Visitor Information in Santiago

Sernatur, the national tourist service, stocks maps and brochures and has a large and friendly staff that speaks English. The Providencia office, in a building with saffron-color columns, is near the Manuel Montt Metro stop. It is open weekdays 8:45-6 and Saturday 9-2.

Santiago runs two tourist information offices, one downtown in the Casa Colorada, the other on Cerro Santa Lucía. They are open Monday-Thursday 10-6, Friday 10-5.

For information about the Cajón del Maipo, stop by the office on the main square in San José de Maipo. The eager-to-please staff won't let you leave without an armload of brochures. The office is open weekdays 8:30-5:30.

Sernatur

Casa Colorada (Merced 860, El Centro. 2/632-7783. www.ciudad.cl/turismo). Cerro Santa Lucía (Terraza Neptune, El Centro. 2/664-4206. www.ciudad.cl/turismo). Providencia (Av. Providencia 1550, Providencia. 2/731-8336 or 2/731-8337. www.sernatur.cl). San José de Maipo (Comercio 19788. 2/861-1275).