Chile & Easter Island Tour 2026

Chile’s official currency is the Chilean peso (CLP), and it’s the currency you’ll use throughout Santiago, Chilean wine country, Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, and Easter Island. As of September 14, 2026, $1 USD is approximately 955 CLP, while €1 EUR is approximately 1,087 CLP. Exchange rates fluctuate, so consider these figures a helpful guide rather than a guaranteed rate.

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Chile, particularly in cities, hotels, restaurants, and established tourism businesses. However, we strongly recommend carrying some Chilean pesos for smaller purchases, tips, local markets, taxis, and more remote destinations. This is particularly useful in Patagonia, Easter Island, and the Atacama.

While U.S. dollars and euros may occasionally be accepted by businesses, they aren’t generally used for everyday transactions, and you may receive a less favorable exchange rate. ATMs are widely available, but withdrawal fees will apply. When paying by card or withdrawing cash, always choose to have the transaction processed in Chilean pesos (CLP) rather than U.S. dollars or euros for the best chance of receiving your bank’s normal exchange rate.

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October 6, 2026 – Home Address Needed

September 15, 2026 – GET READY!

Chile is generally a comfortable destination for experienced travelers, but Vacayans should use the same common-sense precautions they’d use in any major international destination. Petty theft is the most common concern for tourists, especially in busy areas of Santiago and other major cities.

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILE

Keep valuables close and out of sight. Pickpocketing, phone theft, purse snatching, and distraction thefts do occur, particularly in crowded tourist areas, public transportation, restaurants, cafés, and hotel lobbies. Don’t leave a phone sitting on a café table, don’t hang a bag over the back of a chair, and avoid displaying expensive watches, jewelry, or large amounts of cash.

Use official transportation or reputable rideshare apps rather than accepting unsolicited transportation offers. At night, avoid wandering alone through unfamiliar or poorly lit areas and arrange transportation back to the hotel whenever possible.

Keep control of your credit card whenever possible. Don’t allow it to be taken out of sight for processing, and review transactions periodically while traveling. Chile is highly card-friendly, but carrying a modest amount of local currency is smart for smaller purchases and remote areas.

Be cautious with drinks and nightlife. Don’t accept drinks from strangers, don’t leave your drink unattended, and stay aware of your surroundings when visiting bars and clubs. There have been reported cases of travelers being drugged and robbed.

Chile occasionally experiences demonstrations and strikes, particularly in Santiago. Demonstrations can develop quickly and sometimes disrupt Metro service, buses, roads, and airports. Avoid protests and large political gatherings rather than stopping to watch or photograph them, and follow instructions from local authorities.

For Patagonia and the Atacama, many of the greatest safety considerations are environmental rather than criminal. Stay on marked trails, stick with our guides, carry water, sunscreen, appropriate clothing, and a charged phone, and don’t underestimate altitude, strong winds, rapidly changing weather, or the distances involved. Medical assistance can take considerably longer to reach rural areas.

On Easter Island, normal precautions apply, but Vacayans should also take particular care around archaeological sites. Don’t climb on, touch, or cross barriers around the moai and other protected cultural sites. Chile has strict laws protecting its national heritage, and damaging protected sites can result in arrest, fines, or removal from the country.

Chile is also one of the world’s most seismically active countries. Earthquakes can occur without warning, and coastal regions have established tsunami evacuation procedures. Vacayans should pay attention to hotel safety instructions and local evacuation signage, particularly on Easter Island and along Chile’s Pacific coast. Chile can also experience volcanic activity, landslides, and seasonal wildfires.

We recommend keeping a digital copy of your passport and travel documents accessible while keeping the originals secured at their hotel whenever appropriate. For U.S. travelers, enrolling in the State Department’s STEP program is worthwhile because it provides destination alerts and helps the embassy contact travelers during an emergency.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS IN CHILE

For emergencies, dial 133 for Police, 131 for Ambulance, and 132 for Fire.

