chilean tourism board

• Huasco Valley
• San Pedro de Atacama
• Elqui Valley
• Antofagasta
• Limarí – Fray Jorge National Park
• Bahía Inglesa
• Alto El Loa
• La Serena and Coquimbo
• Copiapó Valley
• Tagua Tagua – Almahue Valley
• Alto Colchagua Universidad Glacier 
• Cachapoal Valley
• Portillo Ski Resort

Pirque and Maipo Valley

• Aconcagua Valley
• Valle Nevado Ski Resort
• El Colorado Ski Resort
• Curicó Valley
• Maule Valley
• San Antonio/Leyda Valley
• Colchagua Valley and Santa Cruz
• Casablanca Valley
• Viña del Mar
• Cajón del Maipo
• Robinson Crusoe Island
• Rancagua and Sewell
• La Parva Ski Resort
• Rano Raraku
• Llanquihue Lake
• Chillan Ski Resort
• Puerto Montt
• Osorno and Puyehue
• Valdivia and Corral
• Pucón and Villarrica
• Panguipulli
• Temuco and Lago Budi
• Arauco Territory
• Puerto Varas
• Chilean Antarctic Destination

General Carrera Lake

• Tierra del Fuego
• Coyhaique and Puerto Aysén

Carretera Austral

• Torres del Paine
• Puerto Natales
• Punta Arenas
• Family recreation
• Coastal beaches
• Lakeside Beaches
• Hot Springs
• Spa and relaxation
• Patagonian cruises
• Lake sailing
• International cruises
• Visits to observatories
• Astronomical facilities
• Indigenous Peoples and Ethnotourism
• World Heritage Sites
• Archaeology
• Paleontology
• Poetry and Literature
• Typical gastronomy
• Gastronomy of the world
• Hiking y trekking
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Mountainbike
• Horseback Riding
• Mountain and rock climbing
• Sport fishing
• Kitesurfing and water sports
• Ice walking
• Overland 4×4
• Paragliding and aerial sports
• Wildlife watching
• Landscape photography
• National Parks
• Bird Watching

Tourism in Chile Where the impossible is possible

From the extreme north with the driest desert in the world to the austral south with eternal ice and inverted waterfalls, Chile is an invitation hard to refuse. Learn about tourism in Chile and be amazed by the experiences in the southernmost portion of the world.

Discover our diversity

The tranquility of vast sandy esplanades and intense sunshine contrast with deep blue lagoons, small towns where the native customs are kept intact and large cities with beautiful beaches.

Nestled in a plain of small valleys and coastal destinations, central Chile stands out as one of the most populated areas and surprises with the assortment of activities that can be performed, from the mountains to the beaches.

The mystical Rapa Nui culture floods the entire island and gives life to one of the most emblematic destinations in the world. Its pink sand beaches, volcanoes and grasslands along with more than a thousand Moais are just some of its main attractions.

The rain falls heavily on millenary ancient forests of deep vegetation and assorted wildlife, and then gives way to a deep blue sky. Southern Chile stands out not only for its wonderful green landscapes, but also for being one of the most important areas for adventure tourism in the world.

An almost untouched nature full of mountains, fjords, glaciers, forests, steppes, pioneer villages where you can breathe the cattle traditions and the gaucho culture, along with important cities, is part of what you can find in the Chilean Patagonia.

Enjoy Chile, live Chile

• Itineraries
• Destinations

Los Jesuitas Route in Chile: How to get there and all the points you should visit

Visit Osorno Volcano and discover the magical surroundings of southern Chile

Get to Know the Paradisiacal Beaches of Chile

Neighborhoods and Activities to Enjoy Nightlife in Santiago

The Best Surfing Spots in Pichilemu and Its Surroundings

Salt flats, wildlife, and more: Things to see and do in the Atacama Desert

Discover the panoramas that await you in the metropolitan region

Come to Chile with your partner! What you need to know to come to Chile with your pet

Overland on the Carretera Austral and Tierra del Fuego: an adventure in nature

Pumalín National Park: preservation as an impulse in local development

Come to Chile’s most romantic destinations

The most romantic experiences that you could live in San Pedro de Atacama

Three days in the main vineyards and valleys in Chile

A few kilometers from santiago: what to do in the cajón del maipo, adventures that endure: 2 days of hikes in the andean araucanía, enjoy santiago’s mountains and the casablanca valley.

How to get to Chile?

No matter where you are! Select the country you are in and choose the airline that suits you best to get to Chile*:

(*) Official information of Nuevo Pudahuel

Travel through Chile's destinations

Are you an adventure, beach or desert person? Select the following options to give you the best recommendation according to your interests:

Travelers Recommend

The Aysén region in Chile is full of special places. Today we went to the Exploradores Glacier, and it has been quite an adventure! In total 6 hours on foot, going through forest, moraine, ice… using crampons, being cold and hot at the same time… I LOVED IT.

After an hour on the road, we began to see herds of guanacos running through the Patagonian pampas, and that confirmed that we had reached our next destination: @parquepatagonia.

After going rafting down the Baker River with @raftingbaker, bathing in icy water, seeing incredible landscapes and chatting with people who only teach and add things to our lives

These are the new measures for travelers returning to or entering Chile from abroad

Starting on wednesday, march 31 at 5am, anyone entering chile from abroad must complete 10 days mandatory quarantine, with no exemptions.  the first 5 days must be carried out at a quarantine hotel especially for travelers where they will undergo a pcr test.  learn more about the new measures here..

