Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Las Condes

Las Condes is an affluent commune in northeastern Santiago, Chile, known as the country's main financial hub and one of Latin America's most prosperous urban districts. It concentrates corporate headquarters, luxury hotels, and high-rise offices in a sleek skyline locals call "Sanhattan"—a nod to its blend of Santiago and Manhattan. Beyond its business core, Las Condes is home to exclusive residential neighborhoods, top-ranked schools, and a cosmopolitan mix of international institutions and communities.

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Las Condes
Commune
Skyline view from Gran Torre Santiago
Skyline view from Gran Torre Santiago


Coat of arms
Coat of arms
Map of Las Condes commune in Greater Santiago
Location within Greater Santiago
Las Condes
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 33°24.7′S 70°33′W / 33.4117°S 70.550°W / -33.4117; -70.550
CountryChile
RegionSantiago Metropolitan Region
ProvinceSantiago Province
Founded26 August 1901
Government
12
 • TypeMunicipality
 • MayorCatalina San Martín Cavada (Ind.)
Area
3
 • Total
99 km2 (38 sq mi)
Elevation
709 m (2,326 ft)
Population
 (2017 Census)3
 • Total
294,838
 • Density3,000/km2 (7,700/sq mi)
 • Urban
294,838
 • Rural
0
Demonym(s)Condino, -a
Sex
3
 • Men135,917
 • Women158,921
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT4)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST5)
Area code56 +
Websitewww.lascondes.cl

Las Condes is an affluent commune in northeastern Santiago, Chile, known as the country's main financial hub and one of Latin America's most prosperous urban districts. It concentrates corporate headquarters, luxury hotels, and high-rise offices in a sleek skyline locals call "Sanhattan"—a nod to its blend of Santiago and Manhattan. Beyond its business core, Las Condes is home to exclusive residential neighborhoods, top-ranked schools, and a cosmopolitan mix of international institutions and communities.

Etymology

Avenida Apoquindo, the commercial heart of Las Condes source ↗

The name "Las Condes" has two competing origins. The more widely accepted theory traces it to colonial-era haciendas owned by the Counts of Sierra Bella, whose lands were colloquially called "Las Condes" rather than the grammatically correct "Los Condes." Another theory suggests Quechua roots from "Cunti," referring to the western part of the Inca Empire's Antisuyu region.

History

Early settlement

The area's history dates to pre-Columbian times, with evidence of indigenous settlements from the Llolleo and Aconcagua cultures. The Inca Empire incorporated the region around 1470, establishing administrative control until Spanish conquest in the 1540s.

Colonial era to independence

During Spanish rule, the area comprised large agricultural estates. The Santa Rosa de Apoquindo manor, built in 1795, later became President Manuel Blanco Encalada's residence and now serves as a cultural center. The 19th century saw the area remain largely rural, with wealthy Santiago families maintaining country estates.

Modern development

Las Condes was officially established as a commune in 1901. Its transformation began mid-century as Santiago's expansion reached the foothills of the Andes. The 1970s-1990s witnessed rapid urbanization, with the emergence of high-rise office towers and upscale residential neighborhoods. In 1991, the commune was subdivided, creating the separate communes of Vitacura and Lo Barnechea.

Geography

Located in Santiago's northeastern sector at the foothills of the Andes, Las Condes ranges from 709 to 975 meters above sea level. The terrain transitions from the flat Santiago basin to the rising slopes of the precordillera, featuring hills like Cerro Calán and Cerro Apoquindo.

The commune experiences a Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall, though higher elevations show alpine characteristics. The Mapocho River flows through the area, supplemented by the Canal San Carlos irrigation channel.

Demographics

According to the 2017 census, Las Condes has 294,838 inhabitants, making it one of Santiago's most densely populated communes. It boasts Chile's highest socioeconomic indicators, with an average household income of US$67,672 (PPP) and poverty rates below 1%.

The commune hosts a significant Jewish community, with synagogues, schools, and the Estadio Israelita sports club. It also contains substantial populations of other immigrant groups, reflected in its international schools and cultural institutions.

