Top Beaches in Chile: Coastal Guide for Travelers

Bahía Inglesa: White Sands & Full Infrastructure

Around the small port town of Caldera in the Atacama Region, you’ll find some of the most famous and widely recognized best beaches in Chile. Bahía Inglesa is known for its white shell sand and turquoise, crystal-clear waters, along with a mild, dry climate and full tourist infrastructure (hotels, campsites, restaurants). It has even been recognized among the 100 best beaches in the world by the Golden Beach Awards, making it a prime stop for travelers on Chile's private tours along the northern coast.

Playa La Virgen: Desert Oasis with Calm Waters

Just a short drive away, Playa La Virgen often appears in Chilean lists of “most beautiful beaches in the country”. Tucked into a horseshoe-shaped bay in the middle of the desert, it offers warm, turquoise water that is slightly less cold than the central coast, gentle waves, and shallow entry — ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on fine white sand. Many local operators now offer day tours from Caldera or Bahía Inglesa specifically to enjoy Playa La Virgen, which can easily be combined with multi-day itineraries in the Atacama Region.
For travelers beginning in La Serena and Coquimbo, beaches such as Playa Blanca and the coves near Tongoy provide calm conditions, light-colored sand, and amenities suitable for families and laid-back coastal trips in Chile.

Zapallar & Cachagua: Elegant and Accessible

Within just a couple of hours, travelers can reach some of Chile’s the best beaches near Santiago.
Zapallar combines a sheltered horseshoe bay, traditional seaside villas, and excellent restaurants overlooking the water, making it a natural inclusion in private tours from Santiago or Valparaíso day trips.
Nearby, Cachagua and tiny Playa Las Cujas are considered hidden gems of the central coast. Las Cujas is a small cove with white or blond sand and strikingly clear turquoise water, popular among Chileans who want a quieter alternative to the busier resort towns.
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Tunquén: Wild, Scenic & Perfect for Photography

It is great for swimming, snorkeling, and short walks along the coast. You can easily include it as a stop on private tours in the Valparaíso Region. Further south, Tunquén provides a different experience.
It has a long, wild beach backed by dunes and a protected wetland. There are few services and plenty of space. Swimming is not recommended because of strong currents. However, its scenery, birdlife, and sense of isolation make it ideal for photography, coastal walks, and nature-focused trips from Santiago.

Pichilemu & Punta de Lobos: Surf Capital of Chile

For travelers interested in surf tours in Chile, an itinerary almost always includes Pichilemu. Officially promoted as the “surf capital of Chile”, this laid-back beach town in the O’Higgins Region has become internationally famous for the quality and consistency of its waves.
Just south of town lies Punta de Lobos, a dramatic headland with grey sand, cliffs up to 100 meters high, and rocky islets frequented by sea lions. It is a World Surfing Reserve and regularly hosts major competitions, including events linked to the Pan American Games and big-wave circuits.

Matanzas, Pupuya & La Boca: Mecca for Wind Sports

Further up the central coast, Matanzas and nearby spots like Pupuya, La Boca, and Puertecillo have become a mecca for wind sports thanks to strong, steady winds and powerful Pacific swell.
Here you’ll find schools and lodges aimed at kitesurfers, windsurfers, and surfers, making the area a natural base for active travelers booking adventure-oriented tours in Chile or surf-focused getaways from Santiago.

Bahía Inglesa: Calm Bays for Kids

Families planning Chile private tours along the coast often look for safe, relatively calm beaches with services. Bahía Inglesa stands out again here: its small coves (such as La Piscina and Las Machas) offer shallow, protected water and easy access to restaurants and accommodation, while still feeling like a desert oasis.

La Virgen, Tongoy & La Serena: Easy, Gentle Shores

In the north, Playa La Virgen offers gentle waves, high water visibility, and a sheltered bay — suitable for swimming and light water activities, provided visitors are prepared for basic infrastructure and a rough access road. Beaches around Tongoy and La Serena are appreciated for their calm seas, broad sandy shores, and nearby services.

Las Cujas & Ramuntcho: Secluded Scenic Spots

Chile also has a number of beaches that local travelers describe as “escondidas” or little-known, ideal for visitors who want to escape crowds during their Chile tours. Playa Las Cujas, mentioned above, is one such place: a tiny turquoise cove between Cachagua and Zapallar that feels far more secluded than its location would suggest.
Farther south, Playa Ramuntcho in the Biobío Region is reached by a walking trail and rewards visitors with a small bay of pale sand surrounded by green hills. It appears frequently in Chilean travel articles as a hidden, postcard-worthy spot.

Hornitos & Buchupureo: Warm Water & Rural Surf Ambience

In the north, Hornitos in the Antofagasta Region offers a long, sandy beach with relatively warm water compared to the rest of the coast, much loved by Chilean families, yet still off the radar for many international visitors. Along the Ñuble coast, Buchupureo combines rural atmosphere, scenic cliffs, and quality waves, making it a semi-secret favorite among surfers who want something quieter than Pichilemu.
These beaches can be woven into customized Chile itineraries — for example, as day trips from Santiago, extensions to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar tours, or multi-day Chile coastal tours focused on nature and fewer crowds.

Anakena Beach: A Tropical Experience

For those seeking genuinely warm ocean swimming, the best advice is to fly to Easter Island. Unlike mainland Chile — where the Humboldt Current keeps the water cold year-round — Anakena Beach offers some of the warmest and most pleasant swimming conditions in the entire country.
This stunning white-sand beach sits in a sheltered, horseshoe-shaped bay and is protected from strong swells by volcanic headlands. Thanks to its location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the water temperature here is significantly higher and far more stable year-round.

Water Temperature & Seasonality on Easter Island

Summer (December–March):
Ocean temperatures typically range from 23–26°C (73–79°F).

Shoulder Seasons (April–June & September–November):
Water temperatures remain mild, usually 21–24°C (70–75°F).

Winter (July–August):
Water rarely drops below 20–21°C (68–70°F).

In other words: Anakena is the only place in Chile where you can reliably enjoy warm ocean water year-round.

Perfect Addition to a Chile Private Tour

Anakena is not only beautiful — it is culturally significant. It is believed to be the landing place of Hotu Matu'a, the legendary first king of the Rapa Nui people. The beach is home to restored moai statues, creating one of the most iconic coastal views in Chile.
With Anakena just 25–30 minutes from Hanga Roa, adding it to a full-day private Rapa Nui tour is easy and natural.
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Many travelers visit Easter Island specifically to enjoy the warm Pacific waters it offers, which the mainland cannot.