*Updated on 14 November 2026.*
Between January and August 2026, 10,040 tourists from Switzerland arrived in Chile, 6.2% more than in the same period of 2025 (9,454) and 80.5% of the January-August 2019 figure (12,474), according to Chile's [Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur](https://www.subturismo.gob.cl/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/202608-llegadas-de-turistas-extranjeros.xlsx). In all of 2025 there were 16,797, 4.1% fewer than in 2024, and the record is still 2018, with 21,475. Switzerland is Chile's seventh European market and its travellers follow a clear pattern: more than half land in Santiago, but 41% enter overland from Argentina, mostly through Patagonia and the Atacama highlands.
View the data as a table
| Arrivals in January-August 2026 | 10,040 |
| Arrivals in all of 2025 | 16,797 |
| Annual record (2018) | 21,475 |
| Enter overland from Argentina | 41.1% |
Swiss tourists in Chile by year, 2008 to 2026
View the data as a table
| Switzerland | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 17,850 |
| 2009 | 16,788 |
| 2010 | 16,867 |
| 2011 | 17,486 |
| 2012 | 17,671 |
| 2013 | 17,743 |
| 2014 | 18,431 |
| 2015 | 19,622 |
| 2016 | 19,859 |
| 2017 | 21,073 |
| 2018 | 21,475 |
| 2019 | 21,136 |
| 2020 | 5,955 |
| 2021 | 1,086 |
| 2022 | 8,274 |
| 2023 | 15,918 |
| 2024 | 17,506 |
| 2025 | 16,797 |
| Year | Arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 19,859 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 21,073 | +6.1% |
| 2018 (record) | 21,475 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 21,136 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 5,955 | -71.8% |
| 2021 | 1,086 | -81.8% |
| 2022 | 8,274 | +661.9% |
| 2023 | 15,918 | +92.4% |
| 2024 | 17,506 | +10.0% |
| 2025 | 16,797 | -4.1% |
| 2026 (January-August) | 10,040 | +6.2% vs. Jan-Aug 2025 |
Figures since 2020 are preliminary. The series shows a stable market before the pandemic, between 16,788 (2009) and 21,475 (2018) arrivals a year, which recovered quickly in 2023 and 2024 but dipped again in 2025. If the 2026 pace holds until December, the year would close above 17,000, still below the 2017-2019 levels.
Switzerland among Chile's European markets
| Country (2025) | Arrivals in Chile | Jan-Aug 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 80,821 | 47,948 |
| Germany | 68,405 | 41,491 |
| France | 65,691 | 41,779 |
| England | 56,748 | 37,847 |
| Italy | 45,307 | 28,633 |
| Netherlands | 20,853 | 12,920 |
| Switzerland | 16,797 | 10,040 |
| Poland | 11,252 | 8,446 |
| Belgium | 11,066 | 6,559 |
| Russia | 10,722 | 7,450 |
With 16,797 arrivals, Switzerland accounted for 3.6% of the 460,678 European tourists in 2025 and 0.3% of the 6,004,567 foreign visitors overall. It ranks seventh in Europe in 2025 and so far in 2026, behind the Netherlands and ahead of Poland. To compare, see European tourists in Chile by country, German tourists and French tourists.
Where Swiss tourists enter Chile
| Type of entry | 2025 | Share 2025 | Jan-Aug 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airports | 9,430 | 56.1% | 5,682 (56.6%) |
| Border with Argentina | 6,909 | 41.1% | 4,046 (40.3%) |
| Northern border (Bolivia and Peru) | 458 | 2.7% | 312 (3.1%) |
After Santiago airport (9,365 in 2025), the busiest crossing was Hito Cajón, the border with Bolivia near San Pedro de Atacama (1,303), where travellers arrive from the Uyuni salt flat. Next came Río Don Guillermo (1,199), the Cerro Castillo crossing towards Torres del Paine from El Calafate, San Sebastián in Tierra del Fuego (685), Cristo Redentor (530), Laurita-Casas Viejas near Puerto Natales (480), Jama (464) and Cardenal Samoré, between Bariloche and Osorno (451). In 2026 Río Don Guillermo moved up to second place, with 745 entries through August.
