Chile Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Chile? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Chile
For an introduction to shooting in Chile see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, fringes, premiums, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Chile Film Locations
Chile is a long, narrow country stretching along South America’s western edge. Given the country is as long as the US is wide, Chile offers a great variety of film locations including deserts, glaciers, active volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers, old-growth forests, beaches, rugged coastline, islands, lighthouses, rural settings, abandoned mining towns, and the modern city architecture and American looking suburbs of Santiago.
Chile is a popular place for visiting productions to film opposite-season looks. As the US and Europe enjoy warm summer weather, the Andes mountains see snow, particularly from July to September. When the Northern Hemisphere enters the dark, colder months, Chile offers long, sunny shoot days with Patagonia wildflowers in full bloom and beaches and cafes busy with people.
Agricultural film locations include farms that produce apples, wheat, corn, cherries, cranberries, grapes, kiwis, peaches, plums, hazelnuts, and timber. Chile has hundreds of vineyards. Aquaculture produces salmon, trout, turbot, and molluscs. Fishing trawlers are available for filming. Chile mines copper, lithium, gold, silver, molybdenum, iodine, rhenium, potash, sulphur, iron ore, and coal. Energy locations include coal, oil and gas fired power plants, as well as hydroelectric plants, solar and wind farms.
Chile has hosted productions including A Fantastic Woman (2017), Knock Knock (2015), The 33 (2015), The Green Inferno (2013), Amazing Race 23 (2013), The Amazing Race 16 (2010), Quantum of Solace (2008), The Amazing Race 11 (2007), The Amazing Race 7 (2005), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), and Rapa-Nui (1994).
From north to south locations of particular interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
Northern Chile
Includes the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo.
Arica and Parinacota. Arica film locations include Arica Cathedral, Arica House of Culture, Morro de Arica, El Laucho Beach, La Lisera Beach, and Playa Chinchorro.
The Archaeological Museum of San Miguel de Azapa is known for the Chinchorro mummies.
Lauca National Park is a landscape of volcanos, altiplano, lakes, and rivers. The park is home to vicuñas, llamas, alpacas, guanacos, tarucas, cougars, vizcachas, and a diversity of birdlife.
Las Vicuñas National Reserve is home to vicuñas.
Salar de Surire Natural Monument is a salt flat with volcano backdrop.
Tarapacá. Iquique film locations include Clock Tower, Playa Cavancha, Playa Huaiquique, Corbeta Esmeralda Museum, Municipal Theatre, and Cerro Dragón sand dune.
Humberstone is an industrial ghost town.
Volcán Isluga National Park is known for its volcanos.
Atacama Giant is one of the world’s largest ancient geoglyphs.
Antofagasta. The Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world.
Valle de la Luna, located in Los Flamencos National Reserve, is known for its moonlike landscape of dunes, rugged mountains, and unique rock structures.
The El Tatio geyser field is one of the largest in the world.
Salt flats and lakes include Salar de Atacama, Salar de Talar, Salar de Carcote, Salar de Pujsa, Tuyajto Lake, Laguna Chaxa, Laguna Lejía, Laguna Tebinquiche, and Laguna de Piedra.
Mano del Desierto is a large hand sculpture located in the Atacama Desert.
Arcoiris Valley is known for its colourful rock formations.
Puritama Hot Springs are a verdant desert location.
Ojos del Salar are two round ponds in a desert landscape.
Volcanoes of note include Licancabur, Lascar, Cerro Toco, Miñiques, Ollagüe, San Pedro, Aucanquilcha, Socompa, Putana, Paniri, La Pacana, Aguas Calientes, and Llullaillaco.
Miscanti Lake is a beautiful film location.
Monjes de La Pacana is a standing rock in a desert setting.
Alto Loa National Reserve is the largest natural reserve in Chile. It is home to wildlife such as guanacos, condors, viscachas, and cougars.
La Portada is a natural arch located on the Pacific coast.
Beaches of note include Playa Chacaya, Playa Escondida, Playa Rinconada, and Playa Hornitos.
Pukará de Quitor is a pre-Columbian archaeological site.
San Pedro de Atacama museums include Meteorite Museum, and Le Paige Archaeological Museum.
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory is a group of astronomical observatories including the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, Atacama Pathfinder Experiment, Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment, NANTEN2 Observatory, Atacama Cosmology Telescope, University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory, Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope, and Huan Tran Telescope.
