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Sand dune amid Valley of the Moon rock formations

Chile travel guide

Desert towns, a big capital and a far south, spread along one long country

Best: Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec

Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons

Capital
Santiago
Language
Spanish
Currency
Chilean peso (CLP)
Time zone
UTC-06:00, UTC-04:00
Plugs
Type C, L · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
130 / 131 / 132

Why visit Chile

Chile suits independent travellers who like variety and don't mind moving around. You can start in Santiago, head to the coast at Valparaíso or La Serena, then travel north to Iquique or south to Puerto Montt, Valdivia and Punta Arenas. The best months are November, December, January and March. The honest limitation is distance. These cities sit far apart, so you will lose time to long travel days. Pick one or two regions rather than trying to see everything.

  • Clear best months to plan around

    The best months to visit Chile are November, December and January, plus March. If you have a flexible schedule, aim for one of these months. Outside them, weigh the trip more carefully before you book.

  • Santiago, a large capital city

    Santiago is the capital and by far the biggest city, with 6257516 people. That is about a third of Chile's 20150948 residents. It is an inland city, so it makes a natural base before you head to the coast.

  • A long list of coastal cities

    Most of Chile's larger cities sit on the sea. Valparaíso, La Serena, Iquique, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas are all coastal. You can build a trip that links several of them.

  • A big country with inland options

    Chile covers 756102 km², so distances between cities add up. Plan fewer stops and give each one time. Inland Valdivia, with 150048 people, is a smaller alternative to the coastal cities.

  • Straightforward practicalities

    Spanish is the language and the Chilean peso (CLP) is the currency. Cars drive on the right. Power is 220 V with type C and L plugs. The emergency numbers are 130, 131 and 132.

Is Chile right for you?

Great for

  • Summer sun-seekers: December and January bring highs of 25–26°C and over 13 hours of sun a day
  • Travellers who hate rain: under 1 rain day a month from November to April
  • City-plus-coast trips pairing Santiago with coastal Valparaíso, La Serena or Iquique
  • Spanish speakers or learners, as Spanish is the only listed language
  • Long trips with time to cover 756,102 km², from Iquique to Punta Arenas

Less ideal for

  • Winter warmth-seekers: June and July highs stay under 20°C, with lows around 8–9°C
  • May and June visitors, the wettest months with about 3 rain days and 24–27 mm
  • Short trips hoping to see everything in a country of 756,102 km² across 2 time zones
  • Travellers with no Spanish, since it is the only listed language

Chile right now: September

9.7/10
Avg high
21°C
Avg low
10°C
Rain days
1

Averages for Chile.

Weather by month

This chart's climate data is labelled only as Chile, with no city named, and it rates December, January, March and November best for highs of 24–26°C, almost no rain and 12–14 hours of sun. No month is one to avoid, as every month scores 9.4 or more, but June is wettest (27 mm) and July coolest (highs of 18.8°C).

Average highs and lows in Chile by month January: high 26°C, low 16°C , 0 rain days . February: high 27°C, low 16°C , 0 rain days . March: high 26°C, low 15°C , 0 rain days . April: high 23°C, low 13°C , 1 rain days . May: high 21°C, low 11°C , 3 rain days . June: high 20°C, low 9°C , 3 rain days . July: high 19°C, low 8°C , 2 rain days . August: high 20°C, low 9°C , 2 rain days . September: high 21°C, low 10°C , 1 rain days . October: high 22°C, low 11°C , 2 rain days . November: high 24°C, low 13°C , 0 rain days . December: high 25°C, low 15°C , 0 rain days . 26°C 16°C JAN 0d 27°C 16°C FEB 0d 26°C 15°C MAR 0d 23°C 13°C APR 1d 21°C 11°C MAY 3d 20°C 9°C JUN 3d 19°C 8°C JUL 2d 20°C 9°C AUG 2d 21°C 10°C SEP 1d 22°C 11°C OCT 2d 24°C 13°C NOV 0d 25°C 15°C DEC 0d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Chile (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Chile: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Santiago and the central and northern coast

  1. Day 1–3

    Santiago

    Start in the capital and largest city. Use these days to get over the flight, change money into Chilean pesos and explore the centre on foot at an easy pace.

