Chile is more than 4,000 km long, and its coverage changes completely from one end to the other: strong in Santiago and Valparaíso, good in San Pedro de Atacama town, and largely absent in the deep Atacama, Torres del Paine and along the Carretera Austral. Planning around the gaps matters more than the plan.
Short answer: a travel eSIM with validity covering your whole trip, installed before you fly. Download offline maps and bookings before any desert tour, Patagonia trek or remote drive.
What a Chile eSIM costs
At the time of writing (October 2026), Wanderly's Chile plans start at $3.99 for 1GB, with 5GB around $8. The median across data-only Chile plans is about $1.30 per GB — just under the $1.43 median across 187 countries in the Wanderly eSIM Price Index.
Several of the cheapest per-GB Chile bundles last only three days. For a longer route, choose validity that covers every day.
Networks and coverage
Chile's main networks are Entel, Movistar, Claro and WOM. Travel eSIMs connect to a partner network automatically.
- Santiago and Valparaíso: strong 4G and widespread 5G.
- Wine valleys (Casablanca, Colchagua): good in towns and at most vineyards.
- San Pedro de Atacama: coverage in town; little to none at the geysers, salt flats and high lagoons.
- Puerto Natales: good in town.
- Torres del Paine: very limited — the W and O treks are effectively offline, with WiFi only at some refugios.
- Carretera Austral: long stretches with no coverage between villages.
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui): coverage in Hanga Roa; limited elsewhere. Check the plan covers it.
How much data you need
| Trip | Suggested data |
|---|---|
| Santiago long weekend | 1–3 GB |
| One week, Santiago + Atacama | 5 GB |
| Two weeks incl. Patagonia | 5–10 GB |
| Remote work | 20 GB+ |
Remote days use little because there is no signal; cities and travel days use the most. See how much data you need for travel.
Chile with Argentina, Bolivia or Peru
Crossing to El Calafate or El Chaltén, taking the Uyuni salt-flat tour into Bolivia, or heading north to Peru? A Chile plan will not cover those. See the best eSIM for Argentina, the best eSIM for Peru and the best eSIM for South America.
Setting it up
- 1Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked on our compatibility checker.
- 2Install the eSIM over WiFi before you fly — iPhone or Android steps.
- 3At Santiago airport, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.
FAQ
Is there cell service in Torres del Paine? Very little. Treat the treks as offline and use refugio WiFi where available.
Does an eSIM work in San Pedro de Atacama? In town, yes. At the geysers, salt flats and high lagoons, generally not.
How much does an eSIM for Chile cost? Wanderly Chile plans start at $3.99 for 1GB, with a median of about $1.30 per GB.
Does a Chile eSIM work on Easter Island? Only if the plan covers it, and even then mainly in Hanga Roa.
Will a Chile eSIM work on the Uyuni tour in Bolivia? No. Bolivia needs a plan that lists Bolivia, and coverage on the salt flats is minimal anyway.