Chile
Republic of Chile
South America · CHL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Chile
Chile is one of South America's best long-distance trips for travelers who want deserts, wine valleys, and Patagonian scenery without a lot of extra clutter. It works best when you choose a region or corridor, such as Santiago and the central valley, the Atacama, or the far south, instead of trying to treat the whole country as one itinerary.
Popular For
Things To See
- Santiago
- Atacama Desert
- Valparaiso
- Easter Island
- Torres del Paine
- Chiloe
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- North and south have very different weather, so the best month depends heavily on the region.
- Patagonia needs more time and flexibility than a city-and-wine itinerary.
- If you want the Atacama or Torres del Paine, book ahead and build buffer days into the route.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Chile.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Chile & Easter Island
Lonely Planet
Complete Chilean guide covering Patagonia, deserts, and the unique culture of Easter Island.
View on Amazon →
Moon Chile: With Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Steph Dyson
Moon guide highlighting Chile's volcanoes, glaciers, wine regions, and Rapa Nui adventures.
View on Amazon →
The Rough Guide to Chile & Easter Island
Rough Guides
Adventurous Chile guide with scenic routes, local culture, and off-the-beaten-path recommendations.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Chile.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Santiago
- Population
- 20,206,953
- Area
- 756,102 km²
- Region
- South America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
Chilean peso ($)
CLP
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
46.2
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 42.1
- Restaurants
- 39.7
- Rent
- 11.6
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Santiago (33.45°S, 70.67°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
75/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 90/100
- Lived safety
- 48/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.878
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.012
- 10-year change
- +0.033
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.967
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.102
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.784
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (7)
- 🏛️
Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture in the Arica and Parinacota Region
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Sewell Mining Town
Inscribed 2006
- 🏛️
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
Inscribed 2005
- 🏛️
Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso
Inscribed 2003
- 🏛️
Churches of Chiloé
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Rapa Nui National Park
Inscribed 1995
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 21.6%
- Forest cover
- 25.0%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 18
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 34
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
42/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
34/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
83/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased caution in Chile due to crime and civil unrest. Country Summary: Street crime (e.g., muggings, pick-pocketing, theft) is common in Chile. Rates of violent crime, such as assaults, homicide, carjackings, and residential break-ins, are increasing. Large-scale demonstrations periodically occur in Santiago and other cities in Chile. Demonstrations can take place with little or no notice, and often result in disruptions to transportation, including public bus and Santiago metro services.Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Chile. If you decide to travel to Chile: Do not leave luggage unattended, even in locked vehicles. Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location. Avoid demonstrations. Follow the instructions of local authorities including movement restrictions and obey all curfews. Find a safe location and shelter in place if in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests. Review the Country Security Report for Chile. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the U.S. Embassy and Department of State on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data