Hi there, Matt Wilson here. I’m married to a Chilean woman and happen to be the CEO and co-founder of Under30Experiences, a tour operator with more than ten years of experience operating in Latin America. I’d be happy to tell you all about the beautiful country of Chile and answer the question, “Is Chile safe?”
I’ve traveled to Chile three times and spent over twelve weeks there. I’ve spent time in Santiago, where my wife is from, Viña del Mar, where my wife grew up spending the summers, Vaparaíso, the second largest city in Chile, Valle de Elqui, and the south of Chile.
In this guide to safety in Chile, you’ll learn…
- Is Santiago, Chile Safe Right now?
- What areas of Chile country should I avoid?
- What activities are safe in Chile country? What should I do in Chile?
- What is the safest way to get around Chile?
- Are there natural disasters in Chile?
- What hospitals and clinics should I go to in Chile?
- Is there ever civil unrest in Chile?
- Do I have to worry about gangs, cartels, and narcos in Chile?
- Is nightlife safe in Chile?
- Should you travel to Chile?
- Should I buy travel insurance when traveling to Chile?
- Are group trips to Chile safe?
Is Chile Safe Right Now?
Overall, Chile is just as safe as most Latin American countries. What does this mean? Like any big city in Latin America, you want to use caution. Don’t flaunt your valuables, watch out for petty theft, and don’t be a victim of opportunists looking to snatch your iPhone while you are fumbling around snapping selfies.
Since the 1990s, Chile has consistently been rated as the safest country in Latin America, with little corruption or violent crime. But sadly, due to a rise in organized crime, security has deteriorated over the last several years, and Chileans are pretty upset about it. Santiago now deals with the same issues that other big cities in Latin America deal with. I’ll tell you the areas to avoid and where to go so you feel just as safe as any other city in the Americas.
Luckily, most of the crime occurs in the major cities of Santiago and Valparaíso. You’ll feel quite safe in the small towns in Chile. There is so much to explore in this beautiful country! I had great trips with my family to quaint places like Pucón and Pisco Elqui and couldn’t have felt safer.
Is Santiago, Chile Safe Right now?
Chile’s population is quickly growing, and is now a city of around 7 million people. Santiago is relatively safe if you stick to the right neighborhoods. In any city of this size, you’ll find safe areas and areas you want to avoid.
I’ll give it to you straight–Santiago is a nice city to live in, but as far as tourism goes, it falls short in comparison to many other cities in South America, including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Medellin, Cartagena, Quito, and Cusco. I’d suggest using Santiago as a stopover city en route to exploring the rest of this amazing country!
What neighborhoods in Santiago, Chile are Safe?
The three safest areas to stay in Santiago are Las Condes, Vitacrura, and Providencia. These are upscale neighborhoods with lots to offer.
I always stay near Sky Costanera (Gran Torre Santiago), South America’s largest skyscraper located in Providencia.
Below Sky Costanera is a high-end mall called Costanera Center. There is a lot of security in the area, and it’s pretty crowded, so watch out for pickpockets. Going to the top of Sky Costanera is a great activity that offers a 360-degree view of Santiago. You’ll also have great views of the Andes Mountains just beyond the city limits.
I’d suggest staying 5-10 minutes walk from Sky Costanera in the residential neighborhood of Providencia if you can. I’ve stayed at abba President Suites Santiago, and it hits the 3Bs as they say in Spanish… bueno, bonito, and barrato! That translates to good, pretty, and cheap! Tobalaba has some bars and restaurants to visit, and Manuel Mott would be a decent pick for someone on a budget. I stayed in a one-bedroom Airbnb for about $50/night, and the neighborhood has plenty of places to eat and drink.
If you are coming to Chile to ski, stay uptown or “más arriba,” as a Santiagan would say. The upscale neighborhood of Las Condes is located at a higher elevation than the city center, so you’ll be closer to the mountains. There are plenty of places to eat, drink, and shop in Las Condes. Our flight was canceled, and COPA put us up in the Renaissance Santiago Hotel, within walking distance from Parque Arauco, an upscale shopping mall, and Parque Araucano, a lovely park with lots of security.
