Chile received 344,937 foreign tourists in August 2026, 19.5% fewer than in August 2025 (428,512). For the second month in a row, Brazil was the top market: 116,709 arrivals, up 10.2%, while Argentina fell to 62,054 (-57.5%). These are the figures in the official series of foreign tourist arrivals, compiled by Sernatur with data from the Investigative Police (PDI) and published by the Undersecretariat of Tourism in October 2026.
The year-on-year drop is explained almost entirely by the Argentine market. Compared with August 2019, the last year before the pandemic, August 2026 is 6.8% higher (322,858 arrivals back then).
Tourist arrivals in Chile in August 2026 by country
| # | Country | August 2025 | August 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 105,943 | 116,709 | +10.2% |
| 2 | Argentina | 145,854 | 62,054 | -57.5% |
| 3 | Bolivia | 48,034 | 33,257 | -30.8% |
| 4 | Peru | 31,523 | 31,656 | +0.4% |
| 5 | United States | 13,347 | 14,673 | +9.9% |
| 6 | Colombia | 11,780 | 11,401 | -3.2% |
| 7 | Spain | 5,725 | 5,872 | +2.6% |
| 8 | Costa Rica | 1,440 | 5,547 | +285.2% |
| 9 | Uruguay | 5,866 | 5,443 | -7.2% |
| 10 | Mexico | 4,936 | 4,964 | +0.6% |
| Monthly total | 428,512 | 344,937 | -19.5% |
Source: Sernatur with PDI data, series published in October 2026 (preliminary figures). Changes calculated by Viajando Chile. The total includes 12,101 Chileans living abroad, counted separately in the series.
August is still snow season, and Brazilian tourists mostly fly into Santiago and head to the ski resorts. Costa Rica stands out: it almost quadrupled its arrivals in the month and has 18,592 so far this year, up 78.1%.
2026 so far: January to August
Between January and August, 3,308,873 foreign tourists arrived, 19.1% fewer than in the same period of 2025 (4,090,538). Argentina is still first in the year-to-date total, but down 41%.
| # | Country | Jan-Aug 2025 | Jan-Aug 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 2,077,437 | 1,226,678 | -41.0% |
| 2 | Brazil | 499,146 | 510,492 | +2.3% |
| 3 | Bolivia | 348,258 | 309,857 | -11.0% |
| 4 | Peru | 229,123 | 240,832 | +5.1% |
| 5 | United States | 148,388 | 163,265 | +10.0% |
| 6 | Colombia | 89,236 | 93,716 | +5.0% |
| 7 | Spain | 46,225 | 47,948 | +3.7% |
| 8 | Australia | 23,474 | 42,914 | +82.8% |
| Total | 4,090,538 | 3,308,873 | -19.1% |
Excluding Argentina, arrivals from the rest of the world rose from 2,013,101 to 2,082,195 between January and August, up 3.4%. This matches what Tourism Undersecretary María Paz Lagos told The Clinic in September: the decline is concentrated in the Argentine market. The full ranking by country, updated every month, is in foreign tourists in Chile by country.
Tourist arrivals in Chile by continent
| Origin | Jan-Aug 2025 | Jan-Aug 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| South America | 3,343,187 | 2,481,668 | -25.8% |
| Europe | 270,970 | 291,375 | +7.5% |
| North America | 210,026 | 228,609 | +8.8% |
| Asia | 53,633 | 62,969 | +17.4% |
| Oceania | 29,538 | 50,662 | +71.5% |
| Central America | 21,417 | 32,200 | +50.3% |
Long-haul markets keep growing: Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania together account for 633,615 arrivals in eight months, 12.3% more than in 2025 (564,167).
What it means for travelers in Chile
- Fewer Argentines, more Brazilians: Brazil is now the top market in the winter months, and its tourists mostly fly into Santiago; Argentine travelers, who come more in summer and by land, are the ones in decline.
- Prices: lower foreign demand has not translated into lower rates; details in our story on travel prices in Chile.
- Full-year forecast: the Undersecretariat expects between 5 and 5.2 million arrivals in 2026, compared with 6,004,567 in 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How many foreign tourists arrived in Chile in August 2026?
344,937, 19.5% fewer than in August 2025, according to the Sernatur series based on PDI data.
Which country sent the most tourists in August?
Brazil: 116,709 arrivals, ahead of Argentina (62,054) and Bolivia (33,257).
Why are arrivals to Chile falling in 2026?
Because of the drop in Argentine tourism, which lost 850,759 arrivals in eight months. Without Argentina, the other markets grew 3.4%.
