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Approaching Santiago

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Arrival

  • All program participants must arrive in Santiago exactly on the arrival date indicated on the Key Dates page.
  • An onsite orientation meeting and academic instruction will be held at the Stanford Center in Santiago.
  • During orientation, you will meet local faculty and staff and get a thorough introduction to the program.

NOTE: If you choose to arrive early or stay after the end of the program, you are responsible for arranging your own temporary housing. Suggestions for affordable temporary accommodations will be provided during orientation on the Stanford campus.

Accommodations

Housing is provided from the arrival date through the last day of residence, as per the program calendar. 

All students will be housed in a student residence called LivinnX.  Built in 2016, LivinnX is owned and operated by an American company specializing in building student dormitories, both in the U.S. and internationally.  The residence accommodates nearly 400 residents who live in shared apartments.  Many of the residents are international students, mainly from Europe and other Latin American countries, and the remaining apartments are rented to Chilean students enrolled in local universities. 

Stanford students will live in shared apartments that can accommodate from 2 up to 6 students per apartment.  Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen where students will prepare their own meals.  Students also have access to other key amenities such as a common study room, laundry room, gym, yoga/dance studio, game rooms, outdoor barbecue area and swimming pool. 

The building is strategically located just 3 blocks from the La Moneda presidential palace in downtown Santiago and is adjacent to the civic district where various government offices are housed.   The main subway line is only 2 blocks from the residence, providing connectivity to key areas of the city, including the Stanford Center which is only a 15 minute commute from the residence.

Meeting People

You are encouraged to organize your time carefully and explore the city in depth, from its streets and buildings to its shops and museums. Consider staying two quarters to have enough time to build friendships and familiarize yourself with all that Santiago has to offer.

Returning students report that the more effort they devoted to exploring their local environment, the more enriching the experience overall. While opportunities to travel throughout other parts of Chile exist, if you make a conscious attempt to get to know Santiago and its people while studying at the center, you will be richly rewarded for your efforts.

If you are interested, language partnerships with local students can be arranged.

City Life

Situated 540 meters above sea level in central Chile, Santiago is flanked by two mountain ranges, the Cordillera de la Costa and the Cordillera de los Andes, and bisected by the Mapocho River. Spacious parks, plazas, gardens, and wide avenues contrast with both starkly modern glass high-rises and neoclassical buildings spread throughout the city.

In Santiago you will find the National Library, and various universities, museums, and theaters, in addition to premier research organizations like the United Nations' Comisión Económica para América Latina (CEPAL).

A variety of museums, including the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, the Museo Histórico Nacional, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, housing a collection of European and Chilean art, serve as a testament to the city's thriving and varied cultural community. We suggest you visit:

  • Mercado Central
  • Plaza de Armas
  • Palacio de La Moneda & Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda (CCPLM)
  • National Library