Six holidays between October 2026 and January 2027, including a juicy December "sandwich" day, open the door to short getaways across Chile. Here's the full calendar and 5 destinations to make the most of them.

2026 is wrapping up with a string of dates that are pure gold for any travel lover. Between October and the end of December, Chile has five holidays, plus a sixth already on the horizon in January 2027, capable of turning into three- or even four-day getaways without sacrificing too much vacation time. If you know how to read the calendar, this final stretch of the year could become the most generous long-weekend season in months.

The dates to circle on your calendar

It all starts on Monday, October 12, a civil holiday for Encuentro de Dos Mundos, gifting a natural three-day long weekend (Saturday the 10th through Monday the 12th). Just weeks later comes a weekend that's already extended twice over: Saturday, October 31, Day of the Evangelical and Protestant Churches, links directly with Sunday, November 1, All Saints' Day, forming a three-day festive block perfect for a getaway without using a single day off.

December brings two different opportunities. Tuesday, December 8, Immaculate Conception, is the classic "sandwich holiday": it falls on a Tuesday, so taking Monday the 7th off creates a full four-day weekend, from Saturday the 5th through Tuesday the 8th. It's one of those master moves of the work calendar: a single vacation day stretches into four. And to close out the year, Friday, December 25, Christmas, already delivers a built-in three-day long weekend.

The surprise arrives right as 2027 begins: Friday, January 1 lands exactly on a Friday, offering yet another instant long weekend to kick off the new year with a trip instead of a return to routine.

All told, that's six chances to get away between October 2026 and January 2027, and at least one of them, the December bridge, especially rewards those who plan ahead.

Why it's worth taking advantage

Traveling on a long weekend doesn't require giving up half a month of vacation or a hefty budget. It just takes planning ahead on rentals, flights or buses a few weeks out, since prices notably spike in the last week before each holiday, and choosing destinations that don't involve endless travel times. Chile, with its long and varied geography, offers the advantage of having mountains, sea, desert and countryside just hours from the main urban centers. These last holidays of 2026, moreover, coincide with spring and the start of summer, when the weather cooperates across much of the country.

Five ideal destinations for a long weekend

1. Colchagua Valley: Less than two hours from Santiago, its vineyards and towns like Santa Cruz are perfect for the December bridge: wine routes, museums and local cuisine at an unhurried pace.

2. Pucón and surroundings: With spring arriving, the Villarrica Volcano, the lakes and the area's hot springs are a classic for disconnecting over three or four days, blending nature and relaxation.

3. Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: Close, accessible and packed with culture, with hillside neighborhoods, street art and restaurants overlooking the sea, it's the ideal choice for those who want a holiday without over-planning.

4. San Pedro de Atacama: Though it requires a flight, a long weekend is more than enough to explore salt flats, geysers and starlit skies; October and November offer milder temperatures than peak summer.

5. Chiloé: Stilt houses, heritage churches and a one-of-a-kind cuisine make it a destination that rewards exactly the kind of three- or four-day getaway needed to take it all in without rushing.

The key is planning ahead

The holidays of October, November, December 2026 and January 2027 together form one of the best windows of the year to travel within Chile without major sacrifices of time or budget. The trick is getting ahead of it: booking weeks in advance, taking advantage of the December 8th bridge by using Monday as a day off, and picking destinations that shine in a short format. With a bit of planning, these six long weekends can become the best travel memories of the year's final stretch.

You may also be interested in: Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wine for Every Occasion in Chile

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