Starting at 5am on Wednesday, March 31, new measures go into effect for travelers entering Chile from anywhere in the world. 

PCR TEST IN ORDER TO LEAVE HOTEL 

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS Chilean Nationals or Residents All costs for accommodations at the quarantine hotel or hotel authorized by the Health SEREMI must be paid for by each traveler.

Non-resident foreigners All costs for accommodations at the quarantine hotel must be paid for by each traveler upon receiving their health passport (at website: www.c19.cl ) before boarding flights to Chile.

* The quarantine hotel will be assigned according to availability upon entering Chile.

How do quarantine hotels work for travelers?

Each person must go to the website www.c19.cl and complete their personal information in order to obtain the health passport. They will then be given information on quarantine hotel availability for preventive quarantine for arriving passengers. This information will be available before the regulation goes into effect.

In the event that no reservation was made online, health officials will assign one to the passenger prior to their arrival at the airport.

These quarantine hotels will be managed by travel agencies authorized by the Health Ministry (MINSAL).  They will handle the logistics for those who make reservations according to availability on the c19.cl website.  Travelers are not allowed to make reservations without using these authorized agencies.  The base rate for the five days start at 480,000 Chilean pesos (US$670).  These agencies will also be in charge of the logistics of transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Reservations are key for non-resident foreigners. The health passport will not be issued without a reservation at a quarantine hotel. 

As for Chilean nationals and foreign residents, if they left Chile before Sunday, March 28, they must attach proof of exit on the c19.cl website so that the travel agency can assign the hotel free of charge.  Of course there is the option of staying at a different hotel than the one assigned, but in that case all costs are the responsibility of the passenger.

Anyone who exited Chile on Sunday, March 28 or after must make their reservation online and will be able to pay through the link on the MINSAL website or at the airport.  Proof of purchase must be shown at the Health Customs checkpoint.

▶ More information is available at  saludresponde.minsal.cl/preguntas-frecuentes-viajeros-extranjeros

▶ Download the flyer in PDF format with Information for travelers arriving to Chile,  here

Follow us on our social media:

+56 65 228 4242

[email protected].

Requirements for entering to Chile

Feb 8, 2022 | News

All foreign person before arriving in to Chile will have to complete the following requirements:

Negative PCR taken 72 hours before boarding.

In flights with stopovers, the last boarding point is considered. In case of entering by land, it cannot be older than 72 hours from the taking of the sample. This requirement is for every person over the age of 2.

Complete the “Traveler’s Affidavit” form

form online up to 48 hours before boarding, where you will provide contact, health, and travel information. This form will provide a QR code as a means of verification and is available at  www.c19.cl 

Health insurance

Health insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 30,000 that includes coverage for any expenses arising from Covid-19. Please ask Us or directly to [email protected]

Completed a vaccination program and must be validated in Chile

To have completed a vaccination program ( 2 doses ), which must be validated at mevacuno.gob.cl before entering Chile. Here, travelers will request the validation and learn when it will be approved. The vaccination approval period will be informed to the traveler at the time of making the request, procedure that may take up to 30 calendar days. Children under the age of 6 and non-resident foreigners who comply with one or more of the special requirements in  Decree 102 of the Ministry of the Interior  may enter without a complete vaccination program.

Mandatory PCR test performed upon arrival to Chile

All persons over two years of age, regardless of their citizenship, must undergo a mandatory PCR test performed upon arrival to Chile and keep a quarantine until a negative result of the PCR or antigen is obtained. People who do not have their vaccines validated must  undergo quarantine for 7 days, even if the result of the PCR is negative.  All travelers entering must comply with the mandatory tracking for 7  days.

by Monica VC | Feb 8, 2022

Cruce Lagos Andino

1 día de viaje (11 horas) Ticket Cruce Lagos Andino desde Puerto Varas hasta Bariloche o vice versa

Viaje a Chile y Argentina

11 Días / 10 Noches Viaje desde Santiago de Chile – Puerto Varas – Cruce Lagos Andinos – Bariloche – Buenos Aires.

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Parque Nacional Patagonia

Northern Patagonia

Dubbed as the Serengeti of the Southern Cone, the 690-sq-km Parque Nacional Patagonia features Patagonian steppe, forests, mountains, lakes and lagoons…

Orongo Ceremonial Village

Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Nearly covered in a bog of floating totora reeds, the crater lake of Rano Kau resembles a giant witch's cauldron and is a wild greenhouse of endemic…

Rano Raraku

Known as 'the nursery,' the volcano of Rano Raraku, about 18km from Hanga Roa, is the quarry for the hard tuff from which the moai were cut. You'll feel…

Ahu Tongariki

The monumental Ahu Tongariki has plenty to set your camera's flash popping. With 15 imposing statues, it is the largest ahu ever built. The statues gaze…

Centro Gabriela Mistral

This striking cultural and performing-arts center – named for Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American woman to win the Nobel Prize in…

Beach bums in search of a place to wallow will love this postcard-perfect, white-sand beach. It also forms a lovely backdrop for Ahu Nau Nau, which…

Casa de Isla Negra

Middle Chile

The spectacular setting on a windswept ocean headland makes it easy to understand why Isla Negra was Pablo Neruda’s favorite house. Built by the poet when…

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The best views over Santiago are from the peaks and viewpoints of the Parque Metropolitano, better known as Cerro San Cristóbal. At 722 hectares, the park…

Top picks from our travel experts

The 14 best things to do in chile, from volcano climbs to sampling pisco sours.