  2. Day 4–5

    Valparaíso

    Move to the coast at Valparaíso. It is a much smaller city than Santiago, so it suits slow days of walking its streets and spending time by the sea.

  3. Day 6–7

    La Serena

    End further up the coast in La Serena. Plan relaxed days by the water here, and leave enough time on the last day to return for your flight home.

10 days

From Santiago south to Punta Arenas

  1. Day 1–3

    Santiago

    Begin in the capital. Rest after the flight, sort out local money and a SIM card, and explore the city before heading south.

  2. Day 4–5

    Valdivia

    Travel south to Valdivia, an inland city that is far quieter than Santiago. Spend unhurried days walking around town.

  3. Day 6–7

    Puerto Montt

    Continue to Puerto Montt on the coast. Use it as a base for a slower pace by the sea before the longest move of the trip.

  4. Day 8–10

    Punta Arenas

    Finish in Punta Arenas, the southernmost city on this list. Book your transfer here early, and keep your last day free in case of delays.

Food to try in Chile

Empanada de pino

A baked pastry filled with minced beef, onion, olive, raisin and hard-boiled egg. Bakeries sell them all year, and families eat them in large numbers during the national holidays.

Pastel de choclo

A baked dish of minced meat and chicken, topped with a sweet layer of ground corn. It is a summer dish, when fresh corn is in season, and often comes in a clay bowl.

Completo

A hot dog piled with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise. It is cheap street and snack-bar food, eaten at lunch or late at night in towns across the country.

Cazuela

A clear soup with a large piece of beef or chicken, potato, pumpkin and corn. It is a home-style dish, and many small restaurants serve it as a set lunch.

Pisco sour

A cocktail of pisco (a grape brandy), lemon juice, sugar and egg white. Bars and restaurants serve it everywhere, often as a drink before dinner.

Curanto

A mix of shellfish, meat, potatoes and dumplings, cooked over hot stones in a pit and covered with leaves. It comes from the island of Chiloé in the south.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Chile uses plug types C and L, and the voltage is 220 V. Check that your chargers work at 220 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs are a different type.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Chile drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts for the first few days.
  • Emergency numbers: The emergency numbers in Chile are 130, 131 and 132. Save them in your phone before you arrive, so you are not searching for them when something goes wrong.
  • Currency: The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). Check the exchange rate before you travel, so you can quickly judge whether a price seems fair.
  • Language: Spanish is the language of Chile. Learn a few basic phrases, and keep a translation app on your phone for menus, signs and bus stations.
  • Time zones: Chile has 2 time zones, listed as UTC-06:00 and UTC-04:00. Check which one applies to your destination when you book flights, tours or transfers.
  • Calling code: The country calling code for Chile is +56. Use it when you save local numbers, such as your hotel or tour operator, in your phone.

Chile: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Chile?

The best months to visit Chile are December, January, March and November. December scores highest at 10 out of 10. It is warm and dry, with highs of 25.1°C, about 0.2 rain days and 13.3 hours of sun a day. January is similar, with highs of 26.2°C and 13.5 hours of sun.

Is Chile good to visit in July?

Yes, July is still a good month, with a score of 9.6 out of 10. It is the coolest month, with highs of 18.8°C and lows of 8.1°C. Rain stays low at 20 mm over about 1.8 days, and you get about 9.2 hours of sun a day.

What is the rainiest month in Chile?

June is the rainiest month, but it is still fairly dry. It gets 27 mm of rain over about 3.2 days. May is close behind at 24 mm. From November to March, rain drops to 4 mm or less a month. All these figures are averages for 2015–2024.

Is there a month to avoid in Chile?

No month scores badly. The lowest scores are 9.4 out of 10, in May and June. Chile covers 756,102 km², and these climate figures are one average for the whole country. Check the forecast for the region you plan to visit, such as Punta Arenas in the far south.

What plugs and voltage does Chile use?

Chile uses plug types C and L, and the voltage is 220 V. Check that your devices work at 220 V before you pack them. If your plugs are a different type, bring an adapter.

What currency, language and emergency numbers does Chile use?

Chile uses the Chilean peso (CLP), and the language is Spanish. The emergency numbers are 130, 131 and 132. The country calling code is +56. Cars drive on the right. Chile uses two time zones, UTC-06:00 and UTC-04:00.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Chile.