Extremely Large Telescope is one of the world’s largest telescopes.
The Paranal Observatory located on the mountains of Cerro Paranal is home to the Very Large Telescope. The location featured in Quantum of Solace (2008).
Chacabuco is an abandoned mining town and former Pinochet-era torture prison.
Puerto Mejillones del Sur Lighthouse is available for filming.
The Atacama Desert Museum, and Huanchaca Ruins are located in Antofagasta.
Atacama. Las Campanas Observatory is home to the Giant Magellan Telescope.
The Chanaral – Llanta – Potrerillos railroad runs through a spectacular arid landscape that was formerly a copper mine.
Ojos del Salado is the world’s highest volcano, and the highest peak in Chile.
Nevado Tres Cruces National Park includes Laguna Santa Rosa, Laguna del Negro Francisco, and Salar de Maricunga. Wildlife includes flamingoes and vicuñas.
Pan de Azúcar National Park has a coastal desert landscape. The area is known for its cactuses and coastal mist. Wildlife of note include Humboldt penguins, Peruvian pelicans, marine otters, South American sea lions, culpeos, chilla fox guanacos, and European hares.
Llanos de Challe National Park has a coastal desert landscape. The park is home to rare and beautiful plants species, including the threatened Garra de León. On certain rainy years between between July and September the desert sees full a bloom.
Bahia Inglesa Beach has beautiful white sands and turquoise waters.
Faro Monumental de Huasco is a lighthouse available for filming.
Coquimbo. The port city of Coquimbo is known for the Cruz del Tercer Milenio, Mohammed VI Center for Dialogue of Civilizations mosque, Church of Guayacán prefabricated metal church, Playa la Herradura, and Municipal Stadium Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso.
La Serena is known for Catedral de La Serena, Japonés La Serena Garden, Plaza de Armas de La Serena, and Faro Monumental de La Serena lighthouse.
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on Cerro Tololo.
La Silla Observatory is an astronomical observatory.
Gemini South Observatory is located in Cerro Pachón.
Fray Jorge National Park has a landscape of coastal desert and Valdivian forest. The park is home to a diversity of birdlife.
Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve is home to Humboldt penguins, sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, marine otters, sea turtles, whales, and a diversity of sea bird life.
Puclaro Dam is located in the Coquimbo region.
Central Chile
Includes the regions of Valparaíso, Santiago, O’Higgins, Maule, and Ñuble.
Valparaíso. Valparaíso is a hillside port city located an 1.5hr drive from Santiago. Film locations include colourful houses, street murals, Edificio Armada de Chile, Biblioteca Santiago Severín, Palacio Baburizza, Museo Naval Y Maritimo, Plaza Sotomayor, Plaza De La Victoria, Ascensor Artilleria, Ascensor Concepcion, Reñaca beach, Las Salinas beach, Playa Caleta Abarca, Punta Angeles lighthouse, Vergara Pier, and Valparaíso container port.
Beaches of note in the region include Playa Grande in Quintay, Playa las Docas, Playa El Quisco, Playa Mirasol Humedal, and Playa Las Cujas.
San Alfonso del Mar resort in Algarrobo has the largest swimming pool in the world.
La Campana National Park is known for its Chilean Wine Palm forests. Wildlife includes chinchillas, quiques, culpeos, chingues, and a diversity of birdlife.
Punta Pite is a coastal location known for cliffside stairways, bridges, and twisting paths carved out of stone.
Los Leones Dam is located in the Valparaíso region.
Ski Portillo, and Ski Arpa are ski resorts located near Santiago.
Los Caracoles Pass is known for its scary switchback hairpin turns.
Santiago. Santiago is Chile’s capital and largest city. The sprawling city sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes Mountains. Santiago is known for its modern city skyline and neoclassical architecture. Visiting productions have doubled Santiago for Chicago, New York, and Paris. Within a 2hr drive from Santiago you can find looks that double for Himalayan mountains, Californian beaches, Mid-Western wheat fields, and arid desert landscapes.
San Cristóbal Hill offers shot of the city skyline. Funicular de Santiago is available for filming.
Government buildings of note include La Moneda Palace, Former National Congress Building, Supreme Court Building, Central Post Office Building, and National Library of Chile.