Ascensor Concepción

The city's oldest funicular, Ascensor Concepción takes you to Paseo Gervasoni, at the lower end of Cerro Concepción. Built in 1883, it originally ran on…

Ascensor Reina Victoria

This funicular dates back to 1902 and connects Av Elias to Paseo Dimalow.

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Towering over the adventure capital of Pucón, Volcán Villarica is the centerpiece of Parque Nacional Villarrica, one of the most popular parks in Chile…

Ascensor El Peral

The recently revamped Ascensor El Peral starts from near the Tribunales (Law Courts) just off Plaza Sotomayor and continues to Cerro Alegre, home to the…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

With its puffing volcanoes, pounding surf, silent salt flats and gleaming glaciers, Chile is the ultimate wonderland for adventures. Here's where to begin.

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Transportation

With Chile's epic scenery, getting around is always an adventure. Here's the lowdown on the best ways to navigate your way up, down and all around Chile.

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Looking to visit Chile? Here's a useful guide to entry requirements to ensure a seamless journey in and out of the country.

Money and Costs

A guide to daily costs in Chile, along with some tricks and tips to help keep more of those colorful Chilean pesos in your wallet.

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Customer Comments

I was apprehensive booking my itinerary following a cruise arriving in Chile, I booked your services from the UK There was never a need to worry, a nice driver in a good vehicle collected. 3 excursions were booked, again good drivers in nice cars arrived I can only compliment Visit Chile for providing quality service (at good prices)

I booked your services from the UK. Good drivers in nice cars arrived I can only compliment Visit Chile for providing quality service (at good prices)

I was apprehensive booking my itinerary following a cruise arriving in Chile, I booked your services from the UK There was never a need to worry, a nice driver in a good vehicle collected us in San Antonio, bringing us to Santiago where a nice hotel was arranged, 3 excursions were booked, again good drivers in nice cars arrived I can only compliment Visit Chile for providing quality service (at good prices)

Rosemary Bradley

Replys to emails were very prompt and efficient though. It was not really a tour as tour was done at concha y toro. Information and interaction from guide on the bus there would be helpful. I did the wine tour. Apart from a lift there I could not comment on quality of services. Driver and guide introdiced themselves and that was it. No specific complaints, but minimal service was provided on the actual tour.

Kris Dabkowski

Service provide by your agent was better than I could expected. In hotels: waiters should now a few English/international words e.g.: beer or ordering food some simple English/international terminology not only Spanish.

Marjorie Risinger

Our guide was wonderful and the excursion terrific.

Francis Peter

Damien and Paola was very professionnal and attentive and kindless and Katherin thé driver super!! Everything was réally fine thank you so much.

Nellie Knight

Cliff our guide was prompt, professional and knows Chile very well. He did an excellent job giving us a great sampling of Chile in a few hours. He knows all the great views. where good photos can be made. I will use your services again when in Chile.

Pamela Donaldson

Very satisfied with services provided. Our driver/guide arrived on schedule and was most helpful and informative. Thank you.

Keith Springer

Excellent service from both guide and driver.

teresa bunn

Jorge was a great guide, and ended up being our transportation to Vina the next day as well. On time and courteous and personable!

Jessica Austin

Daniela was very helpful in making arrangements. It is nice to have the name of a person when working with a large organization. I had a great experience on the Isla Negra trip I arranged through you.

Annika Leichtweiss

No complaints! Paola was extremely helpful and answered promptly any questions!

Kristina Scherbichler

Very informative tour, qualitative guide

Jean Pierre MOREL

We enjoyed your services and shall recommend you: It was well organized and had no trouble at all, our requests were fulfilled properly and professionally. Go on ! We wereon 1st time discovery. Next we may be more demanding. It was great.

Mary elacqua

The hotel offered other excursions and our options which were not present on your website we would have stayed another day go trip to hot springs /termas

Maria van Burik

The guides services were very good and all the transports etc. worked very well.Hotel Lady Florence Dixi: The staff could be friendlier! \r\nSuggestion: When a trip starts early in the morning, the hotel should be asked to provide either an early breakfast or give a packed breakfast. It is after all included in the price and is part of the tour. Really important!

Yolanda Liu

The tour I received was very good. It would have been better if the tour information I received would have told me to bring my bathing suit so I have an option to enjoy the hot spring at the Tatio Geyser.

Stephen Rickard

Great service to combine days trips with a quality hotel as a base. Highly recommend

Patrick Lehrman

Ata of AKU AKU Tours was very knowledgeable and an excellent guide. We were fortunate enough to have him on all three tours.