Viticura is an upscale financial district between Providencia and Las Condes and is also a great place to stay. Parque Bicentenario is my favorite park in Santiago. I suggest walking its length from the reflection pool (a great photo spot!) to the pond with the flamingos. Then, have a drink at Mestizo!
If you find a place to stay in barrio El Golf that’s a perfectly safe place to stay, too. It’s safe to walk between all these four neighborhoods during the day. El Golf is also an upscale neighborhood but a little boring and corporate if you ask me.
What neighborhoods in Santiago are dangerous?
If you want to explore tourist areas like El Centro, Cerro Santa Lucia, Lastarria, and Bellavista, you can do so during the day. Keep in mind these are now the areas where more incidents happen, especially at night. Don’t bring valuables, and keep your wits about you. Sadly, you may still see graffiti on many statues and buildings vandalized in the civil unrest that occurred in 2019.
If you stick to the neighborhoods I mentioned and keep your wits about you, you should be fine. I’ve heard from some travel bloggers that you should avoid Estacion Central, the central bus station.
What areas of Chile country should I avoid?
In general, Chile is pretty safe, and there are no large areas of the country that I’d particularly avoid. But in the big cities like Santiago and Valparaiso, of course, there are areas that you wouldn’t want to go to. While I don’t want to hit up my in-laws for a list of “bad neighborhoods” in Santiago, I would advise sticking to the areas I recommend above and being extra careful in “El Centro.”
There was an incredibly tragic incident when an American tourist was killed in Santiago in 2023. I followed this story closely, and everyone from Chile I spoke with said, “What the hell was he doing in that neighborhood?” The New York Post reported that that evening, he “took a snapshot of a building in a drug-infested area” and was killed after that.
I’m not an expert in Valparaiso, but I felt safe when I walked around during the day in the tourist areas. I’d recommend sticking to the main tourist neighborhoods like Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre within the historic quarter of the seaport. Crime has risen lately in Valparaiso, so be careful. Valpo has impressive street art and funiculars to ride, so if you want to go, a Chilean friend of mine recommended this city tour of Valparaiso.
What activities are safe in Chile? What should I do in Chile?
Chile is an enormously diverse country in terms of landscape and climate, spanning approximately 2,700 miles from north to south. This means there are tons of different adventure activities to do, from hiking the W circuit in Torres del Paine, Patagonia, to climbing the sand dunes in Concón, skiing outside of Santiago, mountain biking down the Pucón Volcano, surfing in Cachagua, and stargazing in the Atacama Desert.
Chile is generally a very well-developed country in Latin American terms, so in my experience, the local tour companies take safety seriously. Chile also has one of the lowest levels of corruption in Latin America, so certifications and permits that tour companies get are most likely up to date and above board. Adventure sports in Chile aren’t cheap, so well-to-do Chileans expect equipment to be inspected and well-maintained.
Further reading: 12 Travel Safety Items You Can’t Afford to Travel Without!
What is the safest way to get around Chile?
Air Travel Around Chile
Air travel is always the safest way to travel around Chile. Remember, Chile spans 2,700 miles in length, so unless you have weeks or months to explore Chile, I’d recommend driving. LATAM is a solid airline. I’ve heard SKY isn’t so bad, but after a bad experience with JetSmart, my wife still hasn’t let me hear the end of it!
Driving & Car Rentals in Chile
Driving around Chile is generally safe, and the infrastructure is very nice. However, if you aren’t used to driving in Latin America, it can be a bit of a culture shock. While Chileans drive on the right-hand side of the road, sometimes traffic rules do not apply. Driving in Latin America is generally a bit more assertive. Congestion in Santiago in the neighborhoods I recommend isn’t so bad, and driving around Chile during the day is quite doable. The longest road trip I’ve taken was about 7 hours from Santiago up the coast to La Sirena and then Valle de Elqui. We had a great time and felt completely safe!
Safety Tip: If you have the money to spend on a larger vehicle, do it! A big SUV is generally safer in an accident than a compact car.