Plazas of note include Plaza de Armas, Plaza Baquedano, and Plaza Ñuñoa.
Neptune Terrace on Santa Lucia Hill is a beautiful film location.
Unique buildings of note include Gran Torre Santiago, Entel Tower, Santiago Stock Exchange building.
Museums of note include the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, National History Museum, Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, Museum of Memory and Human Rights, National Museum of Natural History, National Aerospace Museum, La Chascona, Museo de Artes Visuales, Museo Artequin, Museo de la Moda, Ralli Museum Santiago, Police Historical Museum, Palacio Cousiño Museum, and Violeta Parra Museum.
Religious locations include Santiago Baháʼí House of Worship, Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral, Basílica del Salvador, San Francisco Church, and Santiago General Cemetery.
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile buildings of note include the Casa Central, and the Siamese Towers which were designed by Alejandro Aravena.
University of Chile buildings of note include the Casa Central, and the National Astronomical Observatory of Chile.
Parks of note include Japanese Garden, Santiago Metropolitan Park, Bicentenario Park, O’Higgins Park, Parque de la Familia, Parque Padre Hurtado, and Parque Forestal. Parque Quinta Normal has a beautiful deserted greenhouse.
Entertainment venues include Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, Municipal Theatre of Santiago, and Movistar Arena.
Stadiums of note include Estadio Nacional, Estadio Monumental, Estadio Bicentenario, Estadio Santa Laura, Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, and Club Hípico de Santiago horse racing track.
Transport film locations include Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, Santiago Metro, and Alameda railway station which was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Santiago region ski resorts include La Parva, El Colorado / Farellones, and Valle Nevado. Groomed, off-piste and mountaineering areas are available for filming. The further north ski resorts are at a higher altitude so filming snow takes place above the tree line.
O’Higgins. Matanzas is a coastal village famous for its beach known for its beautiful modern oceanfront homes including Panal House, and the La Loica and La Tagua Cabins.
Colchagua Valley Wine Region is a beautiful area to film vineyards.
Chapa Verde ski resort is located in the O’Higgins Region.
Sewell is an interesting abandoned mining town in the Andes.
Rapel Dam is located in the O’Higgins region.
Maule. Radal Siete Tazas National Park is known for its river, pools, and waterfalls including Salto del Maule, El Velo de Novia, and La Leona.
Ñuble. Nevados de Chillan ski resort is located in the Ñuble region.
Southern Chile
Includes the regions of Biobío, Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos.
Biobío. Concepción film locations include the Concepción Central Market, Plaza de la Independencia, Parque Ecuador, Concepción Chile LDS Temple, and the abandoned Enrique Molina Theater ruin. Huáscar is a Peruvian ironclad turret ship available for filming.
Laguna del Laja National Park is known for its volcanos, ice caves, lakes, rivers, and forests.
Laja Falls are a beautiful film location.
Ralco Hydroelectric Plant is located in the Biobío region.
Araucanía. Temuco is known for Museo Nacional Ferroviario Pablo Neruda, and Estadio Germán Becker.
Huerquehue National Park is a Valdivian temperate rainforest that protects the Araucaria tree. Wildlife of note include kodkods, pudus, culpeos, and a diversity of birdlife including Peregrine falcons.
Conguillío National Park is home to pumas, kodkods, culpeos, chillas, and quiques.
Nahuelbuta National Park is home to mountain lions, Darwin’s foxes, and pudús.
Malleco Viaduct is located in Collipulli.
Ski resorts of note include Ski Pucon, and Corralco.
Villarrica volcano is an active stratovolcano known for its caves and glaciers.
Los Ríos. Valdivia is known for the Valdivian Fort System, and Feria Fluvial.
Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve is known for Huilo-Huilo Falls, and the unique Nothofagus Hotel, and Montana Mágica Lodge which is shaped like a verdant mountain.
Alerce Costero National Park is a Valdivian temperate rain forest lanscape that is home to ancient Fitzroya trees.
Termas Geométricas is a natural hot spring location in a forested location.
Los Lagos. Chiloé Island is famous for its colourful stilt houses, iconic wooden churches, and pastoral landscapes. The island is also home to Chiloé National Park, a landscape of Valdivian temperate rainforests, swamps, peat bogs, dunes, and ocean. Wildlife includes leopard seals, Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, and a diversity of whales such as pygmy blue whales.