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Your Trip to Chile: The Complete Guide

South America’s skinniest country spans a volcano-fringed desert, fertile wine valleys, pristine fjords, and glacier stippled mountain ranges making it the ultimate destination for adventure travelers. This guide to Chile is a one-stop-shop for planning, covering everything from must-see places, tantalizing local cuisine, and money-saving tips to help you squeeze the most out of your trip.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit: Most trips are timed to make the most of fine weather in Patagonia in the south, with the austral spring, summer, and early autumn (October through April) good months for clear, warm days.
• Language: Chileans speak Spanish but thanks to their penchant for slang and dropping constants at the end of words, bringing a phrasebook is recommended even for advanced Spanish speakers. Most tourist-fronting businesses have good English, as do younger Chileans residing in Santiago.
• Currency: The Chilean peso ($ CLP) is the official currency of Chile.  
• Getting Around: Chile has an extensive infrastructure of increasingly low-cost flights that connect most cities across the country and, if booked in advance, are often significantly cheaper than buses. However, most inter-city flights are indirect and pass through the capital, so expect to spend plenty of time in Santiago’s domestic terminal. For local travel, affordable and comfortable bus services cater to short and overnight journeys, while Santiago’s excellent Metro/subway system is an easy and cheap means of exploring the capital. Hiring a rental car is an excellent option in Chile, particularly for exploring Patagonia.
• Travel Tip: Chile is a vast country packed with far more than you can see in a short period of time. We know it’s tempting to cram a whole month’s worth of activities into a far shorter time period, but we strongly recommend stripping your trip down to just a small number of destinations. You’ll spend far fewer hours on flights or overnight buses and come away wowed by the deep and unforgettable moments you’ve had the time and space to experience.

Things to Do

Chile’s remarkable diversity of landscapes and culture means you’re guaranteed to find plenty to fill an action-packed vacation. The north is home to the Atacama Desert, with its world-class stargazing and otherworldly landscapes; Santiago brims with fine museums, trendy new restaurants, and a burgeoning street art scene; the Central Valley is a place of rolling vineyards and classy boutique hotels; while the Lakes region is volcano country, where the intrepid can summit a fiery giant. In the far south, Patagonia is a place of pristine national parks and outdoor adventure, while west across the Pacific brings you to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a UNESCO World Heritage site dotted with statues of long-lost ancestors.

On a first trip to Chile, don’t miss the following:

• Spend a day exploring coastal Valparaíso ’s tumbling, street art daubed hills, dining on freshly-caught fish in its trendy eateries, and learning about the life and loves of the much-adored Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet, Pablo Neruda.
• Strap on your hiking boots and discover Patagonia’s most striking wildernesses in Torres del Paine National Park . Clamber up to glassy lagoons or paddle a kayak across icy waters filled with bobbing icebergs to admire vast glaciers. Head out by boat to visit chattering Magellanic penguin colonies or learn how to be a cowboy at a sheep ranch before dining on local specialties of spit-roasted lamb and king crab.
• To appreciate a completely different side to Chile, take the six-hour flight across the Pacific to Rapa Nui—a Polynesian island home to almost 900 moai (stone statues)  —to tour these sacred sites, dive into warm, crystalline waters, and sample tuna ceviche.

Get more inspiration with our guide to the top destinations to visit in Chile , the best things to do in Chile , and the best things to do in Santiago .

What to Eat and Drink

Chile might not be known for its dining scene, but prepare to be surprised. This is a country with a tradition of asado (barbecue) and expertly-cooked seafood, while growing indigenous culinary influences promise truly inventive flavors.

Santiago is a hub of increasingly fine dining, with a handful of restaurants that showcase unusual Chilean ingredients now on the world’s best restaurant lists. But it’s not all fancy: traditional markets and no-frills food trucks in the capital are great places for classic Chilean meat and fish stews and savory empanadas. In the south, Chiloé Island is proud of its traditional seafood dishes including curanto (a seafood stew cooked underground), while Patagonia lays claim to juicy lamb roasted for hours over an open fire.  

Chile is home to two main alcoholic drinks: wine and pisco. A large proportion of the Central Valley is stippled with vineyards, with Colchagua and Casablanca the most sought after, for their red carménère and white sauvignon blancs respectively, and both offering tours, tastings, and even top dollar dining. Further north in the Elqui Valley, moscatel grapes are fermented to become the grape brandy, pisco, which is best sampled in the zingy cocktail, pisco sour, which any self-respecting bar across the country can whip up.  

Learn more about what to eat with our list of must-try Chilean foods .

Where to Stay

Chilean accommodations run the whole gamut of basic campsites to exclusive five-star hotels, with plenty of family-run B&Bs, boutique hotels, and rental cabins in between.

Santiago is home to a wealth of affordable B&Bs and small hotels located right in the heart of the tourist districts of Lastarria, Bellavista, and Italia, granting quick access to the metro, as well as excellent restaurants, bars, and shops on your doorsteps. In more rural parts and in national parks across the country you'll find increasingly stylish chalet-style cabins. They are a hallmark of Chile and a great option for self-catering, with many built to include hot tubs. In Chiloé, you’ll want to stay in an oceanside palafito (a traditional fisherman’s dwelling on stilts) for the best sea views.

In the south, long-distance treks through isolated national parks mean lodgings in campsites or hostel-style accommodation, although many parks are now home to at least one five-star hotel, generally tucked deep into the wilderness and offering outstanding, lavish accommodation. In more remote parts of Patagonia, sheep and cattle ranches, many of which are still operational, also provide comfortable, sometimes rustic lodgings—all with the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Patagonian barbecue feast. 

