Winter holidays could bring up to 24% increase in travel within Chile

This year's winter holidays are expected to attract between 2.8 and 3.5 million overnight trips within the country, according to projections from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and the National Tourism Service (Sernatur). This figure represents a growth of between 2.4% and 24.3% compared to the same period in 2024, consolidating a positive trend in domestic tourism during the low season.

A key factor that could encourage travel will be the holiday on Friday, June 20th, corresponding to National Indigenous Peoples' Day, which falls on a long weekend just as school vacations begin in several regions of the country. According to projections, 81.5% of trips will be concentrated in July, while 2.9% will take place in June, reflecting the potential impact this holiday has on family getaway planning.

It's worth noting that winter break dates are not uniform across the country, as each region has its own school calendar. For example, in the regions from Atacama to Los Lagos, the break will begin on June 23, while in others such as Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, and Antofagasta, it will begin on July 7, and in Aysén, it will extend until the end of that month. This staggered distribution helps to ease congestion in destinations and extend tourism activity over a greater number of weeks.

“Last year, just over 2.8 million trips were recorded during the winter holidays. Today, we project that figure could exceed 3.5 million, which is very good news for domestic destinations. The Metropolitan Region remains the main departure point, with more than one million trips, and this speaks to a population that values ​​traveling throughout Chile,” said Undersecretary of Tourism Verónica Pardo.

The regions with the most trips will be the Metropolitan Region (35.6% of the national total), Biobío (9.6%), and Valparaíso (9.1%). The most visited destinations are Valparaíso (19.3%), the Metropolitan Region (16.5%), and La Araucanía (9.2%), reflecting the diversity of experiences people are seeking: from beaches and cities to nature, culture, and hot springs.

At the municipal level, the main issuing areas will be Temuco, Puente Alto, and Maipú, while the municipalities with the highest number of arrivals will be Viña del Mar, Santiago, and La Serena.

Sernatur National Director Cristóbal Benítez explained that “Valparaíso, Metropolitan Region, and La Araucanía lead the way in receiving overnight trips during the winter holidays. These three regions are projected to receive between 1,297,760 and 1,575,140 overnight trips, representing 44.9% of the national total. Among the 345 receiving municipalities considered, Viña del Mar, Santiago, La Serena, Algarrobo, and El Tabo stand out. Three of these municipalities are in Valparaíso, the leading region, which expects to receive between 557,789 and 677,010 trips.”

As for winter activities, the tourism authority invited visitors to visit the website www.chileestuyo.cl, which has excellent recommendations for activities, places, and attractions to visit in each region of the country: “For example, in the Atacama Region, you can enjoy one of the most beloved heritage festivals in the north: the Recreation Festival, which commemorates the passage of the first train through Caldera in 1851. If we go to the far south, in the Magallanes Region, everything is ready to celebrate the cold with its traditional Winter Carnival.”

The Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur reiterated the call to plan ahead, opt for registered tourism services, and enjoy the many attractions the regions have in store for this winter season, thus reinforcing a safe, diverse, and sustainable experience.

Source: SERNATUR.