
Each year since 1985, demonstrators gather on 29 March (day of the young Combatant) to mark the deaths of two Chileans during the military regime. Protests and blockades may occur in different parts of central Santiago and the Metropolitan Region. These protests usually turn violent and lead to confrontations with the Carabineros and increased lawlessness, including looting and mugging. You should be vigilant and avoid crowds and demonstrations at all times.
Chilean authorities have informed that despite heavy rains and flooding in the region of Magallanes (south of Chile) and the region of Arica and Parinacota (north of Chile) tourism remains operative. There are no reports of tourism suspensions in the areas. We encourage travellers to keep monitoring regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. Please also refer to the Chilean national emergency (Oficinal Nacional de Emergencia) website (Spanish language only) for further information.
The northern border with Peru (Chacalluta) will be closed for several hours per day between Arica and Tacna as work begins to remove anti-personnel mines that were dislodged due to recent heavy rains. The border will be closed during certain hours in the morning between 4 and 26 March, except on Saturdays. Travellers in the region may face delays in crossing the border. For exact closing hours please monitor the website for the Regional Government for Arica and Parinacota.
Chile has a small but significant landmine problem, see further details in the Local Travel section below.
In 2010, 46,100 British passport holders arrived in Chile, though we believe this figure includes multiple arrivals of individual travellers (source: Chilean National Service of Tourism. Most visits are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. See Safety and Security - Crime.
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.