Chile received 3,308,873 foreign tourists between January and August 2026, 19.1% fewer than in the same period of 2025, according to preliminary figures from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Almost half (48.0%) entered through Santiago's airport, the only major gateway that grew this year (+1.8%). The drop is explained almost entirely by Argentina: 1,226,678 Argentines arrived, 850,759 fewer than a year earlier (−41.0%).
This story uses the region and border crossing where each visitor enters, which is the best public signal of which Chile tourist destinations foreigners choose: whoever crosses at Jama usually heads to San Pedro de Atacama, and whoever enters at Dorotea or Río Don Guillermo, to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. It is not the final destination: a Brazilian landing in Santiago may continue to the desert or Patagonia on a domestic flight, and that trip is not recorded by region.
Foreign tourism in Chile in figures
View the data as a table
| Foreign tourists | 3,308,873 |
| Entered through Santiago's airport | 48.0% |
| Drop in Argentine tourists | -41.0% |
| Rise in Brazilian tourists | 2.3% |
Chile tourist destinations by region of entry
The Santiago Metropolitan Region concentrates 1,587,207 arrivals, through Arturo Merino Benítez airport. It is followed by Valparaíso (427,402), home of the Cristo Redentor crossing, the main route from Mendoza; Magallanes (235,948), the gateway to Patagonia; Los Lagos (217,327), with the Cardenal Samoré crossing towards Bariloche, and Arica y Parinacota (206,227), with traffic from Peru and Bolivia. Of the 14 regions with open entry points, 13 fell: only the Metropolitan Region grew.
View the data as a table
| Arrivals | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitana | 1,587,207 · vs. 2025: +1.8% |
| Valparaíso | 427,402 · vs. 2025: -47.6% |
| Magallanes | 235,948 · vs. 2025: -10.0% |
| Los Lagos | 217,327 · vs. 2025: -35.5% |
| Arica y Parinacota | 206,227 · vs. 2025: -2.0% |
| Tarapacá | 203,266 · vs. 2025: -13.1% |
| La Araucanía | 183,767 · vs. 2025: -40.0% |
| Antofagasta | 121,457 · vs. 2025: -9.1% |
| Aysén | 56,275 · vs. 2025: -41.1% |
| Coquimbo | 28,576 · vs. 2025: -41.4% |
| Maule | 24,998 · vs. 2025: -58.3% |
| Los Ríos | 8,749 · vs. 2025: -43.3% |
| Atacama | 5,044 · vs. 2025: -28.6% |
| Biobío | 2,630 · vs. 2025: -58.1% |
| Region | Jan.-Aug. 2026 | Jan.-Aug. 2025 | Change | 2026 share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitana | 1,587,207 | 1,558,712 | +1.8% | 48.0% |
| Valparaíso | 427,402 | 815,561 | -47.6% | 12.9% |
| Magallanes | 235,948 | 262,173 | -10.0% | 7.1% |
| Los Lagos | 217,327 | 336,902 | -35.5% | 6.6% |
| Arica y Parinacota | 206,227 | 210,443 | -2.0% | 6.2% |
| Tarapacá | 203,266 | 233,958 | -13.1% | 6.1% |
| La Araucanía | 183,767 | 306,042 | -40.0% | 5.6% |
| Antofagasta | 121,457 | 133,688 | -9.1% | 3.7% |
| Aysén | 56,275 | 95,607 | -41.1% | 1.7% |
| Coquimbo | 28,576 | 48,765 | -41.4% | 0.9% |
| Maule | 24,998 | 59,925 | -58.3% | 0.8% |
| Los Ríos | 8,749 | 15,419 | -43.3% | 0.3% |
| Atacama | 5,044 | 7,064 | -28.6% | 0.2% |
| Biobío | 2,630 | 6,279 | -58.1% | 0.1% |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur, breakdown by entry point, region and nationality. Preliminary figures.
For almost one in two visitors, the first trip in Chile is between Pudahuel and the city. Bus, taxi and private transfer options, with prices, are in the guide at https://viajandochile.com/en/plan-your-trip/santiago-airport-to-city-center-transfer-bus-taxi.
The border crossings most used by foreign tourists
By type of entry point, airports added up to 1,606,397 arrivals (+2.1%), the border with Argentina 1,271,029 (−38.1%) and the northern border, with Peru and Bolivia, 431,447 (−7.3%). The Andean crossings explain the drop: Cristo Redentor received 426,262 tourists, almost half as many as in 2025 (−47.7%); Cardenal Samoré fell 39.7% and Pino Hachado, 48.3%. In the north, Concordia (Chacalluta), in Arica, was the only major land crossing that grew (+2.4%).