Neighborhoods

Las Condes comprises diverse neighborhoods, from the hyper-modern "Sanhattan" financial district to established residential areas like El Golf and Los Dominicos. The commune's rapid development has created a mix of luxury high-rises, single-family homes, and commercial centers.

Economy

Las Condes serves as Chile's primary business district, hosting headquarters of major corporations including:

The "Sanhattan" area along Apoquindo Avenue contains numerous corporate towers, luxury hotels (Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Marriott, W Hotels), and the World Trade Center Santiago.

Real estate

The commune has experienced continuous real estate growth since the 1990s, with land values among Chile's highest. Recent metro expansions have spurred additional high-rise development, though creating traffic challenges that have prompted infrastructure improvements.

International relations

International organizations

The commune of Las Condes is home to international organizations such as the Chilean office of the World Bank,6 and the Chilean office of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF Chile).7

International trade and investment

In the field of international trade and investment, the principal actors located in Las Condes include the Chilean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Chile),8 the Chilean-Australian Chamber of Commerce (AUSCHAM),9 the Chilean-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce,10 the Chilean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CANCHAM),11 the Chilean-Colombian Chamber of Commerce,12 the Chilean-Croatian Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (CROCHAM),13 the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham),14 the Hellenic-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and Culture,15 the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Chile,16 the Chilean-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry,17 the Chile-Norway Chamber of Commerce,18 the Chilean-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce,19 the Chilean-Peruvian Chamber of Commerce,20 the Chile-Portugal Chamber of Commerce,21 the Chilean-British Chamber of Commerce (BRITCHAM),22 the Chilean-Swiss Chamber of Commerce,23 and the Chilean-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (CTCU).24

In addition, Las Condes hosts international trade and investment promotion agencies such as Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI),25 the Australian Trade Commission (AUSTRADE),26 Trade and Investment Queensland,27 Invest Victoria,28 Advantage Austria,29 the Trade Commissioner Service of Canada,30 the Walloon Agency for Export and Foreign Investment (AWEX),31 Export Development Canada (EDC),32 ProColombia,33 the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA),34 the Trade Council of Denmark in Santiago,35 Basque Trade and Investment,36 the United States Commercial Service,37 Business Finland,38 Business France,39 the Israeli Trade Mission in Chile,40 the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO),41 the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE),42 New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE),43 PromPerú,44 Portugal Global (AICEP),45 the UK Department for Business and Trade Chile (DBT),46 CzechTrade,47 the Swiss Business Hub Chile,48 and the Thai Trade Center.

Internationalization in higher education

In the field of international relations and higher education, the principal actors located in Las Condes include the Vice-Rectorate for International Affairs of Andrés Bello National University,49 the Globalization Directorate (Global UDD)50 and the Center for International Relations Studies (CERI)51 of the Universidad del Desarrollo, the International Relations Directorate of the University of the Andes,52 and the International Experience Program of Santo Tomás University, Santo Tomás Professional Institute, and Santo Tomás Technical Training Center.53

International cooperation and cultural diplomacy

In the field of international cooperation, the principal actor located in Las Condes is the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).54 Regarding binational cultural and educational institutions, the Società Dante Alighieri stands out.5556

Embassies

Education and culture

The commune contains several universities, including Universidad de los Andes, Universidad del Desarrollo, and branches of Universidad Andrés Bello and Universidad Mayor. International schools serve various foreign communities, including German, Italian, French, British, and American curricula.

Cultural institutions include the Las Condes Cultural Center, housed in a historic manor, and the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional on Cerro Calán.

Transport

Las Condes is served by multiple Santiago Metro lines:

  • Line 1: Tobalaba, El Golf, Alcántara, Escuela Militar, Manquehue, Hernando de Magallanes, Los Dominicos
  • Line 4: Francisco Bilbao, Cristóbal Colón
  • Future Lines 6 and 7 (under construction)

Major avenues include Apoquindo, Vitacura, Presidente Kennedy, and the Costanera Norte highway, providing connectivity throughout Santiago.

Sports and recreation

The Claro Arena (formerly Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo) serves as home to Club Deportivo Universidad Católica and hosts concerts and events. The commune contains numerous private sports clubs, parks (including Parque Araucano and Parque Los Dominicos), and the Pueblito de Los Dominicos crafts market.

