From January to August 2026, 36,727 Mexican tourists arrived in Chile, 3.5% more than in the same period of 2025 (35,469). Mexico is coming off its best year: 61,139 Mexicans arrived in 2025, the record of the series, just above the 60,791 of 2024. It is the second-largest North American market, after the United States, and the thirteenth among all nationalities so far in 2026, according to the foreign tourist arrivals data from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, compiled from Investigations Police (PDI) records.
*Updated on November 3, 2026, with the October 2026 release (data through August 2026).* Figures refer to tourists of Mexican nationality and exclude arrivals at seaports. Figures from 2020 onward are preliminary.
Mexican tourists in Chile by year
| Year | Mexican tourists | % of all tourists |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 33,494 | 1.2% |
| 2012 | 36,196 | 1.0% |
| 2015 | 45,316 | 1.0% |
| 2016 | 44,536 | 0.8% |
| 2017 | 48,051 | 0.7% |
| 2018 | 50,170 | 0.9% |
| 2019 | 49,989 | 1.1% |
| 2020 | 8,996 | 0.8% |
| 2021 | 3,081 | 1.6% |
| 2022 | 30,975 | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 50,605 | 1.4% |
| 2024 | 60,791 | 1.2% |
| 2025 | 61,139 | 1.0% |
| 2026 (January to August) | 36,727 | 1.1% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" sheet. Percentages: Viajando Chile's calculation. The annual record for Mexican tourists is 2025, with 61,139, 22.3% above 2019. Mexico was one of the fastest markets to bounce back after the pandemic: by 2023 it had already beaten its 2019 level (50,605 versus 49,989), while total foreign arrivals were still below that year. If as many Mexicans arrive from September to December 2026 as in those months of 2025 (25,670), the year would close near 62,400, a new record; this is our own projection, not an official figure.
In 2021, with borders closed for most of the year, Mexico reached 1.6% of all tourists, its highest share, because it fell less than the overland markets. The series for every country is in foreign tourist arrivals in Chile by year.
Mexican tourists in Chile in 2026, month by month
| Month | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % of the month's tourists (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6,512 | 5,433 | +19.9% | 0.9% |
| February | 3,766 | 4,028 | -6.5% | 0.7% |
| March | 6,026 | 4,813 | +25.2% | 1.3% |
| April | 4,479 | 4,499 | -0.4% | 1.3% |
| May | 3,570 | 3,719 | -4.0% | 1.3% |
| June | 2,726 | 3,140 | -13.2% | 1.0% |
| July | 4,684 | 4,901 | -4.4% | 1.1% |
| August | 4,964 | 4,936 | +0.6% | 1.4% |
| January to August | 36,727 | 35,469 | +3.5% | 1.1% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Changes and shares: Viajando Chile's calculation. The 2026 increase comes from January (+19.9%) and March (+25.2%); from April to July, Mexican arrivals ran slightly below 2025. Unlike other markets, Mexicans travel to Chile all year round, with two peaks: January, in the southern summer, and October to December. The monthly record is November 2025, with 7,400 arrivals.
July is also a strong month (4,684 in 2026), when Mexico's summer holidays coincide with Chile's ski season. Our guide for those dates is where to ski in Chile, and the comparison with every market is in the months with the most foreign tourists in Chile.
Where Mexican tourists enter Chile
| Point of entry | 2026 (January to August) | % 2026 | 2025 | % 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (Santiago) | 32,268 | 87.9% | 53,985 | 88.3% |
| Río Don Guillermo (Cerro Castillo, Magallanes) | 1,247 | 3.4% | 2,315 | 3.8% |
| Cristo Redentor System (Los Libertadores) | 553 | 1.5% | 1,075 | 1.8% |
| Cardenal Antonio Samoré (Los Lagos) | 355 | 1.0% | 569 | 0.9% |
| Laurita Casas Viejas (Puerto Natales) | 314 | 0.9% | 487 | 0.8% |
| Concordia (Chacalluta, Arica) | 281 | 0.8% | 349 | 0.6% |
| San Sebastián (Tierra del Fuego) | 271 | 0.7% | 505 | 0.8% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Consulta desagregada" sheet (nationality: Mexico). Viajando Chile's calculation. 87.9% of Mexican tourists enter through Santiago's airport; the rest come overland from Argentina, mainly through the Magallanes crossings leading to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. By region, in 2026 the Metropolitan Region received 32,268 Mexicans, Magallanes 2,107 and Los Lagos 588.
Aeroméxico resumed its direct Mexico City-Santiago route on October 25, 2026, with six weekly flights; details are in the return of routes to Santiago airport. For the overland leg: Chile's busiest border crossings for tourists.
Does your hotel, shop or agency welcome Mexican tourists? Reach them while they plan their trip, with Viajando Chile.
See advertising optionsMexican tourists versus the United States, Canada and Central America
| Nationality | Jan-Aug 2026 | Jan-Aug 2025 | Change | Full year 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 163,265 | 148,388 | +10.0% | 250,460 |
| Mexico | 36,727 | 35,469 | +3.5% | 61,139 |
| Canada | 28,617 | 26,169 | +9.4% | 44,437 |
| Costa Rica | 18,592 | 10,440 | +78.1% | 17,132 |
| Panama | 3,969 | 3,321 | +19.5% | 5,590 |
| Guatemala | 3,757 | 2,922 | +28.6% | 5,845 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, foreign tourist arrivals. Changes: Viajando Chile's calculation. Mexico is growing more slowly than the United States and Canada in 2026, and Costa Rica has already beaten its full-year 2025 total in eight months. The spreadsheet does not explain the causes of these changes. In the overall ranking, Mexico was eleventh in 2025 and is thirteenth from January to August 2026, behind Uruguay, France, Germany and England. The full ranking is in foreign tourists in Chile by country, and details on the neighboring market in American tourists in Chile.
Sernatur does not publish Mexico separately in its inbound tourism spending tables; it is grouped under "rest of the Americas", so there is no comparable spending figure per Mexican tourist. The available comparison is in how much foreign tourists spend in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
How many Mexican tourists visit Chile each year?
In 2025, 61,139 arrived, the record of the series and 1.0% of all foreign tourists. From January to August 2026, 36,727 arrived, 3.5% more than a year earlier.
Where does Mexico rank among countries visiting Chile?
It was eleventh in 2025 and is thirteenth from January to August 2026. In North America, it is the second market, after the United States.
Where do Mexican tourists enter Chile?
87.9% through Santiago's airport. The second entry point is the Río Don Guillermo crossing in Magallanes (3.4%), on the way to Torres del Paine.
Which month had the most Mexican tourists?
November 2025, with 7,400 arrivals, according to the 2008-2026 series from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *Mexican tourists in Chile 2026: 36,727 arrivals through August, after a record 61,139 in 2025*. Based on data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/mexican-tourists-in-chile-statistics
