The official dollar rate (dólar observado) published by the Central Bank of Chile stood at CLP 990.35 on Monday 26 October 2026, the highest of the year, and on Friday the 23rd it hit CLP 1,000 at several exchange bureaus in central Santiago. For a tourist arriving with dollars, Chile is now close to 16% cheaper than in February, when the dollar hit its 2026 low of CLP 854.25. For Chileans travelling abroad, on the other hand, flights and hotels priced in dollars are more expensive.
The rise is mainly due to external factors: attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz pushed Brent crude above US$115 a barrel, and investors sought refuge in the dollar, according to La Tercera and Emol. On the formal market, the dollar closed on Friday at CLP 995, its highest level since January 2025.
The US dollar in Chile in 2026, month by month
| Month of 2026 | Average official dollar rate | Difference from February |
|---|---|---|
| January | CLP 883.97 | +2.5% |
| February (year's low) | CLP 862.02 | - |
| March | CLP 909.89 | +5.6% |
| April | CLP 897.89 | +4.2% |
| May | CLP 897.64 | +4.1% |
| June | CLP 903.38 | +4.8% |
| July | CLP 930.97 | +8.0% |
| August | CLP 917.66 | +6.5% |
| September | CLP 947.27 | +9.9% |
| October (to the 26th) | CLP 980.83 | +13.8% |
Source: Central Bank of Chile, daily official dollar rate, accessed via mindicador.cl on 26 October 2026. Averages and changes: Viajando Chile calculation. The dólar observado is the official reference rate; at exchange bureaus the selling price is usually somewhat higher and the buying price lower.
Compared with a year ago, the rise is smaller: on 27 October 2025 the official rate was CLP 943.47, so today the dollar is 5.0% more expensive. The euro also rose, to CLP 1,108.39 on 26 October, according to the same Central Bank record.
How far the US dollar goes in Chile for a foreign tourist
For anyone travelling with dollars or euros, the current exchange rate makes everything paid in pesos cheaper: park entrance fees, tours, food, buses and accommodation. Here are some examples using prices published in our guides, converted at February's low and at today's rate.
| Expense in Chile | Price in pesos | In dollars (10 Feb 2026, CLP 854.25) | In dollars (26 Oct 2026, CLP 990.35) |
|---|---|---|---|
| US$100 exchanged | - | CLP 85,425 | CLP 99,035 |
| Torres del Paine entrance, 1 day, foreign adult | CLP 32,400 | US$37.9 | US$32.7 |
| Torres del Paine pass, 2 days or more, foreign adult | CLP 48,500 | US$56.8 | US$49.0 |
| Cheapest tour at Concha y Toro winery | From CLP 50,000 | US$58.5 | US$50.5 |
| CLP 20,000 note | CLP 20,000 | US$23.4 | US$20.2 |
Peso prices from our guides to the Torres del Paine entrance fee (official 2026 rates) and Concha y Toro winery. Conversion: Viajando Chile calculation using the Central Bank's official rate. Prices may change; check each operator's website before buying.
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See advertising optionsA strong US dollar and tourism: what it means for Chile
A weaker peso usually helps inbound tourism, because the country becomes cheaper for visitors. It comes at a time when it is needed: between January and August 2026, 3,308,873 foreign tourists arrived, 19.1% fewer than in the same period of 2025, mainly because of the drop in Argentine visitors, according to Sernatur and the Undersecretariat of Tourism. We explain it in tourist arrivals by year and in the ranking of tourists by country.
For domestic tourism the effect is the opposite. Economists consulted by La Tercera and Emol warn that, if the dollar stays high, it will pass through to fuel and imported goods prices. Petrol had already risen CLP 41.3 per litre on 22 October, as we reported in the fuel price rise. Analysts, however, do not see a fundamental change: Héctor Osorio of PKF Chile told Emol that CLP 1,000 is "a psychological barrier" rather than an economic milestone.
Tips for paying in Chile with a strong dollar
- Pay your hotel in dollars if you are a foreigner: foreign tourists without domicile or residence in Chile do not pay the 19% VAT on accommodation if the hotel receives payment in foreign currency and is registered for that exemption, under article 12 E No. 17 of the VAT law and the case law of the Internal Revenue Service (SII). Ask at reception before paying and bring your passport.
- Compare before exchanging: at the exchange bureaus in the city centre, on Friday the 23rd the selling price reached CLP 1,005 and the buying price CLP 987 at the same branch, according to Emol. The difference between the two is the bureau's margin.
- Avoid exchanging at the airport: arrival-hall counters usually offer a less favourable rate than the city centre.
- If you pay by card, choose to be charged in pesos: when a shop offers to charge in your home currency, it normally applies its own exchange rate.
- For Chileans travelling abroad: if you have a trip paid in dollars, it is worth tracking the exchange rate before buying currency; analysts consulted by Emol see a short-term test of CLP 1,000 as more likely than a sustained rise.
What could happen to the dollar in the coming weeks
The analysts quoted by La Tercera and Emol agree on three variables: the price of oil, the price of copper and this week's US Federal Reserve meeting. Agustín Vargas of Capitaria put technical resistance at CLP 990 and nearby support at CLP 980. Emanoelle Santos of XTB told Emol that "a test" of CLP 1,000 in the short term is more likely than a sustained rise above that level.
To plan the budget for a full trip around Chile, including accommodation, transport and entrance fees, see our guide to how much a trip to Chile costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US dollar rate in Chile today?
The Central Bank's official rate was CLP 990.35 on Monday 26 October 2026, the highest of the year. At exchange bureaus the selling price can exceed CLP 1,000.
Is it a good time to travel to Chile with the dollar so high?
For a tourist arriving with dollars, yes: at today's rate, US$100 is worth CLP 99,035, compared with CLP 85,425 in February. Everything paid in pesos is about 14% cheaper in dollars than it was then.
Do foreign tourists pay VAT at hotels in Chile?
No, if they have no domicile or residence in Chile, pay for accommodation in foreign currency and the hotel is registered with the SII for that exemption. The hotel issues an export invoice.