In short, Chile is a wonderful and generally easy destination to explore, but stay aware of your surroundings, secure your belongings, use trusted transportation, respect protected sites, and take the country’s dramatically different natural environments seriously.

Your pre-paid gratuities cover your guides, drivers, room attendants at our hotels, and the myriad behind-the-scenes people who work with their teams around the clock to create a flawless VACAYA experience for you. That being said…

We recognize our community is very generous when it comes to awarding excellent service. It’s ok to offer a few extra dollars to someone who’s provided you with service that’s above and beyond. What might be just a few dollars to you could mean the world to a service provider in need. 

All guests traveling to Chile must carry the appropriate travel documents for their nationality. U.S. citizens traveling for tourism must have a valid passport that remains valid throughout their stay in Chile. A tourist visa is not required for stays of 90 days or less. We recommend ensuring your passport has ample validity remaining and at least one blank page available.

Upon arrival, visitors are admitted under Chile’s temporary tourist status and may receive a Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turismo). Keep this documentation with your important travel papers throughout your journey and until you depart Chile.

Additional entry requirements apply when traveling to Easter Island / Rapa Nui, and VACAYA will communicate any trip-specific forms or procedures required for our visit as we get closer to departure.

Non-U.S. citizens should verify Chile’s passport and visa requirements based on the nationality of the passport they’ll use for travel. Requirements vary considerably by nationality, and some travelers may need to obtain authorization or a visa before arriving in Chile. We strongly recommend checking directly with the nearest Chilean embassy or consulate well in advance of travel.

All travelers should be prepared to provide proof of onward or return travel, accommodation information, and evidence of sufficient funds if requested by immigration officials.

We recommend downloading our Schedule of Events to your phone for easy access. You can find our complete schedule HERE.

Chile generally has excellent food and water standards, particularly in Santiago and other major tourism areas. Tap water in Chile’s larger cities is considered safe to drink, although its relatively high mineral content may taste different or occasionally cause minor stomach discomfort for visitors who aren’t accustomed to it. If you have a sensitive stomach, bottled or filtered water is an easy alternative.

In more remote areas, including portions of Patagonia and the Atacama Desert, we recommend drinking bottled or properly treated water when there’s any uncertainty about the local water supply. Staying especially well hydrated is important in the Atacama’s extremely dry climate and at higher elevations.

Chile is home to fantastic fresh produce and some of the world’s best seafood, so enjoy! As with any international destination, choose established restaurants and vendors, make sure hot foods are served hot and cold foods are properly refrigerated, and wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them. Be particularly cautious with foods containing homemade mayonnaise or cream that may have been left unrefrigerated.

When enjoying Chile’s incredible seafood, purchase shellfish from reputable restaurants or authorized vendors and make sure it’s properly prepared. Chile occasionally experiences naturally occurring red tide events, so avoid buying shellfish from informal or unregulated sources.

And, of course, one of the easiest ways to avoid an unwanted vacation souvenir is simple: wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizer when necessary, stay hydrated, and trust your instincts when something doesn’t look or smell quite right.

Late November is an excellent time to visit Chile, but it’s also a trip where layers really matter. Vacayans can go from warm, sunny afternoons in Santiago and wine country to chilly winds in Patagonia, dramatic day-to-night temperature swings in the Atacama, and mild, breezy subtropical weather on Easter Island. Here’s guest-facing copy you can use:

WEATHER & WHAT TO WEAR

SANTIAGO
Late November is late spring in Santiago, with generally warm, dry, sunny days and cooler evenings. Typical daytime highs are around 80°F / 27°C, while nighttime temperatures can dip to around 50-55°F / 10-13°C. Rain is uncommon by this point in the season.

During the day, lightweight shirts, polos, shorts, skirts, dresses, or comfortable pants are perfect for sightseeing. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat are strongly recommended, since the Chilean sun can feel intense. For evenings, bring a light sweater, jacket, or overshirt. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for exploring the city.