View the data as a table
| Arrivals | |
|---|---|
| Aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez (Santiago) | 1,587,207 |
| Sistema Cristo Redentor (Los Libertadores) | 426,262 |
| Colchane | 200,453 |
| Cardenal Antonio Samoré | 166,245 |
| Concordia (Chacalluta) | 132,987 |
| Puesco (Mamuil Malal) | 85,997 |
| Pino Hachado | 73,504 |
| Chungará | 71,952 |
| Dorotea | 69,791 |
| Integración Austral (Monte Aymond) | 54,818 |
| Jama | 52,844 |
| Río Don Guillermo | 44,728 |
| Aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez (Santiago) | Metropolitana | 1,587,207 | 1,558,250 | 1.9% |
| Sistema Cristo Redentor (Los Libertadores) | Valparaíso | 426,262 | 815,536 | -47.7% |
| Colchane | Tarapacá | 200,453 | 233,535 | -14.2% |
| Cardenal Antonio Samoré | Los Lagos | 166,245 | 275,477 | -39.7% |
| Concordia (Chacalluta) | Arica y Parinacota | 132,987 | 129,930 | 2.4% |
| Puesco (Mamuil Malal) | La Araucanía | 85,997 | 113,328 | -24.1% |
| Pino Hachado | La Araucanía | 73,504 | 142,148 | -48.3% |
| Chungará | Arica y Parinacota | 71,952 | 79,379 | -9.4% |
| Dorotea | Magallanes | 69,791 | 80,384 | -13.2% |
| Integración Austral (Monte Aymond) | Magallanes | 54,818 | 75,094 | -27.0% |
| Jama | Antofagasta | 52,844 | 68,295 | -22.6% |
| Río Don Guillermo | Magallanes | 44,728 | 42,362 | 5.6% |
Atacama, Torres del Paine and Easter Island: the gateways to the icons
The Jama crossing, on the route from Salta and Jujuy, brought 52,844 tourists into the Antofagasta Region (−22.6%), and Cerro Moreno airport another 8,821. Most go on to the high plateau: San Pedro de Atacama tours (El Tatio geysers, altiplano lagoons, Moon Valley) are the main reason for the trip.
In Magallanes, the Dorotea and Río Don Guillermo crossings, which link El Calafate with Puerto Natales, added up to 114,519 arrivals, 6.7% fewer than in 2025, and Punta Arenas airport received 5,623 direct international passengers (+31.6%). It is the mildest drop among the major crossings with Argentina. Across the region, Argentines are still the majority (129,372), followed by Brazilians (14,553) and Americans (12,981). Anyone reaching Natales has close at hand the Torres del Paine excursions leaving from Puerto Natales.
Easter Island is a special case: Mataveri airport recorded 1,096 direct international arrivals, compared with 17 in 2025, on the route from Papeete (Tahiti). The vast majority of foreigners who visit Rapa Nui first enter through Santiago and fly a domestic leg, so they do not show up in this figure. Tours of the moai, Rano Raraku and Orongo are gathered in the Easter Island tours guide by Viajando Chile.
Where foreign tourists come from
Argentina is still the top market, but with 850,759 fewer visitors; Brazil (510,492, +2.3%), Peru (+5.1%), the United States (+10.0%) and Colombia (+5.0%) grew. The biggest percentage jump is Australia's, which almost doubled its arrivals (+82.8%). The series by nationality and month, with its analysis, is in foreign tourists in Chile by country, by Viajando Chile.
| Nationality | Jan.-Aug. 2026 | Jan.-Aug. 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1,226,678 | 2,077,437 | -41.0% |
| Brazil | 510,492 | 499,146 | +2.3% |
| Bolivia | 309,857 | 348,258 | -11.0% |
| Peru | 240,832 | 229,123 | +5.1% |
| United States | 163,265 | 148,388 | +10.0% |
| Colombia | 93,716 | 89,236 | +5.0% |
| Spain | 47,948 | 46,225 | +3.7% |
| Australia | 42,914 | 23,474 | +82.8% |
| Uruguay | 42,241 | 41,203 | +2.5% |
Subturismo's table also lists 143,318 arrivals with Chilean nationality recorded as foreign tourists (for example, dual nationals living abroad); they are not included in the ranking. Brazilians are now the biggest market in Santiago: 451,930 of them entered through the Metropolitan Region, compared with 231,424 Argentines.
