yellow Pages (business category listings). Argentina phone numbers appear in the White Pages (alphabetical listings) and Yellow Pages (business category listings).

Mobile Phones
Chilean and Argentinians widely use moblie phones. There is almost a complete coverage in cities and large towns but is in not reccomended as a reliable form of communication inside National Parks and for treks in areas far to the highways. Check with your phone company before leaving home about international mobile roam facilities available in Chile and Argentina.

Satellite Phones
Heavy and expensive, world phones allow you to make and receive call from anywhere. Satellite phones are about USD1.500 to buy or USD300 montly rent, plus from USD2 per minute to use. You also pay for incoming calls. Check www.worldcell.com and www.mobalrental.com for more information.

Email
Access to Internet is not a problem except in "really out there" places, like National Parks or in trekking trails. Internet cafés are common. Many public telephone offices offer Internet conection and broadband is also getting common by now. Rates are between 1 or 2 USD an hour and gets more expensive in remote areas. Tip: You can get the @ symbol by holding down the Alt key and typing 64 in spanish keyboards.

Laptops
You will need a RJ45 type plug to be able to connect your laptop into a computer socket in Chile or Argentina and a Ethernet cable where broadband is available.

Post
Postal Services in Chile and Argentina are better than in most other countries in Latin America. Heavy items not needed can be mailed to a mail list addres and collected later. You can also receive mail via the same way at any Argentina and Chile post office. It is fine to instruct your correspondants who would send mail to indicate a date until the post office should hold, otherwise may be returned or destroyed. In Chile there is a small charge for that services (less than USD 50 cents) and in Argentina the charge is higher (almost 2 USD) for each letter.

Business Hours & Stores
In Southern Argentina, office hours are interrupted between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM for lunch and the break lasts around an two hours and a half. Gas stations open early in the morning and close at midnight, some are open 24 hours. The museums in general are open 5 days a week from Tuesday to Saturday or from Wednesday to Sunday.

In Chile is similar with some slight diferences:

Public Holidays
Holidays are commongly celebrated in both Chile and Argentina. Holidays are ussualy moved to Mondays and offices are closed. In high season publics holidays are: November 1, December 8, December 25, January 1, May 1, May 21 (Chile), May 25 (Argentina). Local vacation period begins around Christmas and ends in February