Sister cities

  • LATAM Airlines corporate headquarters
    LATAM Airlines corporate headquarters
  • Apoquindo Avenue in El Golf district
    Apoquindo Avenue in El Golf district
  • Claro Arena sports stadium
    Claro Arena sports stadium
  • Los Dominicos Park
    Los Dominicos Park
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades" (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  2. "Municipality of Las Condes" (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  3. "Reportes Estadísticos Comunales". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (Type Las Condes in the Buscar comuna box.) (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  4. "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  5. "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  6. "El Banco Mundial abre una oficina en Chile, luego de 72 años de cooperación". World Bank (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  7. "UNICEF en Chile". www.unicef.org (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-01-30. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  8. "Cámara Chileno-Alemana de Comercio e Industria". chile.ahk.de. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  9. "AUSCHAM – Cámara de comercio Australiana en Chile" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  10. "Camara Chileno Brasileña de Comercio". Camara Chileno Brasileña de Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  11. "Portada". Cámara Chileno Canadiense de Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  12. "cccc.cl" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  13. "Actualidad – Profesionales Croatas" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  14. "AmCham Chile". AmCham Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  15. Αλμπάνη, Ελεάννα. "Asuntos culturales y Educación - Grecia y Chile". www.mfa.gr (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  16. "Business En Chile | Cámara de Comercio Italiana de Chile | Santiago". CAMIT.CL (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  17. "ESP". Cámara Chile Japón (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  18. "Camara de Comercio Chile-Noruega".
  19. "Camara Chileno Neozelandesa De Comercio A.g. Perfil de Compañía - Chile | Contactos y ejecutivos clave | EMIS". www.emis.com. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  20. "CAMARA CHILENO PERUANA DE COMERCIO". CAMARA CHILENO PERUANA DE COMERCIO (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  21. "Cámara de Comercio". Chile Portugal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  22. "BritCham – Cámara Chileno Británica de Comercio" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  23. "CCHSC – Cámara Chileno Suiza de Comercio" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  24. "CTCU - Cámara de Comercio y Turismo Chileno Ucraniana A.G. | LinkedIn". cl.linkedin.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  25. "Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI)". chile.ahk.de. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  26. Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian Embassy in". chile.embassy.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  27. "TIQ - Meet our Latin America team". TIQ - Meet our Latin America team. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  28. Victoria, Invest (2017-03-09). "Santiago Office". invest.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  29. "advantage austria Santiago". www.advantageaustria.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  30. Service, Trade Commissioner (2025-05-03). "Chile". www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  31. Software, A7. "Exportación e Inversión". Valonia-Bruselas en Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. CCCC (2024-02-15). "Export Development Canada". Cámara Chileno Canadiense de Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  33. Procolombia. "Santiago de Chile - Chile | Procolombia". procolombia.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  34. "Kotra Santiago es la oficina comercial del Gobierno de Corea del Sur". kotrachile.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  35. "Trade council". chile.um.dk (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  36. "Chile". Basque Trade & Investment (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  37. "Chile". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  38. "Chile". www.businessfinland.fi. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  39. "Business France en Chile". Business France América Latina (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  40. tamarlahav. "HOME". Chile. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  41. "Chile | JETRO". www.jetro.go.jp. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  42. "MATRADE". www.matrade.gov.my. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  43. "New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Latin America Offices".
  44. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  45. "AICEP Portugal".
  46. "Department for Business and Trade Chile - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  47. "CzechTrade Offices - Chile". www.czechtradeoffices.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  48. "Swiss Business Hub Chile – CCHSC" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  49. "Internacional UNAB | Dirección General de Relaciones Internacionales". Internacional UNAB (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  50. "Relaciones Internacionales | Universidad del Desarrollo". UDD (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  51. "Centro de Estudios en Relaciones Internacionales". UDD (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2026-05-23.
  52. "Internacional". Universidad de los Andes (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  53. "Programa de Experiencia Internacional".
  54. "Oficina de JICA en Chile - JICA". www.jica.go.jp (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  55. "Ladantesantiago-cl". ladantesantiago-cl.webnode.cl. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  56. "Nosotros | La Dante" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-08.
External links