Chile
Travel Destination – Chile
Chile’s dramatic landscapes range from the arid Atacama Desert in the north to the glaciers and fjords of Patagonia in the south. Its cosmopolitan cities, thriving vineyards, and rich cultural heritage create diverse travel experiences. Careful planning for climate, terrain, and health safety ensures that travellers can fully enjoy everything Chile has to offer.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Chile, a pre-travel consultation with a travel doctor can help you prepare for a safe and enjoyable journey. Schedule your appointment ideally six to eight weeks before departure for multi-dose vaccines, though last-minute consultations are still useful for essential advice and accelerated vaccination schedules. Your travel doctor can review your vaccination history, suggest additional immunisations, and provide prescriptions for any necessary medications. They can tailor a health plan to your itinerary, whether you’ll be exploring Santiago and Valparaíso, trekking in Patagonia, or visiting the Atacama Desert.
Insect avoidance
While Chile has fewer mosquito-borne illnesses compared with neighbouring countries, dengue can occur on Easter Island and other insects may still cause irritation or infection. Travellers can lower their risk by choosing accommodation with air-conditioning or intact screens, or by using a permethrin-treated net in areas where this is not available. Wearing long sleeves and trousers at dusk and dawn, and applying repellent formulated with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, provides additional protection. To further reduce insect exposure, avoid areas with stagnant water and minimise standing water if possible.
Food and water hygiene
Chile’s food scene is rich with seafood, fresh produce, and traditional dishes, but travellers should be mindful of food and water hygiene. Wash your hands or use sanitiser before eating to reduce the chance of gastroenteritis or other gut infections. Eat food that is freshly cooked and avoid items that are undercooked or reheated. Street vendors can be a great option when food is prepared fresh right in front of you. Stick to fruits and vegetables that can be peeled like bananas and mangos. For drinking, choose filtered, boiled, or bottled water, and avoid untreated tap water and ice made from it.
Rabies prevention
Although Australia is rabies-free, Chile has rabies circulating in some mammals, particularly bats. Limiting interaction with animals is the main form of prevention. A travel health doctor can help determine if pre-travel rabies vaccination is suitable for your plans, especially if you expect close contact with animals or will be visiting remote areas with limited medical access. Should you encounter a bite or scratch from an at-risk animal in Chile, access urgent medical treatment. Prompt management is essential, as rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Chile?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection acquired through consuming contaminated food or water. Early signs can include tiredness, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and later, yellow skin or dark urine. Chile’s sanitation standards vary and the risk of Hepatitis A is higher than in Australia, where routine vaccination is uncommon. If you haven’t completed the two-dose vaccine course, immunisation before travel is recommended, especially when travelling to smaller towns, eating street food, or participating in community homestays.
Typhoid
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Typhoid spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacteria Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi, causing prolonged fever, abdominal pain, and digestive disturbances. While some areas of Chile have robust sanitation systems, the overall risk remains higher than in Australia. Travellers who haven’t received a typhoid vaccine should consider it before visiting, especially if they plan to explore regional towns, eat street food, or stay with local communities. Combining vaccination with careful food and water precautions offers the best protection.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a liver infection transmitted through exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids, including through unprotected sex, shared grooming items, or unsterile tattoo or piercing equipment. Although younger Australians commonly receive the vaccine as part of routine childhood immunisation, many adults are still unprotected. The Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for travellers who have not been vaccinated previously, especially those spending extended time in Chile or undertaking activities that increase risk. It is best to discuss Hepatitis B vaccination with your travel doctor so they can confirm your immunity status and advise whether vaccination is appropriate for your trip.
Routine vaccinations
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Thanks to widespread vaccination in Australia, illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus are rarely seen. Travelling to Chile, however, may present more frequent exposure to these diseases. Before you go, speak with a travel health professional to check for overdue vaccines and to see if additional protection is advised. You may be due for boosters for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, influenza, or COVID-19.
Chile
Other health risks in Chile
Rabies
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Although Australia is free of rabies, the rabies virus is circulating in Chile, particularly carried by bats and other mammals. Limiting interaction with animals is the main form of prevention. A travel health doctor can help determine if pre-travel rabies vaccination is suitable for your plans, especially if you expect close contact with animals or will be visiting remote areas with limited medical access. Should you encounter a bite or scratch from an at-risk animal in Chile, access urgent medical treatment. Prompt management is essential, as rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis or travellers’ diarrhoea can affect people visiting Chile when bacteria from unsafe food or contaminated water are ingested. Organisms such as campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli or salmonella are often responsible. Symptoms can begin within 24 to 72 hours, including diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting.
Preventive strategies include careful hand hygiene and avoiding risky foods and drinks. However, if symptoms appear, the most important step in management of this illness is maintaining adequate hydration with oral rehydration solutions. While most people improve within a few days, medical care should be sought for prolonged symptoms, severe dehydration, or inability to keep up with fluid intake. Antibiotics are reserved for severe cases or if people have other risk factors.
Non-infectious conditions
Altitude sickness
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Many travellers to Chile venture into high-altitude regions, such as the Andes, the Atacama Desert, and northern plateau areas, where altitude sickness can become a concern. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) affects around one in four people who ascend above 2,450 metres. Early signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, reduced appetite, or even vomiting. These mild symptoms usually settle within 12 to 48 hours, provided you avoid climbing higher during this period.
More dangerous forms of altitude illness can also occur at extreme elevations. High-Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) may cause confusion, clumsiness, or changes in behaviour, while High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and reduced exercise tolerance. Although uncommon, both conditions become more likely above 4,300 metres and can be life-threatening without urgent descent and prompt medical care.
To lower your risk when travelling in Chile’s high-altitude regions, it’s essential to ascend gradually, incorporate rest days, and give your body time to adjust. A travel doctor may recommend preventative medications, especially if your itinerary includes altitudes over 4,300 metres. Those planning remote treks or venturing into alpine terrain who are unfamiliar with AMS, HACE, or HAPE should strongly consider travelling with an experienced mountain guide.
The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasises three key safety measures for altitude travel:
1) Recognise early symptoms and respond promptly.
2) Avoid sleeping at a higher elevation if any symptoms of altitude sickness appear.
3) Descend immediately if symptoms worsen or fail to improve while resting at the same altitude.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Because many travellers reach Chile after long flights or undertake lengthy bus journeys within the country, reduced leg circulation can raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This condition forms when slow blood flow leads to clot development in the deep veins. Moving regularly, drinking sufficient water, and stretching your legs throughout extended travel can help minimise risk. High-risk travellers may benefit from below-knee compression stockings. Treatment for DVT commonly involves blood-thinning medications.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Travelling in Chile offers plenty of adventure, from vibrant cities to mountainous landscapes, so good travel safety preparation is essential for having an enjoyable time. If you plan to ride a motorbike in Chile, make sure you’re confident in your riding skills, follow local traffic laws, and always wear a certified helmet. For long-distance road journeys, choose reputable transport providers and ensure vehicles have working seatbelts for a safer trip.
For hiking in Chile, whether in Patagonia, the Andes, or the Atacama Desert, wear sturdy, broken-in boots, apply sunscreen and insect repellent, pack light, and select trails appropriate for your fitness level. Weather can change quickly, especially in southern Chile, so proper gear is important.
To further protect your trip, secure comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical care and emergency evacuation is highly recommended due to Chile’s remote wilderness areas and varied terrain.