Travel Insurance for Chile
Essential travel tips for Canadians visiting Chile
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At a glance
- World Nomads offers four travel insurance plans for your trip to Chile. Plans range from standard to higher-limit protections.
- Coverage may apply to popular activities in Chile like horse riding, surfing and skiing.
- Policies for Canadians include protection for medical emergencies, trip interruptions and lost luggage.
From the stark terrain of the Atacama Desert to the glaciers and fjords of Patagonia, Chile is home to some of South America’s most dramatic scenery – all within easy reach for Canadian travellers. Running along the continent’s western edge, Chile is framed by the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with landscapes shifting between mountain ranges, valleys and coastline. Santiago and Valparaíso bring culture, colour and energy, while the Casablanca and Colchagua valleys offer a slower pace. Come for the scenery, stay for the rhythm of daily life – and a calendar of festivals that bring people together. Just don’t forget to get travel insurance before you leave.
Plan Comparisons
Choosing the right travel insurance coverage depends on your trip type and planned activities. We offer four plans – Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual – each with different coverages or levels of coverage.
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
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Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Covering the basics for your trip to Chile. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Optional 'Cancel for Any Reason' available. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Optional 'Cancel for Any Reason' available. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Get a quote |
Travel insurance for adventure activities in Chile
Getting active outdoors is an essential part of the Chile experience. In the north, the Atacama Desert is the place to go for sandboarding, stargazing under some of the clearest skies on earth and exploring salt flats and geysers at high altitude. Further south, Patagonia is all about scale – think multi-day treks in Torres del Paine, glacier hikes and kayaking past icebergs. You can also ride horses across wide-open plains or take on challenging climbs in the Andes. Along the coast, world-class waves roll into places like Pichilemu, while offshore waters are ideal for diving. Skiing in Chile is also world-class.
Coverage for 250 activities you love + more
Common insurance considerations for Chile
Accidents and emergencies
No one likes imagining the worst, but if you do get seriously sick or have an accident that sends you to hospital, you’ll be thankful you purchased travel insurance before you left home. Fell off a horse in Patagonia? Wiped out on a mountain bike descent and ended up in hospital? Ate ceviche past its prime and got a bad bout of food poisoning? Emergency assistance is a phone call away.
Trip Cancellation
The best trips are often the ones you’ve planned months in advance, but you can’t predict the future and unexpected situations can sometimes happen before you even set off. Trip cancellation coverage is included in all single-trip and annual travel insurance plans offered by World Nomads and gives you the opportunity to cancel your trip before you depart – but only for covered reasons. Optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to cancel for any reason that’s not otherwise covered by your plan. Broke up with your partner? You can cancel your trip. Sick dog? You can stay home to care for your fur baby. Change your mind about travelling? There’s no judgment here. Just make sure you purchase Cancel For Any Reason insurance cover within 15 days of making your first trip payment (like booking a hotel or flight).
Emergency evacuation
If you get seriously sick or injured but you’re far from appropriate medical facilities, emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance can help get you the care you need. It may cover, up to the policy limits, the cost to get you to the closest appropriate medical facility or to your home province for further treatment. Under your World Nomads plan, emergency evacuation can be covered if it’s recommended by the attending physician and pre-approved by our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team. This benefit could include transportation costs and any related medical services or supplies. If you’re in hospital for three days or more, it may also include the transportation of a family member or companion to your bedside or the return of a dependent child back to your home.
Trip interruption
No matter how good of a time you’re having in Chile, things can happen that mean you have to finish your trip early or you’re unable to participate in your full planned itinerary. If you get severely injured or sick while you're travelling, or you get a call from back home and learn that an immediate family member has unexpectedly passed away, you may not be able to complete the rest of your planned trip. World Nomads offers trip interruption coverage that may help you get reimbursed for prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if your plans change for a covered reason.
Tips for travelling to Chile
- Distances can be surprisingly long, so plan driving routes carefully
- Pack for changing conditions, especially if you’re visiting places like Patagonia or the Atacama where temperatures can vary widely
- Take care at altitude in northern Chile and allow time to acclimatise if visiting high-elevation areas
- Watch out for petty crime – pickpocketing, bag snatching and theft from vehicles happens in cities and tourist areas.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for Chile. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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Do Canadians need a visa to visit Chile?
Canadians don’t need a visa for short stays in Chile (typically up to 90 days), but you may need to show proof of onward travel. Entry requirements can change, so check before you go.
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Is Chile safe for tourists?
Chile is considered one of the safer countries in South America, but petty theft can occur, particularly in cities like Santiago and Valparaíso. Stay aware of your surroundings and take standard precautions. You may want to consider travel insurance for those unexpected situations that arise.
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What is the best time to visit Chile?
Chile’s seasons vary by region. Summer (December to February) is ideal for Patagonia, while spring and autumn are great for central regions. The Atacama Desert can be visited year-round.
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Can I drink tap water in Chile?
Tap water is generally safe to drink in cities, but in remote areas it’s best to check locally or stick to bottled water.
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What currency is used in Chile?
Chile uses the Chilean peso (CLP). Credit cards are widely accepted in cities, but it’s useful to carry cash for smaller purchases and rural areas.
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What is the best way to get around Chile?
Domestic flights are the quickest way to cover long distances, while buses are reliable and affordable. Car hire is useful for exploring certain regions at your own pace.
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Do I need travel insurance for Chile?
Travel insurance isn’t mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended. Cover for accidents, medical emergencies, cancellations, delays and lost luggage can help protect you against unexpected costs. Whether you’re in a major city or off adventuring in a more remote location, it’s reassuring to know you can get the help you need – especially when it comes to an accident or sudden illness.
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How do I make a travel insurance claim?
You can make a claim online 24/7. Have your documents and receipts handy to upload, and get started. If you get stuck, you can call us collect on +1 416 646 3723 or send an email to worldnomads@travelguard.com and we will assist you with your claim.
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What do I do if I need emergency assistance?
No matter where you are in the world, our 24/7 Emergency Assistance partners at Travel Guard are ready to help – 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whether it’s a medical emergency, stolen gear, missing bags, or a natural disaster, they’re the first call to make. Need a translator? They can help with that too.
When you call, you’ll be asked if you are experiencing a travel emergency. If you are having a medical emergency, you’ll be connected with Emergency Assistance right away. If your situation is not urgent and you are calling outside of normal business hours, you’ll be able to leave a message and be called back.
The contact information for medical emergency assistance is:
Phone: +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.); or
Phone: +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Insurance protection for your hard earned vacation in the event of unexpected cancellation.
- Standard Plan: $2,500
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Epic Plan: $15,000
- AMT Plan: $10,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Standard Plan: $250,000
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Epic Plan: $750,000
- Annual Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Gear & Baggage Protection
Coverage for the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Standard Plan: $1,000
- Explorer Plan: $2,000
- Epic Plan: $5,000
- Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
Protect your health
- Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Return of Remains
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
Protect your trip
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
- Trip Exchange (Explorer, Epic or AMT)
- Rental Vehicle Damage (Explorer, Epic or AMT)
Protect your stuff
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services
- 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Medical Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Personal Security Assistance
- Adventure Traveller’s Hotline
- Bag Trak
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.