Getting There

Santiago’s one international airport, Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez, is the hub for all flights into the country with a record-setting 24.6 million people passing through the airport in 2019.   Most U.S. airports have connections with Santiago, with many offering direct flights in the summer months. These include American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines.

If flying from within South America, budget companies including Sky Airlines and Jet Smart, as well as regional mainstay LATAM, provide the most frequent connections from hubs such as Lima in Peru and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Rickety buses also provide an overland connection to Chile from Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, although adventure cruise ships from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas in Patagonia in the south are a far more daring means of crossing the border.

For domestic travel, aim for budget carriers Jet Smart and Sky Airlines where possible and plan to book at least a few months in advance for the cheapest fares. If you do, you’ll often find that three-hour flights between cities are the same price, if not cheaper, than 12-hour bus journeys.

Culture and Customs

• Chileans greet family, friends, and visitors alike with a kiss on the right cheek (for women greeting women and men greeting women) or a brief one-arm hug (for men greeting men).
• Much the same as other South American countries, punctuality is not a national strength, and Chileans are known for arriving to social occasions late—although most tour operators and all transport companies pride themselves on their punctuality, so be sure to arrive on time for paid excursions or risk being left behind.
• In restaurants, a 10 percent tip is added to your bill though you’re under no obligation to pay it if the service doesn’t meet your expectations.
• Uber and other ridesharing apps are illegal but widely used in Chile with 85,000 Uber drivers across the country in 2019.   Despite the technical illegality, rideshares are a convenient means of getting around and avoiding being scammed by yellow taxi cabs (an unfortunately common occurrence in the capital). Avoid using an Uber from Santiago’s airport to the city, however; police regularly impound Ubers operating here, so you’re better off arranging an official airport shuttle instead.

Money-Saving Tips

• In popular destinations such as Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Patagonia, prices rise considerably in January and February, so avoid these months for a chance to secure cheaper deals on airfare, hotels, and tours.
• Santiago’s excellent Metro is the fastest and cheapest means of exploring the capital - just keep a close eye on your belongings as pickpockets do operate here.
• Book domestic flights at least a few months in advance to secure the best deals. This is particularly the case for Rapa Nui (Easter Island), where prices can triple closer to the departure date.
• If traveling to Patagonia, take plenty of US dollars with you. Paying in this currency at hotels and tour agencies can save you up to 10 percent off the advertised price.
• Bringing US dollars to switch at exchange houses will also save plenty of cash as ATMs can charge up to US$10 per withdrawal, and these can often be capped at a maximum of US$150 each.
• Request small bills where possible when receiving change. Most national parks accept cash only and may refuse to change large, 20,000 peso notes. If hiring a car, you’ll also want small bills for toll booths on the highways.

Chile Travel. " Currency. "

History.com. " Easter Island ." February 28, 2020.

Arturo Merino Benítez Airport. " Santiago Airport Projects Passenger Traffic to Drop From 24.6 Million to 9 Million by 2020. " September 8, 2020.

Reuters. "Chilean Bank Ordered to Open Uber's Accounts to Taxman." October 15, 2019.

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Chile Tourism Board Ups the Ante for Tourism Offerings

The Chile Tourism Board has taken this time before reopening to international travelers to up the ante for the country’s tourism offerings with the help from national entities. From virtual trainings that educate local travel companies of all sizes to ongoing infrastructure updates taking place at the country’s largest airport, Chile is preparing to safely revive travel to the destination following the country’s most recent border closure in April 2021.  

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chile received over 220,000 tourists from the U.S. in 2019, making American travelers one of the country’s top feeder and priority markets. The average length of stay for U.S. tourists to the country was approximately 15 days while the average daily spend was nearly $100. The country has become increasingly attractive to North American travelers, especially due to its geographical location on the west coast of South America that allows for a variety of climates and ecosystems making it ideal for adventure experiences. Due to this favorable climate, Chile also offers clear skies for stargazing, as well as vineyards that produce top-quality wine.

“Welcoming travelers is one of the things we do best in Chile, and we are currently working on reinforcing our tourism offering to better prepare our country, our infrastructure and our local businesses while we coordinate a future country-wide reopening,” said Andrea Wolleter, national director of SERNATUR , the government entity representing the Chile Tourism Board, in a press statement.

New Initiatives Among the new initiatives currently in process, are construction updates continue to progress at   Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, Santiago de Chile’s airport and the country’s largest. The official re-inauguration of a new international terminal is slated by year-end 2021 and will feature over   2 million sq. ft. of facilities. With an   investment of over $900 million, the facelift will allow the airport to receive 30 million travelers, up from the 16 million visitors it can currently receive. One of the levels of the airport’s new parking buildings will operate as an open-air amphitheater   for free cultural events and other activities.

In addition, SERNATUR, via the   SIGO Technology   initiative, recently provided an interactive, digitalization training for hundreds of local tourism companies. As the pandemic sped up the use of digital platforms, these businesses were able to gain a competitive advantage by acquiring new digital skills and tools that allowed them to strengthen their positioning online.

Another new program is     “Relatos de Guias”, or tales by guides in English, is a new SERNATUR campaign that invites   tour guides to submit a video   where they give a virtual tour of their Chilean destination of choice. Launched in June, nearly 2,000 guides have participated and will be compensated financially for sharing their video. Then, SERNATUR’S production team will work alongside the participating guides to produce a 5-minute video, which will be published online for all to enjoy.

