How to Safely Enjoy Santiago, Chile at Night on a Budget
We were literally robbed in broad daylight! 😂
Yesterday, my friend and I ventured up to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal in the afternoon, eager to catch the sunset. However, the sun sets quite late in Santiago, around 8 PM, and we were concerned about safety after dark, so we decided to head back down the mountain before the sunset and make our way to the metro station.
As we neared the station, we stumbled upon a large, boisterous crowd cheering and setting off fireworks. We asked a local what was happening, and they excitedly told us that a beloved Chilean soccer team had just won a match, and everyone was celebrating. Thinking it was a joyful occasion and likely safe, we paused to snap some photos.
Before arriving in Santiago, we had heard all sorts of warnings about how chaotic and rife with thieves the city could be, but after a couple of days without any issues, we had let our guard down.
And then, out of nowhere! A passerby, who had probably been eyeing us for a while, suddenly snatched my friend’s camera and bolted. My friend reacted like lightning, giving chase. He caught up, grabbing the camera strap. The thief, clearly not expecting such a swift response, threw the camera back and made a run for it.
In the chaos, my friend’s flip-flop broke. After all the commotion, he came back to find me, still obliviously taking photos at the same spot 🤦♂️. The scene was so noisy, I had no idea what had just transpired 😂
So, the lesson here is: never casually join in the commotion, or if you do, keep it brief. In South America, staying alert and safeguarding your belongings is a must. At the time, my friend was simply holding the camera without securing it around his neck or hand, but with a year or two of travel experience in Latin America, he acted quickly.
He had even managed to recover his phone once before when it was stolen. If it had been me, I might have stood there in shock for a few seconds 😂😂😂. Whether to try to retrieve something when it’s stolen really depends on the situation. But in Latin America, vigilance is key at all times!
