Where is Colina, and why do expats talk about it?

Strictly speaking, Colina is not part of Greater Santiago: it is a separate commune to the north of the capital. The historic town of Colina has a different character and is not where expats settle. When schools, landlords or relocation agents mention Colina, they almost always mean two residential developments in the south of the commune: Chamisero and Chicureo.

This area is the newest chapter of Santiago's residential story. It barely existed 15 years ago, and it took off once the motorway connected it to the north-east of the city and most international schools opened second campuses here. Today, Colina concentrates the majority of new premium house developments around Santiago: if you want a recent house in a gated community, this is where the offer is.

One thing to be clear about from the start: life here is organized around the car. There is no metro, and almost no apartments either. The few premium lofts that exist rarely reach the rental market, as we explain in our article on apartments for rent in Santiago. If you work in Santiago all week, or your children attend a school there, the 30-40 minute commute twice a day is the price you pay for the space and the mountain views.

Chamisero

Chamisero is the more standardized of the two areas. A large part of it was built by property developers selling turnkey homes, which means streets of nearly identical houses inside gated condominiums. Either you don't mind the uniform look, or you do. There is no in-between. If you are fine with it, you get a recent, well-built house with a garden, in a secure environment, at a more accessible level than the bigger plots of Chicureo.

The area is popular with French families: the Lycée Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (the French Alliance school) opened its second campus in Chamisero in 2013, and many of the condominiums sit within a short drive of it. You can find the details in our guide to international schools in Santiago.

Security inside the condominiums is managed at the community level and included in the condominium fees, so you don't need to organize patrols or alarm contracts yourself, as you would with an isolated house.

Chicureo

Chicureo is more varied and, on average, more upmarket. The Piedra Roja sector attracts upper-class Chilean families: plots are bigger and houses are nicer than in Chamisero. The north-west of Chicureo is more country style, with traditional houses on much larger plots, for those who want space above everything else. And for golfers, there are houses around the golf course of Chicureo.

Schools followed the residents: Lincoln International Academy and Dunalastair both have campuses in Chicureo, which is a big part of why families move here rather than commute from the city.

Two practical warnings. First, the houses west of Camino Los Ingleses are often older, and the gated communities there usually don't offer the same level of security as the more recent developments. Second, everyday commerce has developed, but the offer remains thinner than in Las Condes or Vitacura: for anything beyond daily needs, you will drive into Santiago.

For more detail on the type of houses, plots and condominiums you can find in both areas, see our article on houses for rent in Santiago.

Families with children enrolled in one of the international schools with a campus in Chamisero or Chicureo
Families who want a recent house with a garden in a secure gated community, and who accept a car-based life
Anyone comparing with Lo Barnechea: Colina offers newer construction, while La Dehesa keeps you closer to the city

We do not recommend it for singles or couples working in central Santiago, especially without a car: the commute and the lack of apartments make Las Condes or Providencia much better options.

If you are considering a move to the area, contact us with the details of what you are looking for, and we will tell you what is realistic in the current rental market.

Frequently asked questions about living in Colina

Living in Colina (Chamisero and Chicureo)

What is Chicureo in Chile?

Chicureo is a residential area in the commune of Colina, just north of Santiago. It barely existed 15 years ago and has grown fast since the motorway connected it to the north-east of the capital and several international schools opened campuses there. Today it is one of the main destinations for families looking for a recent house in a gated community.

What is the best sector of Chicureo to live in?

It depends on what you want. Piedra Roja attracts upper-class families with bigger plots and nicer houses. The north-west is more country style, with traditional houses on much larger plots. Golfers look near the golf course. Be more careful west of Camino Los Ingleses, where houses are often older and the gated communities usually don't offer the same level of security.

How is the quality of life in Chicureo?

For families, very good: security is managed at the community level, the air quality is better than in the Santiago basin, and kids have space to play. The trade-off is the commute. If you work in Santiago every day, count 30-40 minutes each way, and there is no metro: life here is organized around the car.