CHILEAN WINE COUNTRY
The wine regions surrounding Santiago, including the Colchagua Valley, are typically warm and beautifully sunny in late November. Expect afternoon temperatures around 80°F / 27°C, but nights can cool dramatically to around 50°F / 10°C.

Think relaxed wine-country chic. Lightweight shirts, polos, dresses, linen, chinos, shorts, and comfortable shoes all work well during the day. A light jacket or sweater is important for morning departures, cellar visits, and outdoor dinners after sunset. Our visit to the vineyards involves walking on gravel, grass, and uneven ground, so stylish but practical footwear is preferable to delicate shoes or heels.

PATAGONIA
Patagonia is the wild card. Even in late spring, the weather can change remarkably quickly, and wind is every bit as important as temperature. Around Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, typical November temperatures run roughly 55-57°F / 13-14°C during the day and 43-45°F / 6-7°C at night, but conditions can feel considerably colder when the wind picks up.

This is where Vacayans should embrace layers. We recommend a moisture-wicking base layer, fleece or lightweight insulated layer, and a windproof, waterproof outer jacket. Long pants are preferable, and you should bring sturdy, comfortable shoes or waterproof hiking boots with good traction. A warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, and a small daypack are also smart additions.

EASTER ISLAND / RAPA NUI
Easter Island should feel wonderfully comfortable in late November. Expect daytime highs around 74-75°F / 23-24°C and nighttime lows around 63-66°F / 17-19°C. The island is breezy, with average November winds around 12-13 mph, and brief showers are always possible even when the overall day is beautiful.

Casual, lightweight clothing is ideal during the day: shorts, breathable shirts, polos, sundresses, and lightweight pants. Bring a light rain jacket or packable windbreaker, plus a sweater or light layer for evenings. Because exploring Rapa Nui means plenty of time outdoors around archaeological sites, volcanic terrain, and grassy paths, sturdy walking shoes or comfortable sneakers are much better than sandals alone. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and reusable water bottle are highly recommended. The Pacific water temperature averages about 72°F / 22°C in November, so Vacayans planning to swim may find the water refreshing rather than tropical-warm.

ATACAMA DESERT (For the Add-On)
The Atacama can deliver some of the biggest temperature swings of the entire trip. In San Pedro de Atacama, November afternoons average around 78°F / 26°C, while nighttime temperatures can drop into the low-to-mid 40s°F / 6-7°C. At higher elevations, particularly on early-morning excursions to geysers, lagoons, or the Altiplano, it can feel much colder.

Lightweight, breathable clothing works beautifully during the middle of the day, but always keep a warm layer nearby. Long pants, a fleece or sweater, and a wind-resistant jacket are essential for mornings and evenings. For high-altitude excursions, Vacayans will want a warmer insulated jacket, hat, and gloves. Closed-toe walking shoes are best for the rocky desert terrain. And because the sun is exceptionally strong at altitude, high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, a hat, and plenty of water are absolute essentials.

YOUR PACKING STRATEGY

The secret to packing for this adventure is versatility rather than bulk. You’re essentially packing for four seasons on one trip. Bring lightweight warm-weather clothes for Santiago, wine country, and Easter Island, then add several interchangeable layers for Patagonia and the Atacama.

The essentials we’d recommend every Vacayan bring are:

• comfortable walking shoes
• a windproof/water-resistant jacket
• a fleece or lightweight insulated layer
• long pants
• warm hat
• gloves for Patagonia/high-altitude Atacama excursions
• a sun hat
• sunglasses
• high-SPF sunscreen
• swimsuit
• reusable water bottle
• a small daypack.

One other important point for Vacayans: don’t judge Patagonia or the Atacama by the forecast in Santiago. Chile stretches more than 2,600 miles north to south, so you’ll experience radically different climates on this adventure. Layers will be your best friend.