Travel insurance for Chile

Chile is an adventurer’s dream. Stretching from the Andes mountain range in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, it’s rich with culture, adventure and famous curiosities like Easter Island. Make sure your dream vacation doesn’t turn into a financial nightmare by getting the right travel insurance policy before you leave.

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Name	Product	Trip Cancellation	Emergency Medical Expenses	Baggage Coverage	Trip delay
Atlas Travel by Tokio Marine HCC – MIS Group				$1,000	$100	Customizable policy that balances basic essentials with premium coverage.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Atlas Group by Tokio Marine HCC – MIS Group				$1,000	$100	Customizable policy designed for families, student organizations and groups of five or more people.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Atlas StudentSecure by Tokio Marine HCC – MIS Group			$500,000			Choose from four levels of coverage to get the travel protection you need while travelling as a student.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
RoamRight Essential Travel Insurance Plan		100%	$15,000	$750	$500	Basic policy with coverage that includes trip cancellation insurance, tourist health insurance and baggage insurance.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
RoamRight Multi-Trip Annual Insurance for Trip Cancellation		100%	$25,000	$1,000	$1,000	Bare-bones policy designed for those who want trip cancellation coverage and limited medical protection.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Seven Corners Liaison Travel Medical			$50,000	$1,000		Coverage when traveling outside your home country with terms between 5 days to 3 years.	View details		loading Fetching your data...
AXA Assistance Silver Plan		100%	$25,000	$750	$500	Basic travel protection with lower amounts of coverage. No option to cancel for any reason.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Travel Guard Silver		100%	$15,000	$750	$500	Budget-friendly coverage with basic travel protections that include trip cancellation and trip interruption.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Seven Corners Wander Frequent Traveler Annual Insurance			$1,000,000	$500		Coverage for as many trips as you want for travel periods lasting up to 30 or 45 days.	View details		loading Fetching your data...

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What travel risks should I watch out for in Chile?

Chile is a safe, stable and well-developed country overall. Travelers are not advised to take additional safety precautions beyond the norm and insurers do not consider it a particularly risky spot. However, there are a few things to look out for:

• Dangerous weather. Chile is a predominantly mountainous country, and weather conditions can be severe. Consult weather reports, pack sensibly and be prepared when venturing into national parks.

• Protests and demonstrations. Large-scale protests, particularly in Santiago, may be an issue and can sometimes block streets and access to transportation. Visitors should avoid getting too close to large protests. Be especially wary around September 11, May 1 and March 29.
• Political conflict. Politically motivated violence — between indigenous groups and authorities, for example — occurs in Chile. If there’s an ongoing political conflict before your trip, you may need to delay your vacation.

• Crime. Bag-snatching and pickpocketing are common, especially in crowded areas like on public transportation. Travelers sleeping on long-haul buses often report waking up to missing possessions.
• Dangerous roads. Planning on driving in Chile? Make sure your insurance policy has health benefits and rental car insurance. Outside of cities, the roads are often poorly maintained and inadequately lit. And in mountainous areas, do not expect guardrails.

How can travel insurance protect me in Chile?

Even your best-laid plans can go awry. If they do, travel insurance can save you a lot of money.

• Health coverage. If you get sick or injured in a foreign country, bills can pile up fast. A policy with adequate medical coverage can protect you from financial ramifications and get you care at a quality private hospital.
• Coverage for lost or stolen items. If your luggage gets lost at the airport or your camera gets snatched by a thief, your insurer can reimburse you.
• Coverage for cancellations or delays. If your trip gets delayed because of political unrest or you get stuck in Chile for an extra night due to inclement weather, your insurer can cover any costs. This includes getting you on a new flight, extra hotel nights or lost deposits.

Are there any travel insurance exclusions?

Before choosing a travel insurance policy, look for the exclusions — conditions where the insurer won’t pay out. In Chile, some of those to watch for include:

• Altitude limits and other conditions on trekking or rock climbing. Plan your climbs and choose a policy with conditions that work for them.
• Reckless behavior. If you were injured as a result of your own reckless behavior, your insurer may not pay out.
• Drinking or doing drugs. If you’re injured or have your possessions stolen while drunk or on drugs, your insurer can deny your claim.
• Traveling to dangerous areas. If you get sick or injured while traveling to an area that the US Department of State has issued an advisory against, your claim can be denied.