Uber & Taxi in Santiago
Here’s my hot take of the article: taxis are safer than Ubers! But only if the taxi is arranged in advance. Allow me to explain…
If you are going to the airport in Santiago, I’d recommend calling the taxi company my father-in-law has used for years: Taxi Oficial +56 2 2601 9880. If you are in Santiago and need transportation from your hotel in Las Condes to Sky Costanera, for example, this would be a great option because you know the taxi driver they send will be legitimate.
Uber works in Santiago too, but you never know who your Uber driver will be. Sure, Uber says they do background checks, and your ride is tracked via GPS, but we all know that incidents in Ubers still occur worldwide, so I recommend a trusted taxi company over Uber. That being said, my wife has taken Uber on a whim in Santiago, and it works just fine. I always pick her up myself if she’s out late with her friends.
The Santiago Metro System
The Metro de Santiago is a good system, but again, be conscious of where you are going and keep your wits about you. I’ve only taken it a couple of times from Santa Lucía or the Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes) to my stop in Providencia, but I felt comfortable enough to do it with my two-year-old. Again, like I keep saying, I stick to a handful of neighborhoods in Santiago and always feel safe.
Busses in Santiago
I’ve never taken a “micro,” as they call the busses in Chile, but I know they are common. If you stay in the neighborhoods I recommend, it’s most likely safe, but guard your valuables at all times.
Is the water safe to drink in Chile?
Yes! The water in Chile is generally potable, and I’ve never had an issue. If you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to buy gallons of water and refill your sustainable water bottle, but it really shouldn’t be necessary. Chileans are very proud of their safe drinking water. Yes, you can brush your teeth with the water in Chile, and the ice is fine to consume. But of course, if you are in a rural area when in doubt, ask!
Are there natural disasters in Chile?
Earthquakes in Chile
Earthquakes are a major concern in Chile. Chileans are used to earthquakes, so the country is well-equipped to handle them. My wife always talks about seeing waves splash out of her pool as a kid during a big earthquake. I experienced a small earthquake on one of my trips, and I asked my in-laws if we should go outside, and they just laughed. Of course, people who don’t live in well-constructed buildings still suffer after earthquakes, but there is no reason not to visit this wonderful country.
Tsunamis in Chile
Anywhere with coastlines and earthquakes, you’ll have the risk of tsunamis, and Chile is no exception. Santiago is an hour or two from the coast, so there is no need to worry about this in the capital city. But if you are in one of the many coastal areas like Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Zapallar, La Sirena, Chiloe, Valdivia, etc, if you feel an earthquake, then you’ll want to get to higher ground immediately. Luckily, Chile is generally mountainous, so most of the coastal areas I’ve been to have hills next to them where you can seek safety.
Further reading: My article on What to Do in a Natural Disaster.
Volcanoes in Chile
There are over 2,000 volcanoes in Chile, and over 500 are potentially active! This makes for some amazing landscapes, including one of my favorites and one of the most active, the Villarica volcano.
Volcanoes in Chile have a green, yellow, and red rating system; you can check for alerts here. The Smithsonian Volcano Institute allows you to look up the activity level of any volcanoes you might be staying near. It’s always a good idea to have a KN-95 mask in your first aid kit.
Read my article on how to build the best travel first aid kit!
Snowstorms and Avalanches in Chile
If you are reading this, you might be considering going skiing in the Andes! So yes, it snows at higher elevations and in the south of Chile. It rarely snows in the center of Santiago, but as you go up in elevation towards ski resorts in the Andes, of course, you’ll find snow! The main resorts are El Portillo and then the resorts in the Tres Valles (3 Valleys), Valle Nevado, La Parva, and El Colorado/Farellones. The road into the Andes from Santiago is the main road that trucks use to get to Argentina, so it’s cleared regularly. Avalanches occur in the Andes, although not as often as in other parts of the world.
Here is my article on What to Do in a Snowstorm or Blizzard While Traveling.
What hospitals and clinics should I go to in Chile?
Chile has good medical care, especially in the capital city of Santiago. In any significant medical emergency, you’d be airlifted back to Santiago, and you should request to go to a private hospital.
