Where It's Located
The Viña del Mar Chile Temple will be located at the existing Church property on Tres Norte in Viña del Mar, Chile.
The site is positioned between 3rd North Street and 4th North Street, near 4½ West, in the central part of the city.
The property covers approximately 1.87 acres, or about 0.8 hectares.
Viña del Mar is located on Chile's central Pacific coast and forms part of the larger Valparaíso metropolitan area. The city is one of Chile's most prominent coastal destinations and is known for its beaches, gardens, resort atmosphere, and proximity to the historic port city of Valparaíso.
The First Temple in the Valparaíso Region
The Viña del Mar Chile Temple will be the first temple built in the Valparaíso Region.
When the temple was announced, Viña del Mar had approximately 300,000 residents and was described as the fourth-largest city in Chile.
The temple will give Latter-day Saints living in the Valparaíso metropolitan area a temple much closer to home. Before its completion, the nearest operating temple has been the Santiago Chile Temple, roughly 60 miles to the east.
The temple will therefore serve an important regional purpose even though it is being built on a relatively small urban property.
The Temple Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Viña del Mar Chile Temple on October 1, 2023, during the October 2023 General Conference.
It was one of 20 new temples announced during that conference.
The announcement was particularly significant for Chile because it represented another step in the country's expanding temple network. At the time, the Church reported more than 600,000 Latter-day Saints in Chile meeting in more than 570 congregations.
The Viña del Mar temple was also the fifth temple announced for Chile.
A Growing Temple Network in Chile
Chile has a long history with the Latter-day Saint temple movement.
The Santiago Chile Temple, dedicated in 1983, was the first temple in a Spanish-speaking country and the second temple built in South America.
Since then, additional temples have been announced and constructed across the country.
At the time of the Viña del Mar announcement, Chile's temple network included the operating temples in Santiago, Concepción, and Antofagasta, along with the Santiago West temple under development. Since then, additional temple projects have continued to expand the network.
The Viña del Mar temple will add a temple to Chile's central coastal region.
Finding the Temple Site
The Church announced the temple's site on November 6, 2023.
Rather than purchasing a large undeveloped property outside the city, the Church selected an existing Church property in an established neighborhood.
Plans call for the approximately 30,000-square-foot temple to be constructed on the 1.87-acre site where the Viña del Mar Chile Stake meetinghouse currently stands.
This approach allows the temple to be located within the community where local Latter-day Saints already worship.
It also means that the project requires the existing meetinghouse to be removed before the temple can be built.
Preparing the Property
The Viña del Mar Ward meetinghouse has now been closed in preparation for temple construction.
Members of the ward have been relocated to the Agua Santa chapel while work proceeds on the property.
Soil samples were collected at the site in July 2025. The testing provided engineers with information needed to plan the future foundation and understand the conditions beneath the property.
By 2026, the site had moved into another stage of preparation.
Demolition of the existing meetinghouse began in September 2026. Crews have been removing the roof and dismantling portions of the interior. Once the building is removed, the property can be cleared and prepared for the temple's formal groundbreaking and construction.
Temple Site and Building Plans
The planned temple will have approximately 30,000 square feet of floor space.
The property covers 1.87 acres, giving the project a relatively compact footprint for a temple of its planned size.
The site is at an elevation of approximately 52 feet above sea level, reflecting Viña del Mar's coastal location.
The urban setting will require the temple and its supporting features to be carefully integrated into an already-developed neighborhood.
Architecture and Design
An official exterior rendering of the Viña del Mar Chile Temple has not yet been released publicly.
Because of that, details such as the temple's exterior materials, roofline, spire or tower configuration, and interior design have not yet been officially disclosed.
The Church has confirmed the approximate size and location, but it is appropriate to wait for an official rendering before drawing conclusions about the building's architectural appearance.
This also gives the project room to develop as architectural plans move through the approval process.
A Temple Designed for a Coastal City
Viña del Mar has a very different setting from Santiago.
The city sits directly along the Pacific coast and is known for its beaches, parks, gardens, and mild Mediterranean-style climate.
Its urban environment is closely connected with neighboring Valparaíso, creating one of the most important metropolitan areas outside Santiago.
The temple will therefore be situated in a distinctly coastal Chilean setting.
Its location also places it within a city that receives large numbers of visitors, particularly during the Chilean summer.
Viña del Mar and Valparaíso
One of the most interesting aspects of the future temple is its proximity to Valparaíso.
Valparaíso is one of Chile's most historic cities and is famous for its steep hills, colorful buildings, historic funicular railways, and port.
The city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its historic urban and architectural character.
Viña del Mar, meanwhile, developed more strongly as a resort and residential city and is known for its coastline and beaches.
