Major city · Chile
Quintay
Go for a half-day or a single night if you want a quiet beach and a whaling museum; skip if you need nightlife or multiple days of activities.
Quintay is a small fishing village turned seaside resort, 122 km from Santiago and 30 min from Valparaíso. Its main draw is the Museo Ex Ballenera, an open-air whaling station museum, plus two beaches and scuba diving. Most visitors come as a day trip from Valparaíso or Santiago; one night is enough to relax.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CLP
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (cold, rain)
- Airport
- SCL
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Chile ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Chile's National Migration Service or a Chilean consulate; keep the entry slip or digital record you receive.
- Chile ↗Torres del Paine: campsites and refugios on the W and O treks must be booked in advance, and the park requires an entry ticket bought ahead; check the official park (CONAF) channels.
- Chile ↗Chile strictly controls food imports: declare fruit, meat, dairy, seeds and honey on arrival, or throw them away before customs.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Quintay133 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Quintay, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Chilean peso (CLP, $).Chile-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckEntel, Movistar, WOM and Claro sell prepaid SIMs; foreign phones may need IMEI registration after a period — check.Chile-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in most cities; boil or filter in rural areas and on treks.Chile-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% suggested on the bill; you may decline.Chile-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/L. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Chile-wide
- SafetyQuintay is safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPaper in the bin in older buildings; bus terminals charge.Chile-wide
- Emergency numbers133 police (carabineros) · 131 ambulance · 132 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany businesses close on 18–19 September; Sunday trading is limited in small towns.Chile-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSCL Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Santiago) (About 1.5 h by car or bus via Valparaíso).
- Getting aroundWalkable; the village is small.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCLP 1,500–2,500
- BeerBeer (bottle)CLP 2,000–3,500
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryCLP 1,500 (check)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCLP 12,000
- Mid-range bedCabaña or pousada (double), a night, per roomCLP 40,000
- High-end bedCabaña or pousada (double), a night, per roomCLP 70,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CLP 25,000 · Mid CLP 45,000 · High CLP 80,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SCL Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Santiago) (About 1.5 h by car or bus via Valparaíso)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Mar
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jun
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jul
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Aug
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Sep
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Dec
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jun (7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C) low), wettest Jun (9 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Quintay: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Feb
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Mar
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4 rd
May
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Jun
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Jul
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Aug
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
7 rd
Sep
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
5 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4 rd
Nov
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walkable; the village is small. A car or colectivo is needed for Playa Chica (south).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Valparaíso
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Colectivo from the main square, about 30 min
Combine with a day in Valparaíso; colectivos run frequently.
Viña del Mar
goDoor to door: About 1.25 h
Colectivo to Valparaíso, then metro or bus, about 1 h total
Gardens and casino; easy from Valparaíso.
Santiago
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus from Valparaíso or direct bus (check), about 1.5 h
Day trip possible but long; better as a stop on the way to/from Valparaíso.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Quintay village centre
Close to the museum and restaurants; mostly pousadas and cabañas.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- CLP 20,000–35,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- CLP 35,000–60,000 excl. bed
- High
- CLP 60,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Cabaña or pousada (double)1 × 1 night × CLP 40,000 | CLP 40,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CLP 45,000 | CLP 90,000 |
| Colectivo Valparaíso–Quintay, one way2 × CLP 1,400 · check | CLP 2,800 |
| Museum entry2 × CLP 1,500 · check | CLP 3,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CLP 13,600 |
| Trip total≈ CLP 74,700 per person per day, bed included | CLP 149,400 |
2026 estimate in Chilean pesos; flights and long-distance buses excluded.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | CLP 1,500–2,500 |
| Seafood meal (e.g., ceviche or fried fish) | CLP 7,000–12,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | CLP 2,000–3,500 |
| Colectivo Valparaíso–Quintay | CLP 1,400 (check) |
| Museum entry | CLP 1,500 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The museum is closed on Mondays; check hours before going.
- Playa Chica has no services; bring water and food.
- Colectivos from Valparaíso run until early evening; confirm the last return.
Emergency numbers
- Police (Carabineros)
- 133
- Ambulance
- 131
- Fire
- 132
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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QuintayQuintay
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police (Carabineros)133
- Ambulance131
- Fire132
Embassy
The US embassy is in Santiago; most other countries have consulates in Santiago or Valparaíso.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Colectivo Valparaíso → Quintay: CLP 1,400, about 30 min (check)
- Bus Santiago → Quintay: about CLP 5,000–8,000, about 2 h (check)
Say or show
- Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-see-ahs)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAHN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Dónde está el museo? — Where is the museum? (DOHN-deh es-TAH el moo-SEH-oh)
- Una cerveza, por favor — One beer, please (OO-nah ser-VEH-sah por fah-VOR)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Quintay. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (cold, rain) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for the whaling museum and dive operators with verified hours.
- Eat pages for Pezcadores and other restaurants with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures from Valparaíso and Santiago.
Sources
Ask about Quintay
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