Chaitén has constructed a new Oficina de Información Turística (Costanera Corcovado s/n) at the foot of O’Higgins, but the young, well-meaning staffers are not particularly knowledgeable. Hours are 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily in summer.

At the bus terminal, Chaitur (O’Higgins 67, tel./fax 065/731429, nchaitur [at] hotmail [dot] com) is a good all-year information source, with Spanish-, English-, and French-speaking staff. It also sells maps and has a small book exchange. Across from the terminal, Parque Pumalín has its own Centro de Información (O’Higgins 62, tel./fax 065/731341).

Banco Estado (Libertad 298) changes U.S. cash and travelers checks; its ATM, which now works with MasterCard and Cirrus, is the last one north of Coyhaique.

On the north side of the Plaza de Armas, Correos de Chile (O’Higgins 230) is the post office. On the east side, the new Entelchile office (Libertad 402) has long-distance telephones and the fastest Internet access.

Lavandería Stihl (Prat 106, tel. 065/ 731566) does the laundry for about US$3 per kilogram.

Hospital de Chaitén (Av. Ignacio Carrera Pinto 153, tel. 067/731244) provides medical services.