View the data as a table
| Airports | Border with Argentina | Northern border | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9,430 | 6,909 | 458 |
| 2026 (Jan-Aug) | 5,682 | 4,046 | 312 |
Region through which Swiss tourists enter
View the data as a table
| Metropolitana | 9,366 |
| Magallanes | 3,105 |
| Antofagasta | 1,949 |
| Los Lagos | 695 |
| Valparaíso | 551 |
| Aysén | 410 |
| Arica y Parinacota | 272 |
| La Araucanía | 197 |
| Coquimbo | 71 |
| Atacama | 56 |
| Los Ríos | 50 |
| Maule | 47 |
| Tarapacá | 20 |
| Biobío | 8 |
| Region of entry (2025) | Arrivals | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitana | 9,366 | 55.8% |
| Magallanes | 3,105 | 18.5% |
| Antofagasta | 1,949 | 11.6% |
| Los Lagos | 695 | 4.1% |
| Valparaíso | 551 | 3.3% |
| Aysén | 410 | 2.4% |
| Arica y Parinacota | 272 | 1.6% |
| Other 7 regions | 449 | 2.7% |
The region of entry is not necessarily the most visited one: someone landing in Santiago may continue to Atacama or Patagonia on a domestic flight. Even so, the 18.5% entering directly through Magallanes and 11.6% through Antofagasta reflect the typical Swiss itinerary, combining Chile with Argentina and Bolivia. More detail in Chile's busiest border crossings for tourists.
When Swiss tourists travel to Chile
View the data as a table
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2,571 | 2,474 |
| Feb | 2,182 | 2,323 |
| Mar | 1,619 | 1,978 |
| Apr | 1,127 | 1,143 |
| May | 503 | 618 |
| Jun | 376 | 420 |
| Jul | 563 | 592 |
| Aug | 513 | 492 |
| Sep | 797 | No data |
| Oct | 1,501 | No data |
| Nov | 2,357 | No data |
| Dec | 2,688 | No data |
| Month | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2,571 | 2,474 | -3.8% |
| February | 2,182 | 2,323 | +6.5% |
| March | 1,619 | 1,978 | +22.2% |
| April | 1,127 | 1,143 | +1.4% |
| May | 503 | 618 | +22.9% |
| June | 376 | 420 | +11.7% |
| July | 563 | 592 | +5.2% |
| August | 513 | 492 | -4.1% |
| September | 797 | n/a | |
| October | 1,501 | n/a | |
| November | 2,357 | n/a | |
| December | 2,688 | n/a |
High season runs from November to February, the southern summer and the Swiss winter: December was the busiest month of 2025 (2,688) and June the quietest (376). In 2026 the growth was concentrated in March and May. If you are planning a trip in those dates, see the months with the most foreign tourists in Chile.
Methodology
- Source: foreign tourist arrivals spreadsheet from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, with data through August 2026 (published in October 2026), sheets "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" and "CONSULTA_DESAGREGADA".
- Arrivals, not people: a tourist who enters twice counts twice. Figures since 2020 are preliminary.
- Region: the region where the crossing used to enter the country is located, not the final destination.
- September 2026: as of 14 November the Undersecretariat had not yet published September arrivals; we will update this page when they come out.
Frequently asked questions
How many Swiss tourists visit Chile each year?
16,797 in 2025 and 10,040 between January and August 2026, according to the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. The record is 2018, with 21,475.
Do Swiss citizens need a visa to travel to Chile?
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for tourist trips of up to 90 days; check the current requirements with Chile's National Migration Service before travelling.
Which month has the fewest European tourists in Chile?
Fewer Europeans arrive between May and August. For Switzerland, June is the lowest month of the year, with 376 arrivals in 2025, compared with 2,688 in December.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *Swiss tourists in Chile 2026: 10,040 arrivals through August, up 6.2%*. Based on data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/swiss-tourists-in-chile-statistics