Together, the two cities form an important part of Chile's central coast.
Visiting Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar is one of Chile's best-known tourist destinations.
Visitors can explore the city's beaches, waterfront, parks, gardens, and historic architecture.
The city's famous attractions include Playa de Reñaca, Quinta Vergara, the Flower Clock, and the coastal promenade.
The nearby city of Valparaíso provides another major destination, with its hills, historic neighborhoods, murals, and Pacific Ocean views.
For Latter-day Saints visiting the region after the temple is completed, the temple could become part of a larger trip through Chile's central coast.
The Temple and the Local Church Community
The temple site has a particularly strong connection to the local Church community because it is replacing an existing meetinghouse.
This is different from a temple being built on previously undeveloped land.
For members who have worshipped at the Viña del Mar meetinghouse, watching the existing building disappear and a temple rise in its place will make the project especially personal.
The relocation of the ward also represents a temporary change for local members as they prepare for the future temple.
A History of Service in Chile
Latter-day Saints have had a presence in Chile since the nineteenth century.
Church missionary work began in Chile in the 1850s, and the country has since developed into one of the largest Latter-day Saint communities in South America.
The Church has also participated in humanitarian efforts in Chile throughout its history.
After major earthquakes and other disasters, Church members have participated in relief efforts and community service.
Viña del Mar itself experienced devastating fires in recent years. Following fires in December 2022 and early 2023, local Latter-day Saints participated in relief work and used meetinghouses as collection centers for donations.
That history of local service adds another dimension to the temple's place in the community.
A Temple Closer to Home
One of the most practical benefits of the future temple will be reduced travel for members in the Valparaíso metropolitan area.
Before the Viña del Mar temple is completed, members traveling from the region may need to travel east toward Santiago for temple worship.
The future temple will place a house of the Lord directly within the metropolitan region.
For members who have traveled long distances to attend the temple, that change could make regular temple worship considerably more accessible.
From Announcement to Construction Preparation
The story of the Viña del Mar Chile Temple has progressed through several stages:
October 1, 2023: President Russell M. Nelson announces the Viña del Mar Chile Temple.
November 6, 2023: The Church announces the 1.87-acre temple site and plans for an approximately 30,000-square-foot building.
July 2025: Soil samples are collected from the property as part of preparation for the future foundation.
Late 2025: The existing Viña del Mar Ward meetinghouse is closed and local members are relocated to the Agua Santa chapel.
September 2026: Demolition begins on the existing meetinghouse.
Future: The property will be cleared, followed by a formal groundbreaking and construction of the temple.
No official groundbreaking, open house, or dedication date has yet been announced.
Chile's Fifth Temple
The Viña del Mar Chile Temple will be the fifth temple announced for Chile and the first in the Valparaíso Region.
Its development comes as the Church continues expanding temple access throughout the country.
The temple in Santiago served Chile for decades as the country's only temple. Additional temples in Concepción and Antofagasta, along with the Santiago West and Viña del Mar projects and the later Puerto Montt announcement, reflect how dramatically the country's temple network has expanded.
The Puerto Montt Chile Temple, for example, is planned for southern Chile and will serve a region far from the country's central metropolitan areas.
A New Landmark for Viña del Mar
Although the temple is still in its early stages, its location gives it the potential to become a recognizable part of the city.
The property is already associated with the local Church community, and the new temple will transform the site from a meetinghouse property into a dedicated temple campus.
As construction progresses, additional architectural information and eventually an official rendering should provide a clearer picture of what the finished building will look like.
What Happens Next?
The immediate priority is completing demolition and preparing the property.
After the existing meetinghouse has been removed, the site can be cleared and prepared for the temple foundation.
The next major milestone will be the official groundbreaking ceremony.
After construction begins, additional information should eventually be released about the temple's architecture, interior, construction progress, open house, and dedication.
Until those details are officially announced, the project's confirmed facts remain its 1.87-acre site, approximately 30,000-square-foot planned building, and location in Viña del Mar.
Final Thoughts
The Viña del Mar Chile Temple represents an important new chapter in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile.
Announced in 2023, the temple will be the first house of the Lord in the Valparaíso Region and will bring temple worship closer to thousands of members living along Chile's central coast.
The project is also unusual because the temple is being built directly on an existing Church property. The Viña del Mar Ward meetinghouse has been closed, members have relocated to another chapel, and demolition is now underway to prepare the property for its next purpose.
While the temple's architecture has not yet been publicly revealed and no groundbreaking date has been announced, the project is clearly moving forward.
Eventually, a new temple will rise on this 1.87-acre property, creating a permanent house of the Lord in one of Chile's most prominent coastal cities.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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