Travel insurance extras to include when visiting Chile

Try to find a travel insurance policy that includes:

• Rock climbing, trekking or mountaineering. You might need extra coverage if you plan on hiking or climbing. Check with your insurer if you plan to get out in nature.

• Evacuation coverage. Chile has active volcanoes, regularly faces forest fires and flooding and is at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis. Travel insurance for evacuation and medical repatriation means that if disaster strikes, you can quickly return home — at no extra cost — whether or not you’re injured.
• Adventure activities. Bungee jumping, BASE jumping and kitesurfing are all popular in Chile. Unfortunately, most insurers won’t cover these types of high-risk adventure activities. Try to find one that does.

Get your money in order before traveling to South America

What kind of medical care can I expect in Chile?

Chile has one of the world’s most effective health care systems, but only Chilean residents and citizens are eligible for free health care at public hospitals. Visitors will need to pay their own expenses or have insurance.

• Public hospitals (state hospitals) are more likely to be crowded and have longer waiting lists than private hospitals (clinics).
• You can expect quality medical treatment in all cities and developed areas, though hospitals and clinics in rural areas often lack facilities and equipment. It’s a good idea to get evacuation coverage if you’ll be visiting a rural area. This will cover you if you need to be evacuated to a better hospital.
• Getting travel insurance that pays up-front for medical emergencies may be a good idea if you’re traveling on a budget and won’t be able to cover out of pocket medical costs.

Who should I contact in the event of an emergency?

During your stay in Chile, always know who your lifeline will be if something goes wrong:

• Your insurer. Most insurers have a 24/7 helpline you can call for assistance while traveling abroad.
• Friends and family back home. Tell someone where you’re going and consider making copies of your itinerary and sharing it among trusted friends and family.
• The US embassy in Chile. Contact the embassy for missing passports, legal difficulties or in the event of a countrywide emergency.

Bottom line

From mountaineering in the Andes to photographing Easter Island, Chile is one of the world’s most exciting vacation spots. Before you get on your flight, get a travel insurance policy to protect you from any mishaps on your trip.

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Frequently asked questions

• When is the best time of year to visit Chile?

  Season	Things to do	Weather
  December to February	Regional holidays make this the busiest season Extensive New Year’s celebrations take place around the country Tapati Rapa Nui, the Easter Island Culture festival, is in February	Santiago and central Chile are warm and dry The Atacama Desert can get to over 100 degrees during the day Chilean Patagonia is pleasantly warm Easter Island is warm and tropical The Chilean Lake District in the south is warmer than usual, but still cool
  March to May	Vendimia wine festival takes place in Chile’s wine-growing areas, particularly around Santiago, in late February to early May April to May is the best time to glimpse pumas in the Torres del Paine National Park	Santiago maintains its pleasant climate The Atacama Desert gets significantly colder at night Chilean Patagonia and the Lake District begin feeling cold during the days Park services in Patagonia start closing down for the season
  June to August	Chile’s ski season begins in June, with competitions and events continuing throughout winter The annual rain festival takes place in the Lake District in late June, a fun and colorful contemporary event to coincide with the arrival of the wet season June to August sees a range of Chilean film festivals and fashion events to fill up the winter months	Snow on most peaks Severe weather in Chilean Patagonia and elsewhere The Atacama Desert gets below freezing at night Easter Island retains its accommodating subtropical climate
  September to November	Chilean Independence Day is September 18, with festivities taking place around the country November sees a distinct increase in crowds	Temperate in general Spring flowers start emerging in the Lake District in October Santiago remains fairly warm

• Will my cell phone work in Chile?

  If your cell phone is locked by your provider, than no. Locked phones are common if you’re renting it or if you received it as part of a contract that isn’t up yet. If your phone is locked but the contract you bought it under has ended, you can call your cell phone provider and have them unlock it.

  Once you have an unlocked phone, you can pick up a prepaid SIM card for Chile that will allow you to make calls and take advantage of local deals. Alternatively, you can put your phone in airplane mode and use Wi-Fi to communicate.

• If I have a pre-existing health condition, will my travel insurance cover me if I get sick in Chile?

  If you have a pre-existing health condition, tell your insurer before you buy a policy. Insurers can choose not to cover certain conditions or charge extra for coverage if they do. If you have an asthma attack or an ulcerative colitis flare-up and it’s not listed on your policy, your insurer will deny your claim.