While borders remain closed to foreign tourists, Chile has seen an   increase in national and international air routes, which will continue as   new mobility passes   start being granted to locals. Per Chile’s Civil Aeronautics Board, there was a 237.7 percent increase in international air traffic in May 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020. In addition, Chile’s National Statistics Institute indicates that occupancy rates for hotel rooms registered an increase of over 200 percentage points in April 2021, compared to the same month in 2020.   Chile’s   mobility pass, issued by the national government, came into effect on May 26 and will allow domestic travel, among other activities, for people who have their two vaccine doses.

For more destination updates, click here . And don’t miss the 4-1-1 on the countries that have recently opened up to U.S. travelers including Dubai ,  Spain , the French West Indies & France ,  Germany , Switzerland , the Czech Republic and  Denmark .

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Chile Tourism Board supports national tourism sector in preparation for travel rebound

Valle Nevado.

Trainings, infrastructure updates and a campaign that highlights tour guides are some of the efforts in place to prepare Chile for a future tourism reopening.

SANTIAGO, CHILE – Prior to reopening its borders to foreign travelers, the Chile Tourism Board , with help from national entities, has focused on projects and initiatives that strengthen the country’s tourism offering. From virtual trainings that educate local travel companies of all sizes to ongoing infrastructure updates taking place at the country’s largest airport, Chile is preparing to safely revive travel to the destination following the country’s most recent border closure in April 2021.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chile received over 220,000 tourists from the U.S. in 2019, making American travelers one of the country’s top feeder and priority markets. The average length of stay for U.S. tourists to the country was approximately 15 days while the average daily spend was nearly 100 USD. The country has become increasingly attractive to North American travelers, especially due to its privileged geographical location on the west coast of South America that allows for a variety of climates and ecosystems making it ideal for adventure experiences. Due to this favorable climate, Chile also enjoys some of the world’s clearest skies for stargazing, as well as beautiful vineyards that produce top-quality wine.  

“Welcoming travelers is one of the things we do best in Chile, and we are currently working on reinforcing our tourism offering to better prepare our country, our infrastructure and our local businesses while we coordinate a future country-wide reopening,” said Andrea Wolleter , national director of SERNATUR , the government entity representing the Chile Tourism Board.

Here are several initiatives that are currently underway:

• Construction updates continue to progress at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, Santiago de Chile’s airport and the country’s largest. The official reinauguration of a new international terminal is slated by year-end 2021 and will feature over 2 million square feet of cutting-edge facilities. With an investment of over 900 million USD, the facelift will allow the airport to receive 30 million travelers, up from the 16 million visitors it can currently receive. One of the levels of the airport’s new parking buildings will operate as an open-air amphitheater for free cultural events and other activities.
• SERNATUR, via their SIGO Technology initiative, recently provided an interactive digitalization training for hundreds of local tourism companies. As the pandemic sped up the use of digital platforms, these businesses were able to gain a competitive advantage by acquiring new digital skills and tools that allowed them to strengthen their positioning online.
• “Relatos de Guías”, or tales by guides in English, is a new SERNATUR campaign that invites tour guides to submit a video where they give a virtual tour of their Chilean destination of choice. Launched in June, nearly 2,000 guides have participated and will be compensated financially for sharing their video. Then, SERNATUR’S production team will work alongside the participating guides to produce a 5-minute video which will be published online for all to enjoy.
• While borders remain closed to foreign tourists, Chile has seen an increase in national and international air routes, which will continue as new mobility passes start being granted to locals. Per Chile’s Civil Aeronautics Board, there was a 237.7 percent increase in international air traffic in May 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020. Furthermore, Chile’s National Statistics Institute indicates that occupancy rates for hotel rooms registered a comforting increase of over 200 percentage points in April 2021, compared to the same month in 2020. Chile’s mobility pass, issued by the national government, came into effect on May 26 and will allow domestic travel, among other activities, for people who have their two vaccine doses.

Vicky Karantzavelou

Vicky  is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the  Editor-in Chief . She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.

She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.

• Vicky Karantzavelou https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/vicky-karantzavelou/ Ellen Kensington, London's newest luxury boutique hotel to open early Summer 2024
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Chile Travel Guide

In Chile, the elongated South American country, you’ll discover deserts and glaciers, remote islands and idyllic beaches as well as a captivating culture.

A narrow, 4,270-long ribbon of land stretching from the peaks of the Andes to the fjords of Patagonia, Chile is a country of diverse, rugged beauty.

The sparse red dunes and glinting salt pans of the Atacama Desert – the Valle de la Luna, named after its lunar landscape – is particularly otherworldly. Then there’s the rugged volcanic peaks and blue glacial lakes of Torres de Paine National Park. You can even take a cruise through the ice fields at the southernmost tip of Chile, towards Antarctica. Hike, bike or go horse riding across this spectacular wilderness.

But Chile isn’t just a country for nature lovers. The capital, Santiago, is an energetic city of hillside parks and well-heeled restaurants, late-night beer halls and eccentric museums. Valparaíso is a seaside town of timeworn beauty, with an air of spontaneity that has long attracted artists and writers like Nobel-winning poet Pablo Neruda.

