Between January and August 2026, 37,847 British tourists arrived in Chile, 8.8% more than in the same period of 2025 (34,781) and just 0.5% below the same months of 2019 (38,050), the year of the annual record (59,311). That is what the foreign tourist arrivals data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur show, compiled from Investigations Police records, where British visitors are listed under the nationality "Inglaterra" (England). The UK is the 12th source country in 2026 and the fourth in Europe.
*Updated on 7 November 2026, with the October 2026 release (data to August 2026).* Figures are foreign tourists by nationality, exclude arrivals by sea port and are preliminary since 2020.
View the data as a table
| January to August 2026 | 37,847 |
| Full year 2025 | 56,748 |
| Annual record (2019) | 59,311 |
British tourists in Chile by year
The series starts in 2008 with 53,231 arrivals. After a dip in 2010-2013, British arrivals grew every year until the 2019 peak. The pandemic cut them to 1,694 in 2021, and the recovery has been steady since: 2025 closed with 56,748, 4.3% short of the record.
| Year | British tourists | Year | British tourists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 53,231 | 2017 | 54,714 |
| 2009 | 47,521 | 2018 | 57,988 |
| 2010 | 41,443 | 2019 | 59,311 (record) |
| 2011 | 43,486 | 2020 | 17,170 |
| 2012 | 42,338 | 2021 | 1,694 |
| 2013 | 41,183 | 2022 | 23,817 |
| 2014 | 44,893 | 2023 | 46,343 |
| 2015 | 46,520 | 2024 | 53,942 |
| 2016 | 51,611 | 2025 | 56,748 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" sheet. 2026 stands at 37,847 to August.
British tourists in Chile in 2026, month by month
British visitors travel mostly in the southern summer. January 2026 (8,112) was the second-highest January in the series, behind 2019. March (7,956) and May (3,023) set the highest figure for those months since 2008.
View the data as a table
| 2019 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8,295 | 7,350 | 8,112 |
| Feb | 6,761 | 7,596 | 7,364 |
| Mar | 7,046 | 5,772 | 7,956 |
| Apr | 5,197 | 4,675 | 4,356 |
| May | 2,789 | 2,706 | 3,023 |
| Jun | 2,671 | 1,692 | 2,144 |
| Jul | 2,732 | 2,303 | 2,383 |
| Aug | 2,559 | 2,687 | 2,509 |
| Sep | 2,915 | 2,899 | No data |
| Oct | 5,219 | 5,300 | No data |
| Nov | 7,056 | 7,665 | No data |
| Dec | 6,071 | 6,103 | No data |
| Month | 2019 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8,295 | 7,350 | 8,112 |
| February | 6,761 | 7,596 | 7,364 |
| March | 7,046 | 5,772 | 7,956 (record for the month) |
| April | 5,197 | 4,675 | 4,356 |
| May | 2,789 | 2,706 | 3,023 (record for the month) |
| June | 2,671 | 1,692 | 2,144 |
| July | 2,732 | 2,303 | 2,383 |
| August | 2,559 | 2,687 | 2,509 |
| September | 2,915 | 2,899 | — |
| October | 5,219 | 5,300 | — |
| November | 7,056 | 7,665 | — |
| December | 6,071 | 6,103 | — |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. November is usually a strong month: 7,665 British visitors arrived in November 2025, the second-highest November in the series after 2018 (7,852). For the calendar of all visitors, see our story on the months with the most foreign tourists.
British tourists compared with the rest of Europe
In 2025 the UK was Chile's fourth-largest European market, behind Spain, Germany and France and ahead of Italy. In 2026 it holds that position and is growing faster than the top three. The full comparison is in our story on European tourists in Chile.
| Country | 2025 | Jan-Aug 2026 | 2026 change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 80,821 | 47,948 | +3.7% |
| Germany | 68,405 | 41,491 | +4.4% |
| France | 65,691 | 41,779 | +6.3% |
| United Kingdom ("Inglaterra") | 56,748 | 37,847 | +8.8% |
| Italy | 45,307 | 28,633 | +3.7% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. See also our fact sheets on Spanish, German and French tourists.
Where British tourists enter Chile
71% of British visitors arrived through an airport in 2025, nearly all through Santiago (38,556). But a significant share comes overland from Argentina, on trips combining both sides of Patagonia: 4,414 entered via Río Don Guillermo and Laurita Casas Viejas, the crossings near Puerto Natales. In the north, Hito Cajón, next to San Pedro de Atacama, stands out.
View the data as a table
| Airports | Argentine border (as classified) | Northern border | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40,546 | 15,294 | 908 |
| 2026 (Jan-Aug) | 26,456 | 10,285 | 1,106 |
| Point of entry | 2025 | Jan-Aug 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago airport | 38,556 | 24,833 |
| Hito Cajón | 4,188 | 2,496 |
| Río Don Guillermo | 2,834 | 1,755 |
| Cristo Redentor (Los Libertadores) | 1,925 | 1,298 |
| Punta Arenas airport | 1,905 | 1,584 |
| Laurita Casas Viejas | 1,580 | 1,409 |
| Cardenal Samoré | 1,049 | 724 |
| San Sebastián | 991 | 608 |
| Jama | 780 | 735 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "CONSULTA_DESAGREGADA" sheet. The overall ranking is in our story on the border crossings with the most tourists.
By region of entry, after Santiago come Magallanes (7,996 in 2025, 14% of the total) and Antofagasta (5,564). That is the footprint of the two trips British visitors seek most in Chile: Patagonia and Torres del Paine and the Atacama Desert.
View the data as a table
| Arrivals 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitana | 38,563 |
| Magallanes | 7,996 |
| Antofagasta | 5,564 |
| Valparaíso | 1,944 |
| Los Lagos | 1,450 |
| La Araucanía | 487 |
| Arica y Parinacota | 358 |
| Aysén | 265 |
| Los Ríos | 34 |
| Maule | 33 |
| Coquimbo | 18 |
| Tarapacá | 17 |
| Atacama | 11 |
| Biobío | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
How many British tourists visit Chile each year?
56,748 in 2025. The record is 2019, with 59,311. Between January and August 2026, 37,847 arrived, 8.8% more than in the same period of 2025.
When do British tourists travel to Chile?
Between November and March. In 2025 the busiest months were November (7,665) and February (7,596).
Why does the data say "England" rather than the UK?
It is the nationality category used in the official arrivals register. Scotland appears separately but with no arrivals since 2018, so the "Inglaterra" figures in practice cover British travellers.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *British tourists in Chile 2026: 37,847 arrivals to August, up 8.8%, with record Marches and Mays*. Based on data from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/british-tourists-in-chile-statistics
