Which nationals have to pay them, and does ths apply when entering via borders, as well as airports?
Aspiringnomad:
There is no reciprocity fee for Chile. Eveyone has to pay $100 if they FLY into Santiago airport. But we entered from Peru overland without paying anything. Brazil, on the other hand has a $135 reciprocity fee. I was mearly commenting on the fact that tour operators will try to take your money and not care what happens to you after you're across the border.
Reply to this Hi Kevin and Amarryn,
I personally flew into Chile on January 2nd 2009 and paid
nada . My son who wisely pulled out his British passport also wasn´t required to pay. My wife who didn´t have the option, pulled out her US passport, and paid $132US.
Passengers with a passport from Australia, Canada, United States or Mexico are required to pay a reciprocity tax on entering Santiago airport before passing through Customs. Fees are US$61 for Australians, US$132 for Canadians, US$131 for US nationals and US$23 for Mexican passport holders
Sorry I thought you were saying "I can say with certainty that they don't like Americans though".
Reply to this Didn't mean to get in a argument, sorry if that's how I came across. Maybe it's different in the airport. We were in Chile in November and were happy that we didn't pay anything because it does say on the internet that there is a reciprocity fee. As we stood in line to get into Bolivia we were with a German couple. The border guard looked at their passports and said: "It's a good thing you are German because we hate Americans." Maybe it was just him that didn't like Americans, but the way he said it with a huge smile as if everyone would agree with him made us think nobody in that country would like Americans. I hope other people have better experiences than we had there, but alot of Americans we've talked to gave us the impression they didn't feel welcome either. Cheers
Reply to this No worries, ´Border guard´ is officially my least favourite profession anyhow, and I´m sure people have had plenty bad experiences in their time - I know I have!
As for Americans receiving a frosty reception in Bolivia - Evo Morales did joke that he was "America's worst nightmare". Negative comments like that do have a way of finding themselves down to the behaviour of man on the street.
Yet though annoying for US citizens-- my wife included -- I´m sure this reciprocity thing doesn´t exactly have Washington quaking in its boots.
Though I suppose we should spare a thought for Bolivian passport holders - I bet not many countries would allow them to turn up unannounced, and get a visa on the border, however much they paid.
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