• Travel Advice

DFAT advice for Chile

Flag of Chile

When travelling to Chile, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Chile.

This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate (earthquake information update). The overall level of the advice has decreased. We now advise you to be alert to your own security in Chile. We continue to advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the 6th, 7th and 8th regions.

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Summary

  • We advise you to be alert to your own security in Chile.
  • Exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.
  • We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the 6th, 7th and 8th regions (O’Higgins, Maule and Biobio) due to earthquake damage and the risk of aftershocks.
  • On 27 February 2010, an earthquake measuring 8.8 magnitude struck close to Concepcion, around 300km south of Santiago, the Chilean capital. Hundreds of people were killed or injured and thousands were made homeless. The earthquake also triggered tsunamis which caused extensive damage along the central coast. There has been widespread damage to major infrastructure, including roads and buildings. Aftershocks continue to occur. The main affected areas are the 6th, 7th and 8th regions. Travellers should expect delays at Santiago international airport. Australians in affected areas should follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor the media for further developments. For more information, see the Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate section.
  • You should avoid all demonstrations and protests as they may turn violent.
  • In recent years, several small scale bombs have been detonated in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. In November 2009, a small bomb exploded at the Marriott Hotel, Santiago, injuring one person.
  • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
  • Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
    • organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
    • register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
    • subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
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