Corcovado National Park is a landscape of volcanos, alpine lakes, rivers, brackish estuaries, and Valdivian temperate rainforest. Wildlife includes pumas, seals, whales, and a diversity of birdlife.
Antillanca is a ski resort in the Andes mountains. The resort generally sees more snowfall than resorts located further north.
German Colonial Museum is located in Frutillar.
This region is home to the indigenous Mapuche people.
Extreme South
Includes the regions of Aysén, and Magallanes & Chilean Antarctica.
Aysén. Patagonia National Park is a landscape of grassland, riparian forest, and wetlands. Wildlife includes armadillos, cougars, maras, huemul deers, guanacos, tuco-tucos, gray foxes, and a diversity of birdlife. The mountains of Patagonia double well for the Himalayas without having to film at a high altitude.
Queulat National Park is known for its glaciers and waterfalls.
Laguna San Rafael National Park is known for San Rafael Glacier.
Magallanes & Chilean Antarctica is Chile’s most southern region.
Torres del Paine National Park is known for the spectacular granite mountain peaks of the Cordillera del Paine. Glaciers include Grey Glacier, Pingo Glacier, and Tyndall Glacier. Lakes include Grey Lake, Pehoé Lake, Nordenskiöld Lake, and Sarmiento Lake. The Paine River runs through the park. Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument is known for Milodón Cave, and Mylodon remains. Wildlife includes South American gray foxes, guanacos, huemul deers, pumas, rheas, and birds of prey including the Andean Condor.
Cabo de Hornos National Park includes the Wollaston Archipelago and the Hermite Islands. The islands are home to a diversity of birdlife.
Alberto de Agostini National Park is a landscape of islands, glaciers, and fjords. Wildlife includes culpeos, South American gray foxes, guanacos, marine otters, South American sea lions, southern elephant seals, the leopard seals, Chilean dolphins.
Queulat National Park is where you can find the spectacular Hanging Glacier.
Many productions film in Antarctica through Chile. There are two main basecamp options located on Union Glacier and King George Island.
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. It is one of the most hazardous shipping routes in the world. Several prominent ocean yacht races, including the Volvo Ocean Race, Velux 5 Oceans Race, and the solo Vendée Globe and Golden Globe Race, sail around the world via Cape Horn.
South Pacific Islands
This region includes Easter Island, Salas y Gómez Islands, Juan Fernández Islands, and Desventuradas Islands.
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is located 3,540km (2,200 mi) west of the Chilean mainland. It is one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands. Easter Island is famous for its moai giant stone head statues. Ahu Tongariki is the largest with fifteen moai lined up with the sunrise in the background. The island also has ancient petroglyphs. Terevaka Volcano is the highest point on Easter Island. Caves of note include Ana Kai Tangata, and Ana Kakenga. Anakena is a beautiful white sand beach. Rapa-Nui (1994) filmed on Easter Island.
Salas y Gómez Islands are uninhabited islands located 3,210km (1,995mi) west of the Chilean mainland.
Juan Fernández Islands are volcanic islands located 670km (416mi) west of the Chilean mainland. These include Robinson Crusoe Island, Alejandro Selkirk Island, and Santa Clara Island.
Desventuradas Islands are located 850km (530mi) west of the Chilean mainland. These include San Ambrosio and San Félix Islands.
Chile Film Location Permits
Depending on the location, you generally don’t need permits if filming hand-held b-roll. Shoots that involve setting up a tripod or laying cable require permits. Chile is divided into 346 comunas, each with their own film location rules and regulations. As such, permission to film may need to be obtained from several authorities. National parks and historic sites require additional permits. Drone filming is allowed but not in national parks. Certain parts of Santiago can be difficult to permit with filming often restricted to the weekends if you require traffic control. Projects that involve exclusive use of public space, police support, weapons or pyrotechnics require anywhere from 5 days to a month to permit. A good fixer / service producer is essential to make sure you know the best places to film for your budget. With a good fixer and low-key approach, you can film many locations at minimal cost. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
The Chilean climate is determined by the latitude, the proximity to the sea and the altitude.
The north of Chile is home to the Atacama Desert, the world’s driest desert. Summer (December to March) temperatures are very hot and winter (June to September) temperatures are mild with cold nights.
