Best 25+ Chile Beaches

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With a coastline stretching for over 3,000 miles (4,500 km) you would expect more than a few great beaches. And this is exactly what you get in Chile, but possibly not quite as many as you'd expect. For one thing the bottom third of Chile is a virtual wilderness and the coastline an impenetrable, convoluted landscape of glacial fjords and snow capped islands.

Then there is the bit in the north; dominated by the Atacama desert this region is characterized by its desolate wind carved rugged coast. Much of this coast is hundreds of miles from the nearest proper road and even then, anything that could be described as a beach is pretty rare. However, there are one or two gems to be found.

So, Chile's best beaches are very much concentrated along the country's Central Coast, many within striking distance of the capital Santiago. One thing in common with all of Chile's beaches is the water is, well chilly! This is thanks to the Humboldt current which sweeps up the coast from the Antarctic.

Along this stretch there is a great variety of beaches ranging from city beaches to exclusive beach towns. There's also some great surf to be had including one of the world's best left-hand point breaks at Punta de Lobos.

The Best Chilean Beaches...

  • 1. Anakena // Easter Island

    Anakena
    © Jesse Kraft

    It's not often you get to mix up a day at the beach with a viewing of some of the world's most iconic archaeological monuments, but this is exactly what you get at Anakena beach on Easter Island. 

    Anakena is home to a set of moai; these are the huge carved stone figureheads that Easter Island is famous for. The Ahu Nao-Nao stones at Anakena are a set of 7 such… read more »

  • 2. Zapallar // Santiago

    Zapallar
    © David Zipper / CC BY

    The small town of Zapallar is located on Chile's Central Coast a few hours drive north of the capital, Santiago. This is where Chile's wealthy and famous like to spend a weekend by the sea in any one of the fabulous old villas which cling to the hillside overlooking the beach. As a result visitors are particularly well catered for with some good shops and cafes. The town has something… read more »

  • 3. Caleta Cóndor // Los Lagos

    Caleta Cóndor
    © Jfbustos / CC BY

    Sitting at the mouth of the Río Cholguaco river in the Los Lagos region of Southern Chile is what is possibly the most stunning beach in the country. A crescent of bone white sand meets the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, all backed by thick, lush forest. Caleta Cóndor certainly has the appearance of a paradisical tropical beach, however the temperature doesn't quite support this and it can be distinctly chilly(!)… read more »

  • 4. Vina del Mar // Valparaiso

    Vina del Mar

    The coastal resort of Viña del Mar is home to a number of Chile's best beaches. Within easy reach of the capital, Santiago, Viña del Mar is a popular spot for weekends and the summer break when it really comes to life.

    The weather in Viña del Mar is often described as Mediterranean, meaning it is generally warm and dry. However, this does not extend to the ocean which is… read more »

  • 5. Bahía Inglesa // Atacama

    Bahía Inglesa

    Bahía Inglesa is a small resort village in the north of Chile with the Atacama desert to one side and the Pacific Ocean the other. There are a number of beaches in the immediate area but it is the stretch of beach directly in front of the village that is best known - and allegedly one of the most photographed in Chile. 

    Known as Playa La Piscina (swimming pool beach) this little… read more »

  • 6. Playa Tunquén // Valparaiso

    Playa Tunquén

    Despite being within day trip distance of Valparaiso the beach at Tunquén is still relatively undeveloped and retains its wild character, unlike virtually any other in the region. This is a good-sized beach measuring around 2km in length and even if it ever did get busy (which it doesn't) there would be plenty of space to avoid the crowds.

    Behind the beach is an area of dunes and a number of homes -… read more »

  • 7. Isla Damas // La Serena

    Isla Damas

    The beaches on Isla Damas are quite unusual for Chile and you could be mistaken for thinking you had mistakenly landed on an island somewhere in the Mediterranean. The landscape is arid with low shrubs clinging to the sandy soil. There are two beaches on the island; La Poza and Las Tijeras both of which have fine white sand and clear turquoise water. They are also on the sheltered side… read more »

  • 8. Playa Reñaca // Valparaiso

    Playa Reñaca
    © Pablo Rodríguez / CC BY
    Great for:
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    The city beach of Playa Reñaca is a place for fun. It has fantastic parties, crowds, and a lot of fun activities. This is a tourist hot spot in the north of Chile, and lives up to its other name of "Long beach", being a long stretch of fine golden sand. In fact the beach is divided into six sectors, all with soft sand and warm waters.

    The backdrop to the… read more »

  • 9. Playa El Canelillo // Valparaiso

    Playa El Canelillo
    © Warko / CC BY
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    With its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, Playa El Canelillo is a beautiful slice of paradise for relaxing. The water is generally calm, so you can enjoy a swim in the shallow waters. It can be a little chilly (!) though. Given this is such a lovely beach it can get busy here during the summer months.

    To the back of the beach is a large area of pine forest… read more »

  • 10. Playa de Ramuntcho

    Playa de Ramuntcho
    © Daga / CC BY

    Playa de Ramuntcho is situated on the Hualpén peninsula near the town of Talcahuano. It is about 15 to 20 minutes hike from the area's main beach of Caleta Lenga. This is definitely the most beautiful beach within easy driving distance of the city of Concepcion and feels a million miles from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

    The beach is set in a relatively sheltered bay flanked by… read more »

  • 11. Playa La Virgen // Atacama

    Playa La Virgen
    Camila Cociña
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    Set among the earthy hues of the expansive Atacama Desert is Playa La Virgen, an oasis of color with its white sand and turquoise waters. This secluded beach gets its name from a nearby rock formation that is said to resemble the Virgin Mary. In fact the locals believe that the Virgin Mary protects the area.

    You will see beach bungalows made of natural resources such as mud, stone, reeds,… read more »

  • 12. Playa Blanca // Coquimbo

    Playa Blanca
    © Christian Córdova / CC BY

    With its white sand and crystal clear waters, Playa Blanca is one of the most beautiful beaches in Chile. Located in the little town of Tongoy, near Coquimbo, this picturesque crescent of sand is backed by hills. One of the most notable features is the huge sand dune at the northern end of the bay.

    Being Chile, the water is fairly cold here, so this is not a great spot for… read more »

  • 13. Playa Caleta Abarca // Valparaiso

    Playa Caleta Abarca
    © Christian Córdova / CC BY

    Caleta Abarca is a good-sized sandy beach located to the south of Viña del Mar city center. This is one of the most popular beaches in the Valparaíso region and is the place to be in the summer. Both the beach and the walkway above the beach are a hive of activity with plenty of stores, restaurants, and cafes

    The bay in which Playa Caleta Abarca lies rises up to the… read more »

  • 14. Playa La Rinconada // Antofagasta

    Playa La Rinconada
    © Municipalidad Antofagasta / CC BY
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Kitesurfing

    Playa La Rinconada is set in the stunning surroundings of the Atacama desert. It has fine white sand that stretches out to the clear waters, and it is warm enough to swim in the summer months (from December to February). This is a uniquely beautiful location, and there is plenty of interesting flora and fauna including fish, crabs, gulls, and more.

    It is located around 65 kilometers north of Antofagasta,… read more »

  • 15. Isla Negra // Valparaiso

    Isla Negra
    © Robert Cutts / CC BY

    Situated around 70 kilometres south of Valparaiso is Isla Negra. Translated as "black island" this is somewhat misleading as it is not in fact an island at all. The name actually comes from an outcrop of dark rocks on the beach.

    Much of what you will hear about Isla Negra relates to its most famous formere resident, the Nobel Prize-winning poet and politician Pablo Neruda. It was in fact he who… read more »