Tourism surges expected in Atacama and Peru for holidays and Papal visit

The Atacama Region in Chile is projecting between 21,010 and 25,138 overnight arrivals during the upcoming Fiestas Patrias holidays from September 17 to 19, 2026. According to Sernatur, the most visited areas include Caldera, Vallenar, and Copiapó. Tourism officials noted that the blooming of the Desert Florido phenomenon is expected to complement regional attractions such as national parks, coastal areas, and various adventure and wine tourism experiences.

In Peru, the upcoming official visit of Pope Leo XIV from November 11 to 16 is expected to mobilize over 3.1 million people. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism projects that the visit to Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa will attract approximately 250,000 foreign tourists and 550,000 domestic travelers. To coincide with the visit, the Peruvian government is promoting ‘The Route of Leo,’ a special circuit highlighting locations where the Pope previously performed pastoral work.