Why foreign tourism in Chile is falling this year
The comparison is against 2025, an exceptional year: 6,004,567 arrivals over the full year, the highest since 2017, with 2,077,437 Argentines in January-August alone. In 2026 that flow eased, and the Mendoza, Neuquén and Bariloche crossings reflect it. To follow the exchange rate behind part of this, see the dollar in Argentina and Latin American currencies against the dollar.
View the data as a table
| Chile total | Metropolitana | Valparaíso | Los Lagos | Magallanes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4,478,336 | 1,657,453 | 749,904 | 362,888 | 411,908 |
| 2016 | 5,640,700 | 1,932,961 | 1,088,399 | 511,891 | 434,534 |
| 2017 | 6,449,883 | 2,523,878 | 1,235,463 | 516,378 | 441,613 |
| 2018 | 5,722,928 | 2,326,263 | 841,535 | 458,150 | 405,285 |
| 2019 | 4,517,962 | 2,045,394 | 551,091 | 254,024 | 344,823 |
| 2020 | 1,119,094 | 413,986 | 172,399 | 68,243 | 106,249 |
| 2021 | 190,022 | 183,977 | 0 | 4 | 4,270 |
| 2022 | 2,030,479 | 1,119,593 | 278,157 | 96,129 | 158,327 |
| 2023 | 3,730,507 | 1,730,260 | 530,143 | 228,211 | 327,843 |
| 2024 | 5,239,233 | 2,304,160 | 906,309 | 371,171 | 385,973 |
| 2025 | 6,004,567 | 2,368,675 | 1,120,230 | 485,254 | 405,627 |
| Year | Chile total | Metropolitana | Valparaíso | Los Lagos | Magallanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4,478,336 | 1,657,453 | 749,904 | 362,888 | 411,908 |
| 2016 | 5,640,700 | 1,932,961 | 1,088,399 | 511,891 | 434,534 |
| 2017 | 6,449,883 | 2,523,878 | 1,235,463 | 516,378 | 441,613 |
| 2018 | 5,722,928 | 2,326,263 | 841,535 | 458,150 | 405,285 |
| 2019 | 4,517,962 | 2,045,394 | 551,091 | 254,024 | 344,823 |
| 2022 | 2,030,479 | 1,119,593 | 278,157 | 96,129 | 158,327 |
| 2023 | 3,730,507 | 1,730,260 | 530,143 | 228,211 | 327,843 |
| 2024 | 5,239,233 | 2,304,160 | 906,309 | 371,171 | 385,973 |
| 2025 | 6,004,567 | 2,368,675 | 1,120,230 | 485,254 | 405,627 |
The table leaves out 2020 and 2021, years of borders closed by the pandemic (190,022 arrivals in 2021). The economic effect is direct in border regions: in Valparaíso, Los Lagos, La Araucanía and Aysén arrivals fell between 35% and 48%, while the Metropolitan Region, more dependent on long-haul flights, held steady.
What to expect in Chile tourist destinations this summer
January and February are the months with the most arrivals: in 2025 they added up to 846,821 and 648,904 tourists, followed by December (591,792), in the high season for Patagonia and the desert. Subturismo will publish September-December data in the coming months; this story will be updated at the same address when they come out.
How to cite this data
VIVARAE NEWS, "Chile tourist destinations foreign visitors choose most in 2026", November 7, 2026, https://vivaraenews.com/en/chile-tourist-destinations-foreign-visitors-choose-most-2026/. Data: Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur.
Frequently asked questions
How many foreign tourists came to Chile in 2026?
Between January and August 2026, 3,308,873 arrived, 19.1% fewer than in the same period of 2025, according to preliminary Subturismo and Sernatur figures.
Which region of Chile gets the most foreign tourists?
The Metropolitan Region, with 1,587,207 arrivals through Santiago's airport (48% of the total), followed by Valparaíso and Magallanes.
Which country sends the most tourists to Chile?
Argentina (1,226,678 between January and August), followed by Brazil (510,492) and Bolivia (309,857).
Why did tourism in Chile fall in 2026?
Because of the drop in Argentine tourists (−41%) compared with a record 2025. Long-haul markets such as Brazil and the United States grew.
