From January to August 2026, 309,857 Bolivian tourists arrived in Chile, 11.0% fewer than in the same period of 2025 (348,258). Bolivia is the third-largest source of tourists visiting Chile, behind Argentina and Brazil, and accounts for 9.4% of this year's arrivals. The decline follows a record: in 2025, 562,729 Bolivians entered Chile, the highest figure since the series began, according to the foreign tourist arrivals data of Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, compiled from Investigative Police (PDI) records.
*Updated on November 2, 2026, with the October 2026 release (data through August 2026).* Figures refer to tourists of Bolivian nationality and exclude entries through seaports. Figures from 2020 onward are preliminary.
Bolivian tourists in Chile by year
| Year | Bolivian tourists | % of all tourists |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 307,845 | 11.4% |
| 2012 | 355,758 | 10.0% |
| 2015 | 419,822 | 9.4% |
| 2016 | 437,154 | 7.7% |
| 2017 | 479,690 | 7.4% |
| 2018 | 541,294 | 9.5% |
| 2019 | 467,699 | 10.4% |
| 2020 | 133,426 | 11.9% |
| 2021 | 3,653 | 1.9% |
| 2022 | 145,676 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 347,576 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 468,681 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 562,729 | 9.4% |
| 2026 (January to August) | 309,857 | 9.4% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" sheet. Percentages calculated by Viajando Chile. The annual record for Bolivian tourists is 2025, with 562,729, up 20.1% from 2024 and above the previous high of 541,294 in 2018. If as many Bolivians arrive from September to December 2026 as in those months of 2025 (214,471), the year would close at around 524,000; this is our own projection, not an official figure.
The series has two breaks. In 2021, with the land border closed for most of the year because of the pandemic, only 3,653 Bolivians entered. Recovery was fast after that: in four years the figure went from 145,676 to more than half a million. Bolivia was the third-largest source market in 2018, 2024 and 2025, behind Argentina and Brazil. Figures for other markets are in Argentine tourists, Brazilian tourists and Peruvian tourists in Chile.
Bolivian tourists in Chile in 2026, month by month
| Month | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % of the month's tourists (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61,130 | 63,099 | -3.1% | 8.6% |
| February | 45,500 | 45,395 | +0.2% | 9.0% |
| March | 43,310 | 39,365 | +10.0% | 9.7% |
| April | 34,391 | 35,289 | -2.5% | 10.0% |
| May | 22,098 | 36,461 | -39.4% | 8.0% |
| June | 25,443 | 31,746 | -19.9% | 9.6% |
| July | 44,728 | 48,869 | -8.5% | 10.9% |
| August | 33,257 | 48,034 | -30.8% | 9.6% |
| January to August | 309,857 | 348,258 | -11.0% | 9.4% |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur. Changes and shares calculated by Viajando Chile. Through April, Bolivian arrivals were running almost level with 2025; the drop is concentrated between May and August, with declines of 39.4% in May and 30.8% in August. The official spreadsheet does not explain the causes, and we found no official source detailing them, so we do not attribute them here to any specific event. January is the peak month for Bolivians: the monthly record in the series is January 2020, with 72,562 arrivals.
Even with the decline, one in ten tourists who entered Chile in July 2026 was Bolivian (10.9%). Seasonality for every market is in the months with the most foreign tourists in Chile.
Where Bolivian tourists enter Chile
| Point of entry | 2026 (January to August) | % 2026 | 2025 | % 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchane (Tarapacá) | 196,539 | 63.4% | 376,108 | 66.8% |
| Chungará (Arica y Parinacota) | 69,213 | 22.3% | 118,025 | 21.0% |
| Salar de Ollagüe (Antofagasta) | 15,192 | 4.9% | 24,069 | 4.3% |
| Concordia (Chacalluta, Arica) | 8,463 | 2.7% | 11,628 | 2.1% |
| Cristo Redentor system (Los Libertadores) | 8,359 | 2.7% | 16,183 | 2.9% |
| Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (Santiago) | 7,256 | 2.3% | 9,899 | 1.8% |
| Visviri (Arica y Parinacota) | 1,178 | 0.4% | 1,638 | 0.3% |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur, "Consulta desagregada" sheet (Bolivian nationality). Calculated by Viajando Chile. Almost two in three Bolivians enter through Colchane, in the Tarapacá region, and another 22% through Chungará, on the Arica-La Paz route. In 2025, 94.5% entered through northern border crossings and just 1.9% through airports.
By region, Tarapacá receives the largest share (197,605 Bolivians in 2026), followed by Arica y Parinacota (78,854). Travelers entering through Chungará cross Lauca National Park and Lake Chungará, at 4,500 meters above sea level; those entering through Colchane head down toward Iquique. The comparison with other borders is in Chile's border crossings with the most tourists.
Does your hotel, shop or agency in northern Chile welcome Bolivian tourists? Reach them while they plan their trip, with Viajando Chile.
See advertising optionsHow Bolivian tourists in Chile compare with other markets
| # | Nationality | January-August 2026 | Full year 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 1,226,678 | 2,856,441 |
| 2 | Brazil | 510,492 | 681,649 |
| 3 | Bolivia | 309,857 | 562,729 |
| 4 | Peru | 240,832 | 352,353 |
| 5 | United States | 163,265 | 250,460 |
| 6 | Colombia | 93,716 | 149,592 |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur, foreign tourist arrivals. The "Chile" row, which in the spreadsheet refers to Chileans living abroad, is omitted. Bolivia is ahead of Peru by about 69,000 tourists so far in 2026. The full ranking of all countries is in foreign tourists in Chile by country.
Sernatur does not report Bolivia separately in its inbound tourism spending tables, but within the "other Americas" group, so there is no spending-per-tourist figure for Bolivians comparable to other countries. The available comparison is in how much foreign tourists spend in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
How many Bolivian tourists visit Chile each year?
In 2025, 562,729 arrived, 9.4% of all foreign tourists and the record in the series. From January to August 2026, 309,857 arrived, 11.0% fewer than a year earlier.
Where does Bolivia rank among countries visiting Chile?
Third, behind Argentina and Brazil, both in 2025 and so far in 2026.
Where do most Bolivians enter Chile?
Through Colchane, in Tarapacá (63.4% in 2026), and Chungará, in Arica y Parinacota (22.3%). Less than 3% arrive by plane.
Which month had the most Bolivian tourists?
January 2020, with 72,562 arrivals, according to the 2008-2026 series from Subturismo and Sernatur.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *Bolivian tourists in Chile 2026: 309,857 arrivals through August, after a record 562,729 in 2025*. With data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/bolivian-tourists-in-chile-statistics