Those in the know will be aware that Chile is one of the world’s top wine producers. Tour its fertile valleys and terraced vineyards – visit the Leyda Valley for pinot noir and the Limari Valley for white wines and pisco brandy.

The food culture is as diverse as the landscape. Try ceviche, raw fish cured in lemon juice and served with onions, chili and coriander. Or empanadas stuffed with pino, a mixture of ground beef, onions, raisins, olives and hard-boiled eggs. Contemporary Chilean chefs are really putting the country on the map, rediscovering indigenous ingredients and marrying them with fine-dining techniques.

By turns eccentric, otherworldly and soulful, and with striking, varied landscapes, Chile is a country you won’t forget in a hurry.

TOURISM INSIGHTS: NATIONAL TOURISM SERVICE (SERNATUR)

Chile’s National Tourism Service (Sernatur) was created in 1975 with the purpose of researching, planning, monitoring, promoting and coordinating tourism activity in Chile. Over time, the country saw increasing amounts of visitors, and tourism increased in economic and social importance. Sernatur’s institutional objectives gradually began to increase – it started working on strengthening ties between public and private sectors, and establishing initiatives to allow for the deployment of tourism in Chile.

Today, the National Tourism Service is a public entity recognised for its role in promoting and disseminating the development of tourism in Chile. We caught up with Andrea Wolleter , National Director of Sernatur, to find out more about the organisation.

Q&A WITH ANDREA WOLLETER, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, SERNATUR

What are the institution’s current objectives?

Andrea Wolleter (AW): Sernatur is a public entity responsible for promoting and disseminating the development of tourism in Chile. Our main strategic objectives are to execute programmes based on the National Tourism Strategy, fostering the sustainable development of tourism activities, encouraging the industry’s specialisation, diversification, quality and competitiveness and promoting national tourism destinations and attractions.

How do you protect and promote the country’s wildlife areas?

AW: Our work is focused primarily on sustainability as a guiding force, from the perspective of public policies and promoting the development of new tourist destinations, products and services.

Tourism development in national parks and other protected wildlife areas in Chile has a high potential for growth, with 78 percent of international tourists choosing to visit our country because of its nature.

Our protected wildlife areas represent an enormous diversity of landscapes, history and species throughout the country. The natural heritage protected by these areas is considered to be of great importance by the government, which has proven its commitment to sustainable tourism development in both national parks and protected wildlife areas by investing significantly in public infrastructure and special resources for tourism service providers, as well as allocating funds to promote these destinations.

We have also forged closer alliances with other public entities like the National Forest Corporation (Conaf) and the Ministries of National Assets and the Environment. Together we coordinate action plans that highlight and improve management and infrastructure in protected wildlife areas, expanding tourism offerings and diversifying experiences offered for Chilean and foreign tourists.

Are you working on any interesting projects you want to tell us about?

AW: In recent years, Chile has been working hard to ensure a tourism offer that is distinctive, inclusive, sophisticated and developed under sustainability criteria according to the category assigned to the country, both in terms of the number of tourists that arrive each year and the distinctions it has received at the global level.

We have also been promoting national tourism destinations and attractions both inside and outside the country, to contribute to Chile’s economic, social and cultural development through government policies and programmes.

We recently launched the international campaigns, “Chile, Where the Impossible is Possible”, and “Welcome to Adventure Tourism”, which will be deployed in strategic markets to promote the country as a must-see destination thanks to its unique landscapes and the diversity of tourism experiences it offers, and as the best venue for adventure sports in the world. At the national level, we have an active campaign “Choose Chile”, to encourage Chileans to travel domestically.

Why should people visit Chile?

AW: Because of the large diversity of experiences available for all types of travellers. We have beautiful desert valleys and high plateaus in the north, thousand-year-old glaciers in the southernmost places on earth, stunning forests and lakes nestled at the foot of magnificent volcanoes, islands full of legends, and many more attractions to be discovered in every corner of the country.

What really captures tourists’ attention are the contrasts. Our visitors are amazed by such an incredible diversity offered by a single country. We have the driest desert in the world, Patagonia and Antarctica, and we produce exceptional wines whose terroir can be toured by visitors. In central Chile, you can ski in the morning and enjoy the coast in the afternoon.

And what really stands out is its adventure tourism offer – Chile has been recognised numerous times and by different media outlets. For those who love nature and adventure tourism, our country offers a variety of options from the north to the south.

Our country also offers a wide range of tourism experiences, including astro-tourism in the north, wine tourism in central Chile, indigenous tourism throughout the country, as well as nature, culture and gastronomy.

With respect to your designation as the Leading Adventure Tourism Destination in South America during the last few World Travel Awards, what adventures does Chile offer?

AW: Chile is not only the Leading Adventure Tourism Destination in South America, a distinction we have been given during the past five consecutive years by the World Travel Awards, but we are also currently the Leading Adventure Tourism Destination in the World, a title we have achieved for four years in a row, and this fills us with a deep sense of pride.

The country offers more than 4,000 kilometres of coastline, mountains over 6,000 metres high, the driest desert in the world in the north of Chile, rushing rivers to the south, and over a hundred protected wildlife areas including national parks, reserves and monuments, making Chile a truly unique country.

Adventure tourism is on the rise and mobilises millions of people around the world. Nearly 30 percent of foreigners who have visited Chile state that they have participated in some kind of adventure activity.

What trends do you see transforming tourism in Chile? And how are you leveraging them?

