Hotel occupancy over Chile's 12 October 2026 long weekend was 52.2% across the 54 tourist destinations measured by Sernatur, the national tourism service, and San Pedro de Atacama topped the ranking with 82.2%. It was followed by the Colchagua Valley (75.6%) and Bahía Inglesa–Pan de Azúcar National Park (75.2%). The survey covers the nights of Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October, according to Sernatur's report published by Ladevi on 20 October.
The north was the busiest area: 7 of its 11 destinations beat the national average, and the Atacama Region placed three destinations in the top six, right in the middle of the flowering desert season. At the other end, Valparaíso stood at 40.8%.
Destinations with the highest hotel occupancy over the 12 October holiday
| # | Destination | Region | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Pedro de Atacama | Antofagasta | 82.2% |
| 2 | Colchagua Valley | O'Higgins | 75.6% |
| 3 | Bahía Inglesa–Pan de Azúcar N. P. | Atacama | 75.2% |
| 4 | Copiapó Valley and Atacama Andes | Atacama | 74.3% |
| 5 | Lake Llanquihue and Todos Los Santos | Los Lagos | 70.9% |
| 6 | Huasco Valley and Desert Cetaceans | Atacama | 69.8% |
| 7 | Concepción and surroundings | Biobío | 68.2% |
| 8 | La Campana N. P. (Biosphere Reserve) | Valparaíso | 67.0% |
| 9 | Elqui Valley | Coquimbo | 65.6% |
| 10 | Ritoque–Los Molles | Valparaíso | 62.6% |
Source: Sernatur, room occupancy rate in tourist accommodation, nights of 9 to 11 October 2026, according to Ladevi. Average across the 54 destinations: 52.2%.
Just outside the top 10 are Urban Santiago (62.4%), Viña del Mar–Concón (62.3%), Osorno–Puyehue (60.3%), Tomé (59.2%), Strait of Magellan (58.5%), Valdivia–Corral (56.3%), La Serena–Coquimbo (55.9%) and Coyhaique–Puerto Aysén (55.7%). Iquique sat exactly on the average, at 52.2%.
San Pedro de Atacama, the fullest destination every long weekend
San Pedro de Atacama is no surprise: it was also the destination with the highest occupancy at Easter and over the Labour Day holiday, according to Sernatur's reports. In February, by contrast, lake and Patagonian destinations led.
| 2026 period | Average occupancy (54 destinations) | San Pedro de Atacama |
|---|---|---|
| A week in February (9 to 14) | 67.1% | 74.2% |
| Easter (2 to 4 April) | 48.0% | 89.8% (1st) |
| Labour Day (30 April to 2 May) | 38.8% | 80.8% (1st) |
| 12 October holiday (9 to 11) | 52.2% | 82.2% (1st) |
Source: Sernatur, occupancy reports for Easter, Labour Day and the February week of 2026; October, according to Ladevi. The periods have different lengths, so the comparison is only indicative.
If you are thinking of going, our guides to the Valle de la Luna and the El Tatio geysers will help you plan the trip. On long weekends it is worth booking accommodation weeks ahead.
Do you run a hotel or agency in San Pedro de Atacama, Colchagua or the south? Show your offer to people planning the next holiday.
See advertising optionsHow hotel occupancy compares with the 2023 holiday
Sernatur compared the result with the last equivalent October holiday, 6 to 8 October 2023, using 45 matched destinations. Combined occupancy rose from 49.8% to 53.5% (+3.7 percentage points) and 24 of the 45 destinations improved. The service warned that since 2025 it has changed its methodology, its list of destinations and its accommodation population, so large changes should be read with caution.
| Destination | Increase vs 2023 |
|---|---|
| Huasco Valley and Desert Cetaceans | +34.4 pp |
| Copiapó Valley and Atacama Andes | +32.7 pp |
| Bahía Inglesa–Pan de Azúcar N. P. | +31.2 pp |
| Osorno–Puyehue | +26.9 pp |
| Concepción and surroundings | +26.4 pp |
| Lakeland Araucanía | +20.7 pp |
Source: Sernatur, according to Ladevi, 20 October 2026. pp = percentage points.
What it means for the next holiday
The result shows that domestic demand remains strong on long weekends, even though foreign tourist arrivals are down this year because of the Argentine market, as we detailed in the August 2026 arrivals. To see how occupancy moves month by month, check our data sheet on hotel occupancy in Chile by region, with figures from the INE, Chile's statistics institute.
Frequently asked questions
What was hotel occupancy over the 12 October 2026 holiday?
52.2% on average across the 54 destinations measured by Sernatur, for the nights of 9 to 11 October.
Which destination had the highest occupancy?
San Pedro de Atacama, with 82.2%, followed by the Colchagua Valley (75.6%) and Bahía Inglesa–Pan de Azúcar (75.2%).
Which destination had the lowest occupancy among those reported?
Among the destinations reported, Valparaíso was lowest, at 40.8%.
