If you are travelling alone in Santiago (rather than on a tour) just be a little bit wary. My brother moved over there about 15 years ago, so my parents visit regularly. I admit that they stand out as gringo tourists, but my mum has had her bag snatched on at least 3 occasions (you think she'd learn
) and lost her passport once.
It's an amazing and beautiful country, but there are a lot of people less fortunate than us out there so be aware of it and don't take any silly risks.(Not quite sure how to phrase it, but in some areas of the city the crime rate against tourists is quite high, in my brothers opinion this is partly due to tourists not fully realising the extent of the poverty, and the 'easy pickings' that they offer. Although a country that is very much making its way in the 'first world' it still has a very divided society, the rich are rich and well educated, but the poor are very, very poor by our standards)
That said, I have been out a few times and never had any trouble, I happily stayed on my own in various 'refuges' (like catered hostels) and travelled as a lone female. The overnight buses are an easy and cheap way to travel and if you don't plan to camp, try the mountain refuges in the wine growing valleys to the south of the city.