Independence Day

Make it longer

Fri 17 Sep – Sun 19 Sep is a 3-day weekend with no leave needed.

Plan more breaks with the leave planner.

Where to go for Independence Day

Fiestas Patrias on 18 and 19 September open the spring and are among the main breaks of the Chilean year, sometimes extended by an extra day off. Celebrations centre on fondas with empanadas, asado and cueca dancing, at home or away.

Budget-friendly

• La Serena · Coquimbo

  La Serena has stone churches from its colonial past, a long beach stretching toward Coquimbo and a Japanese garden. It also makes a base for the Elqui Valley, and papaya preserves are a regional speciality.

  Typically around 18 September: high 21°C (70°F), low 11°C (52°F), rain on 0% of days.

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• Pichilemu · Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins

  A surf town on the O'Higgins coast, Pichilemu is known for the waves at Punta de Lobos. Spring swells, coastal walks and wineries of the Colchagua Valley inland make it an outdoor-focused option for the holiday.

  Typically around 18 September: high 17°C (62°F), low 7°C (45°F), rain on 10% of days.

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Mid-range

• Viña del Mar · Valparaíso

  Next to Valparaíso, this coastal city has beaches, the landscaped gardens of Quinta Vergara, Wulff Castle on the rocks by the sea and a flower clock. It is close enough to Santiago for the holiday without a long drive.

  Typically around 18 September: high 19°C (67°F), low 8°C (46°F), rain on 6% of days.

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• Valdivia · Los Ríos

  Set where several rivers meet, Valdivia has a riverside fish market where sea lions wait for scraps, Spanish colonial forts near the river mouth and a brewing tradition linked to German settlers. Spring is green, though rain is common.

  Typically around 18 September: high 13°C (55°F), low 4°C (39°F), rain on 34% of days.

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• Castro · Los Lagos

  The capital of Chiloé island has stilt houses, called palafitos, along the water and a wooden church that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Island food includes curanto, seafood, meat and potatoes cooked in an earth pit.

  Typically around 18 September: high 11°C (51°F), low 5°C (41°F), rain on 50% of days.

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Trip ideas chosen by Public Holidays World, not sponsored. “Typically” lines are past averages, not forecasts; when the date is within about 9 days, a forecast is shown too.