Many plant and animal ítems cannot be taken into Chile from neighboring countries. You will have to fill out a customs declaration form. If you are not certain whether an item will be allowed, check tahty you do have such. Pack the items in easy reach in your bag. Fines are issued not for having some thing, but for not declaring it. Prohibited items will be confiscated and destroyed.
To enter Chile by land (buis or train), most countries do not need a visa, including the US. If arriving by air, a visa will be necessary (US citizens $100). As requirements may change, check with the nearest Chilean consulate. Ninety days are normally given by Chile and Peru. Chilean time is one hour ahead of Peruvin time April-October and two hours ahead October-April.
By Bus The road border is called Santa Rosa in Peru and Chacalluta in Chile. It is about 1 kilometers (0.6 miles) between the two posts. Border hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 a.m.-midniht (Peruvian time), Friday and Saturday 24 hours. Transport pauses at each border post for passengers to go through immigration and customs procedures. Change money in Peru, as there are more casas de cambio and the rate is better. From Arica: Colectivos (shared taxis) and busetas (minibuses) leave from the international section of Terminal Terrestre Manuel A. Odría, opposite the national terminal (daily 4 a.m.-11 p.m.). This terminal has an iPeru office, shops, restaurant, phones, internet, bathrooms, exchange houses, travel agents and other facilities. Colectivo taxi—daily 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., 1 hour; buseta daily 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m., $1.70-3.35, 1.5 hours. Buy tickets directly from agents' ticket windows, not touts. By Train An autovagón (rail bus) leaves Arica Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (adults $2.35 Monday-Friday, $3 Saturday, children under 8 years old free, 1 hour 15 minutes).
From Arica, the autovagón leaves at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. For the morning train, reserve tickets the morning before. The office is open 7:30-8:30 a.m., though the line forms at 6:30 a.m. A few tickets are kept back for same-day purchase, but arrive very early. The morning of departure arrive at 5:45 a.m. For the afternoon train, tickets are sold the same day 2-4:30 p.m. Immigration and customs procedures are performed at the train station in both countries. The train station is at Avenida Gregorio Albarracín 412 (Tel.: 24-7126).