The best private hospital in the country is Hospital Clínico Universidad de los Andes. Ask a local to take you to “Hospital Los Andes" in Las Condes.
911 works in Chile, but it’s better to use the following emergency numbers in Santiago:
- Police (Carbineros): 133
- Medical Emergencies: 131
- Fire Department: 132
Is there ever civil unrest in Chile?
The last major civil unrest occurred in 2019 and was very similar to the unrest in the United States in 2020. The government raised the metro fare by 30 Chilean pesos or about 4 cents in USD terms, and people lost their sh*t! The divide between rich and poor in Chile is vast, and despite having a very successful middle class, the slight rise in subway fare was the straw that broke the camel's back. Much of the city was vandalized, and protests were intense.
Since 2019, the country has been reasonably stable and primarily free of civil unrest.
It’s important to note that almost all the unrest occurred in Santiago, mainly near the downtown “Centro” areas.
Do I have to worry about gangs, cartels, and narcos in Chile?
If you aren’t involved in drugs or wandering around where drug traffickers hang out, then you shouldn’t have a problem in Chile. Santiago was once a city with very little violent crime, but unfortunately, drug cartels have infiltrated the city, and now Chile faces the same issues that every other city in Latin America faces.
Stick to the neighborhoods I mentioned, and you should have a great time!
Is nightlife safe in Chile?
I’m not an expert in nightlife in Santiago, but I can tell you that bars and clubs have been closing earlier than they have in the past due to safety concerns. Santiago, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar used to be places where you could party until sunrise, but that is less common nowadays.
Chilean culture operates similarly to Spain, where nobody really goes out until 1 am.
Bellavista, Barrio Italia, and Barrio Lastarria used to be the hot spots for nightlife, but again, many of these areas have become unsafe at night. (I’ve been to these places in the day alone and felt fine.)
These days, I’d recommend seeking a more high-end experience and hitting the town for dinner and drinks around 9–10 pm. For a safer experience, seek a high-end experience on Avienda Vitacura or Orrego Luco.
Should you travel to Chile?
Um, yes! Chile is a fantastic country with so much to offer. If you love the outdoors like I do, Chile is an incredible place to visit. The diversity of geography you can visit, from seeing the Atacama Desert flowering to the glaciers in Patagonia, is unmatched.
Chile also has so many unique cultures to discover, from the Mapuche Indigenous tribe in the south to the “waso” cowboy culture of the countryside. I’ve met amazing people from all over the country. I once sparred Brazilian jiujitsu with a black belt from Puntarenas, literally the end of the earth! Quick shout out to Professor Alejandro at Alliance BJJ Santiago!
Chile is so far from other parts of the world that it has evolved distinctly on its own, which is one of the reasons why Chilean Spanish is so hard for foreigners to understand! Be sure to pick up a few “Chileanismos” or Chileanisms while you are there… just don’t go throwing the word “huevón” (weon) around unless it’s a good friend, even though you are bound to hear it 24/7!
Should I buy travel insurance when traveling to Chile?
Travel insurance is always a good idea! Things can go wrong anywhere in the world, so I always suggest buying travel insurance to protect you from trip interruptions, lost or stolen luggage, and medical expenses.
My lawyers insist I say, “This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance,” and I need to disclose that I get compensated if you purchase the travel insurance. I direct people to Wanderwell, SafetyWing, and World Nomads.
Looking to explore another awesome city in Latin America? Read my Guide to Safety in Bogota, Colombia!
Are group trips to Chile safe?
¡Sípo! That’s Chilean Spanish for an emphatic “yes!” Group trips are great, so you can travel solo but never alone. There is always strength in numbers, and group trips set you up with a guide who can advise you on safety in the local areas. It’s always good to have a local with you!
Check out Under30Experiences group trips to South America, and look out for a Chile trip in the near future!
PS. Don’t tell my Chilean friends, but if you want to see Patagonia, Argentina is much cheaper, and Buenos Aires is much more beautiful than Santiago! See our Buenos Aires & Patagonia itinerary here!
