Geysers, glaciers and Chilean wine awaits. Learn how travel insurance can help Americans visiting Chile.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Chile offers countless opportunities to see some of the world’s most iconic natural wonders. Many Americans enjoy visiting El Tatio - a geothermal area that consists of geysers, fumaroles, and other geological structures. You can also cruise to the El Brujo Glacier, venture out to see some of the amazing national parks in Patagonia, kayak to take in the beauty of the Marble Caves in the Aysen region, or see the Moai statues at Easter Island.
While a trip to Chile is an amazing experience, there are some things to be aware of when you’re visiting from the US. Our nomads have experienced it all - from lost baggage to natural disasters. We’ve learned quite a bit in our travels, and we encourage you to check out our team’s tips on things to know before you visit Chile —and look into travel insurance* options for Chile.
International travel can bring all kinds of unexpected surprises - like the hidden petroglyphs that you can find in the Atacama Desert.
Some surprises are not as great. Nobody wants to think about things like canceled trips, delayed baggage and medical emergencies, but these things can happen unexpectedly. If you fall and get hurt while hiking the Guatin Canyon in the Atacama Desert, you may then wish that you had travel insurance for Chile.
There are four plans to select from, and when you get a quote, you can compare the options to determine the best international travel insurance for your needs.
While you’ll have an out-of-this-world time hiking through the desert, Chile offers many thrilling adventures beyond Atacama. World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Americans traveling to Chile and includes things like rafting the Rio Futaleufu and rock climbing in Patagonia.
Before you get a quote for your travel insurance for Chile, it’s a good idea to have an idea of which activities you’d like to do. Each insurance plan covers different activities so with a rough itinerary, you can select the best insurance for your adventure.
Glacier walking in Torres del Paine will be covered by all insurance plans, including the Standard Plan. However, if you’re an avid climber and wish to summit Ojos del Salado— Chile’s highest peak that reaches over 22,615 feet—you’ll need to purchase the Epic Plan, which covers high altitude mountaineering up to 26,247 feet.
One of the coolest (or should we say hottest) things to see in Chile are the geysers. It’s fascinating to see the eruption of the steaming water shooting high into the air. As you can imagine, it also comes with its own set of dangers. Although it doesn’t happen a lot, we’ve heard reports of travelers falling into geysers and being severely burned.
Watch your steps when you’re near geysers. The thick fog from the fumaroles and glares from the sun can sometimes make it difficult to see where you’re stepping. Accidents do happen a travel insurance plan for Chile may help reimburse you for those unexpected medical emergencies.
If you have a medical emergency when traveling to Chile, you can call the 24/7 emergency assistance team and they can help refer you to a place that offers the level of care that you need. They can also help communicate with your Chilean medical team if there’s language barriers.
If your doctor (and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team) determines that it’s best for you to go home to the US to get medical care, the repatriation coverage that is included in your travel insurance for Chile may cover the costs to get you there.
To streamline your experience seeking medical treatment in Chile, we recommend signing up for FootprintID before your trip. This non-insurance service is a portable personal health record where your documents, prescriptions, test results, and emergency contacts are accessible in one place anywhere in the world. Whether you need to refill a prescription or deal with a more serious injury, FootprintID expedites the process.
Nobody plans for lost bags, but it happens. If you’re planning to trek through the Andes Mountains, you may be bringing along your new pair of hiking boots. What happens if you get to Santiago and then realize that the airline lost your bag? Your travel insurance for Chile may reimburse you for the cost to replace your hiking boots and other belongings.
If you’re lucky, your bags just took a detour and will eventually make their way to you. Even a delayed bag can be stressful. If your bag is delayed for at least 12 hours, you may be reimbursed for a change of clothes and toiletries until it gets back to you.
If that bag goes missing at the airport, the first step is to contact the airline. If the airline isn’t able to help you locate your lost bag, the second step is to contact Blue Ribbon Bags, our non-insurance service partner that will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline. Make sure to have the file reference or record locator number and Property Irregularity Report on hand when you call Blue Ribbon Bags so you can file a lost luggage claim.
Theft is something to watch out for when you travel to Chile - especially in crowded touristy areas like Santiago and Valparaiso. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid putting anything valuable in your back pockets. You may also want to carry handbags across your body, and wear backpacks on your front.
Keep an eye on your bags at bus terminals, train stations, and airports. We’ve heard about organized scams where a visitor gets sprayed with something and then a “good Samaritan” points it out and offers to help. It’s really a ploy to divert your attention while someone else comes up and steals your belongings.
If anything does happen, make sure you make a police report. You’ll need that to make a claim.
When you’re searching for the best travel insurance for Chile, check to make sure it has coverage for trip cancelation, trip delay, and trip interruption. If it does, you mayh be reimbursed for unused, prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if something unexpected happens.
Chile is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire –earthquakes and volcanoes can happen anytime. The government has been known to restrict access to Conguillo National Park because of concerns about flare-ups of the Llaima volcano.
If your trip is canceled because a volcano erupts and makes it impossible for you to get there, your travel insurance for Chile may help you be reimbursed for non-refundable tours and hotel accommodations that you paid for in advance. You’ll need to have purchased your plan before the eruption (once it erupts, it’s no longer unexpected and travel insurance doesn’t cover “known events”).
Travel insurance may also help if you’re already on your trip and something happens. For example, you may need to go back to the United States early if an immediate family member has an unexpected medical emergency or dies.
The Explorer and Epic Plan can also cover various travel inconveniences. Perhaps you’ve booked a ski vacation at Valle Nevado in the Andes, but the snow isn’t great. If the resort closes all or part of its facilities for at least one day during your visit due to lack of snow, you may be eligible to be paid for the inconvenience.
Before you leave the US, we encourage you to check out the US government’s safety warnings for Chile. Weather, safety, and political situations can change at any time, and this is where they list any advisories that may exist at that time.
If you purchase travel insurance for Chile, it’s a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your plan number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens.
Take extra camera batteries. The worst feeling is to get set up for the perfect shot of an Andean Condor, only to find out you have a dead battery. If you make the journey to see the penguins, make sure to read up on some of our tips on how to photograph wildlife in an ethical way.
There are so many great tours that American visitors can book in Chile. When you’re researching options, try to find an eco-friendly tour operator. With the vast amount of untouched natural land and waterways in Chile, it’s up to us nomads to do our part to protect it for years to come.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
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Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.