AW: Our promotion strategy is aligned with global trends that demand transformative and authentic experiences. We believe that Chile offers the chance to experience a bespoke trip while truly connecting with unique landscapes and the charm of our people. We are the perfect destination for an enjoyable vacation.

Another trend we have witnessed is that current tourists demand that the entire offer be digitalised. If we consider the growing interest in our country around the world, this is extremely relevant. We are making efforts to work with the industry so that both hotels and the market in general are prepared to receive these modern, connected tourists.

Increasing numbers of tourists are seeking out unique experiences that offer greater contact with the community, enabling them to try local foods and learn about their customs. In recent years, we have seen an increasing preference for sustainable products and services, alongside authentic Chilean experiences. Travellers around the world are willing to pay for services that are developed under sustainability criteria. This option increased from 45 percent in 2011 to 55 percent in 2014, and we expect that this figure has continued to rise since then.

As a response to this interest, over 145 lodging and tourism operator services in Chile have obtained the S Seal, a distinction that identifies tourism companies that meet the global sustainability criteria established by the World Tourism Organization.

In more general terms, the promotion of innovation, quality and sophistication in our different products is a strategy aimed at increasing our competitiveness. Likewise, strengthening company and human capital capacities for better management and quality of services is part of the actions we are also promoting to attract more tourists.

What challenges does the Chilean tourism industry face?

AW: President Sebastián Piñera’s administration has proposed a response to the challenges faced in the ever-changing and defiant current scenario, which requires us to have a strategy to meet consumer demands and respond to market dynamism.

Our priority has been focussed on advancing in terms of innovation and digitalisation of the tourism offer, and for this, we have designed a strategy to respond to the new demands of consumers who have moved more towards digital spaces. This new digital traveller requires both the public and private sector to quickly adopt the tools offered by new technologies.

We want to use technology to modernise our tourist information offices and adopt the use of big data for decision-making. We also plan on activating regional public-private work groups to improve our coordinated and associated work throughout the country.

For these reasons, we have incorporated a new innovation and technology pillar within the National Tourism Strategy as a key element to drive and promote the digitalisation of tourism in Chile.

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SANTIAGO IN FOCUS

Encircled by mountains and bursting at the seams with unique cultural attractions, Chile’s capital is an essential stop on the South American itinerary. Stay here for a week and you’ll barely scratch the surface of what’s on offer.

For a start, Santiago has some gripping museums. Museo de la Memoria y los DerechosHumanos is a carefully curated museum exposing the human rights violations and ‘disappearances’ that occurred under Chile’s brutal military government from 1973 to 1990. Meanwhile, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino showcases cultural exhibits from pre-Columbian cultures. These include early Andean textiles, Mayan stone columns and vomit spatulas used by Amazonians to empty their stomachs before ingesting psychoactive substances. Another intriguing cultural offering is La Chascona, one of Pablo Neruda’s three houses – as he was fascinated by the ocean the dining room was built to resemble a ship’s cabin.

Santiago is an enjoyable city to explore. Barrio Bellavista is the city’s bohemian quarter. The walls of the buildings are splashed with colourful street art, and the pavements lined with café chairs and tables. There’s a different quirky boutique or art gallery around each corner. Meanwhile, Providencia and Las Condes are the city’s most upmarket neighbourhoods, offering plenty of luxury hotel options.

LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS

Easter Island

Although this remote island is a Chilean territory, it’s actually located in Polynesia, in the South Pacific. The island is most well-known for its hundreds of moai, stone statues of human figures with oversized heads.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is in the Atacama Desert. It’s an area of towering red sand dunes and waterless ravines, extinct volcanic craters and desert oases. More intrepid travellers visit here to try out sand-boarding down the dunes.

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

The granite pillars of the Torres del Paine rise almost 2,000 metres above the Patagonian landscape. This national park offers some of the best panoramas in Chile, of rugged mountains towering over brilliant blue lakes. You can even hike across a glacier here, or kayak right up to the icebergs bobbing in Grey Lake

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

Santiago Airport (also known as Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport) is the busiest in Chile, and the gateway into the country for most international travellers. It offers flights to 62 destinations in 20 countries across Oceania, Asia, America and Europe. This includes 16 domestic routes. The most popular destination is Puerto de Montt – a gateway to the Andes and the Patagonian fords – to which there are 545 flights per month.

The easiest way to get around the country is by flying. LATAM is a popular Chilean airline that offers weekly deals. However, those with more time to explore can take advantage of the country’s economic and reliable network of long-distance buses. Hiring a car or motorcycle will enable you to visit more off-the-beaten-track locations. The Pan-American highway (which runs the length of the country) is in good condition, but smaller roads are sometimes unpaved.

There are plenty of transport options for travelling shorter distances or within cities. Take a colectivo – a minibus taxi running on a fixed route like a bus – or a metered taxi. Both Santiago and Valparaiso have commuter rail systems, and the former has an efficient metro.

More South America Travel Guide

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Under SXM : Creating Sustainable Underwater Experiences

Hidden Spots for Cherry Blossom Season : Round Up

Urbino : The Last Stop

Enrico Costantini : Behind the Lens

Lepogo Lodges : A Sustainable Safari Experience

Casa de Olivos : Sustainability Stories 

Opulence on the Orient Express 

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