Chile is a beautiful country. Help us preserve and protect our unique flora and fauna by following a couple of simple sustainable travel guidelines when you camp.

Condor Campers ask that you become familiar with the information in this section and plan a journey committed to leaving no trace of your trip for the collective benefit of all future campers.

Condor Campers – Camper rental that doesn’t cost the earth 

Reuse & Recycle

Rubbish………. Nobody wants to live amongst it and certainly, nobody ever wants to see it whilst visiting National parks, lakes and beaches.  

We at Condor Campers want to do everything we can to reduce the usage and hence the harmful effects that rubbish, especially plastic, is causing in our country and our oceans. 

Use the ‘Take in Take Out’ method when visiting National Parks. Never leave anything for the Park rangers to clear up. We have supplied biodegradable plastic bags in your ‘Complimentary Eco Kit’ which you can use. 

Please always recycle plastic, glass, paper and cardboard at designated. You will usually find these in Supermarket car parks or outside Tourist offices.  

We are great believers in ‘Banning the Bottle’. Chile and Argentina have some of the purest mineral water on the planet and it tastes delicious. Fill your bottles up stream, in campsites, at local fountains and at all petrol stations. Please do not buy bottled water wherever possible. It takes 400 to 1000 years to break your plastic bottles down and most of them end up in the Sea! 

Within your ‘Complimentary Eco Kit’ you will find a re-useable shopping bag for your shopping and all plastic bottles supplied within your camper are 100% recycled. We are a paper free office but, if we must print, we print on 100% recycled paper.  

Eco Kit & Cleaning

As part of your Condor Complimentary you will find an Eco and Bio cleaning kit. We have supplied these for you in order to help Condor Campers protect lakes, rivers, wetlands, beaches and the ocean. In addition to this free pack, please follow a few simple guidelines whilst you are on your journey: 

Collect all grey waste water using the 100% recycled container supplied in your Condor Camper. 

Only empty this in designated sites supplied by your campsite or at a fuel station. Ask the locals, they may allow you to use their facilities. 

Use your ‘Complimentary Bio & Eco Cleaning Kit’ sparingly and remember, biodegradable and phosphate free is better but, the product still needs soil to break it down.  

Never wash with any products (including the kits supplied by us) in lakes, rivers or waterfalls. If you wouldn’t drink your soapy water, don’t make the aquatic life. 

If you are free camping, hot shower facilities can be found at almost every Copec fuel station and they cost hardly anything! You can use the free wi-fi there too! 

The Locals

Whether it’s dancing amongst them at a festival, sitting alongside them at meal times or just chatting in the street, the zest, love for life and hospitality of the Chilean people are an inspiration to us all. You will never feel unwelcome in Chile, the locals are very happy to meet the new faces and show you around. The following will help you gain their acceptance and trust. 

Always ask permission before entering private land, only enter properties if you are invited to do so. 

When taking photos of people, always seek permission first. This is especially important when you meet locals in remote areas. Respect their refusal. 

Always greet elders first and address them as formally as possible. If your Spanish is not too good don’t worry, a nod of the head and a handshake usually gets the message across. 

During introductions people shake hands firmly and make eye contact whilst good friends may shake hands and embrace. Chilean women normally greet acquaintances (both male and female) with one kiss on the right cheek. 

If invited into a home for dinner, it is expected that the guest will not show up before some ten minutes after the agreed time! Taking along a gift is considered polite. 

Approach discussions of religion and politics with caution. Chileans are quite divided on these sensitive subjects and may feel uneasy discussing them with a new friend. 

And remember………….. A smile speaks a thousand words in any language, so SMILE and enjoy the experience! 

Fire Safety

Unfortunately, due to the increasing popularity of camping and the steady stream of tourists many recreation sites and parks have been damaged by campfires. Visual scarring and the stripping of vegetation for firewood have caused irreparable damage not to mention the terrible destruction as a result of wild fires. 

At a campsite, check the rules about campfires, gas cookers and cooking areas. Some sites don’t allow fires or only allow fires in designated fire pits.  

During dry periods it can be dangerous to build a fire anywhere, especially in National Parks. Make sure your fire is completely out before leaving the area. If it’s windy, don’t even think about having one. Use your camping stove instead. 

If you do build a fire use established fire pits. If there is no fire pit, contain your fire by building a mound to protect the area from the eyesore of old coals and blackened rocks. 

Keep your fire small. Using small wood will ensure that it burns more completely. Don’t break or saw off branches or bark from dead, live or fallen trees. Many small creepy crawlies call this home and it takes many years for trees to heal from this type of damage.  

Keep a bucket of water or your Condor Camper fire extinguisher close. Use plenty of water to extinguish all the embers of your campfire. Use your Condor Camper trowel to stir the contents of the fire pit until its cold to the touch.  

If your camp is not near a water source, use dirt/sand to extinguish the embers and mix until the embers are cold, do not just bury your fire, it can continue to smoulder for hours and relight at any moment. 

If in doubt, don’t light a fire and never leave a fire unattended.