Central and southern Chile has a Mediterranean to temperate four-season climate. Summers are hot with long daylight hours. Falls are mild and rainy. Winters are rainy with heavy snowfalls in the Andes. Springs bring green fields and flowers in bloom.
Farther south in Patagonia, summers are mild with very long daylight hours and winters are very cold with very long nights.
Easter Island is best avoided during the wet season from May to June.
For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Events of interest include the following:
• The Tapati Festival takes place on Easter Island every year in February.
• Festival Costumbrista Chilote takes place in Chiloé in February.
• Semana Valdiviana takes place in Valdivia in February.
• Festival de la Canción takes place in Viña del Mar in February.
• Fiesta del Cuasimodo takes place in March / April.
• Fiesta de San Pedro takes place in Valparaíso in June.
• La Tirana takes place in July.
• Virgen del Carmen takes place in July.
• Carnaval de Invierno takes place in July.
• Independence Day celebrations take place in September.
• The Atacama Crossing race takes place in September.
• Rodeo season runs from September to April.
Chile is a predominately Christian country so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Chile.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Chile Costs & Tax Incentives For Filming
Costs. On average, Chile is less expensive than both Brazil and Argentina. Santiago is the main production centre. Filming outside of the city in far away locations such as the Atacama or Patagonia can add significantly to the travel and transport budget. That said, our locally based fixer / service producer will negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. Chile offers a 25-30% cash rebate on eligible local expenditures.
Chile Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Chile has a small but good pool of local English speaking directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Key and supporting crews are very experienced in servicing international productions. Crew members belong to an association but costs are negotiable.
Contact us if you are looking for a Santiago based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in Chile. There are also good locally based FX teams, with additional support available out of Buenos Aires.
Talent is non-union. Day rates and buyouts are negotiable. Chile is very good value for money given the great diversity of multicultural talent looks including Latino, Caucasian, African, and Asian talent. Indigenous peoples in Chile include the Mapuche, Aymara, Quechua, Atacameño, Kolla, Diaguita, Yaghan, Rapa Nui, and Kawaskhar. Chile’s close proximity to Buenos Aires allows us to access those significant talent pools should you ever need to look further. Note, when bringing in talent from Buenos Aires, Argentinian union laws don’t apply, so costs are negotiable.
Fringes & Premiums. Crew fringes are 24%. The base is a 10 hour day. With overtime at 1.5x base rate for the next 2 hours, then 2x base rate for the next 2 hours. The day is capped at 14 hours. That said, talent and crew rates are all negotiable.
Chile Film Equipment
Equipment. Chile has all of the standard camera, lighting and grip equipment as well as more specialised gear including 2 Russian Arms, Technocrane, hot heads, Motion Control, helicopters and flight heads, drones, quads with stabilizers, camera cars and process trailers.
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Chile is an ATA carnet country. Buenos Aires is the closest major production and gear can easily be brought in from Los Angeles too.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Chile Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction is very strong in Chile. There have been many complex sets constructed for large scale productions.
Studios. Sound stages in Chile tend to be mostly used for TV production. Most stages are small but larger industrial spaces can be easily converted into studios.
Backlots. At present no backlots exist in Chile.
Post Production. Chile offers post production services in all phases.
Chile Visas & Work Permits For Filming
Crews travelling on western passports can enter Chile visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Australian and Mexican passport holders can also enter Chile visa-free for up to 90 days upon paying the reciprocity fee on arrival. Visas are required for longer stays. There are no work permits required for film crews. Press passes may be required for documentary and news crews depending on the project.
Chile Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Chile has a developed and well maintained road network. Given the long distances and mountainous terrain, domestic flights are a preferred method of travelling the length of the country and Easter Island. Several international airlines service flights to Santiago.
Accommodation. Chile offers many great options. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Santiago and other parts of Chile. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. Hotels of note include:
Matildas Hotel Boutique, Santiago
Final Notes
Safety. Chile is a very safe place for foreign productions to visit. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Visit remote Easter Island. Local dishes of note include Chilean empanadas,completo, chorrillana, pastel de choclo, arrollado de huaso, chancho en piedra, cazuela, pernil asado, pebre, caldillo de congrio, charqui de caballo, patasca, and Chilean Sea Bass.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Chile, please see below:
Hire Chile Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Chile, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Chile, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
