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| Where Was Wild Horse Nine Filmed? All the Chilean Locations Revealed. |
Wild Horse Nine, the 2026 film written and directed by Martin McDonagh, was filmed across Chile, with Easter Island and Santiago providing the main backdrops for its story. Production took place between February and March 2025, with additional landscape footage captured in Utah, USA. From the enormous stone statues of Rapa Nui to Santiago’s historic streets and the colourful hills of Valparaíso, the film draws on locations that offer a striking contrast between remote Pacific scenery and the political tension of 1970s Chile.
Several locations have genuine visitor appeal, making them interesting additions to a travel itinerary for film fans. However, not every precise filming spot has necessarily been made public, and it is worth respecting private property and restricted areas rather than treating every cinematic backdrop as an invitation to wander into somebody’s garden.
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is one of the film’s most distinctive settings. Located in the Pacific Ocean, the island is famous for its monumental moai statues, volcanic landscapes and deep cultural history. Its remote setting gives the story a sense of isolation that would be difficult to recreate convincingly on an ordinary studio set. The island’s archaeological sites and rugged coastline also provide a natural contrast to the political manoeuvring unfolding elsewhere in the film. For visitors, Rapa Nui offers much more than a cinematic photo opportunity, although a little respect for its heritage goes a long way.
Ahu Tongariki, on Easter Island, is among the most recognisable locations associated with the production. The ceremonial platform features 15 towering moai statues arranged against an expansive coastal landscape. It is one of Rapa Nui’s most celebrated archaeological landmarks, with the statues creating an imposing silhouette against the Pacific sky.
Its monumental scale makes it an especially memorable destination for anyone interested in the island’s history and the landscapes seen in Wild Horse Nine. Visitors should follow local guidance around the archaeological complex, as the moai are cultural treasures rather than props waiting for a tourist to climb on them.
Rano Raraku, another major Easter Island landmark, is a volcanic crater that served as the principal quarry for the island’s moai statues. Numerous unfinished figures remain scattered across its slopes, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary work involved in creating these monuments.
The surrounding terrain is a mixture of grassy hills, volcanic rock and open countryside, giving the landscape a distinctive appearance. Its connection to the island’s stone-carving history makes it an appealing destination for visitors who want to understand the cultural significance of the statues beyond their familiar appearance in photographs. The site also offers a dramatic natural backdrop that suits the film’s reflective, isolated atmosphere.
Anakena Beach, on Easter Island, brings a different character to the film’s island setting. Known for its pale sand, turquoise water and palm trees, the beach is among Rapa Nui’s most attractive coastal destinations. The contrast between its inviting shoreline and the island’s rugged volcanic interior gives visitors a chance to experience several different landscapes without leaving the island. Anakena also has archaeological and cultural significance, so it is more than a convenient place to spread out a towel and forget about the world for an afternoon. For travellers following the film’s locations, it offers a sunnier side of Rapa Nui’s scenery.
Hotel Iorana in Hanga Roa, the island’s main settlement, is another location associated with the production. Hanga Roa is the principal centre for accommodation, restaurants, shops and visitor services on Rapa Nui, making it a natural base for exploring the island.
Hotel Iorana provides a useful point of reference for travellers planning their stay, while the surrounding settlement offers a more everyday view of island life beyond the famous archaeological sites. Anyone hoping to visit a specific interior or filming setup should check access arrangements before travelling, as a hotel operating for guests does not automatically make every part of the property open to the public.
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, serving Santiago, is an important transport gateway and a location associated with the film’s Chilean production. The airport handles domestic and international arrivals, connecting the capital with destinations across the country and beyond.
Its modern facilities provide a practical starting point for visitors planning to explore Santiago before heading towards Chile’s coast or the Andes. Travellers should remember that airports are working transport hubs rather than sightseeing attractions, so access to operational areas is restricted. For film enthusiasts, the location is an interesting reminder that even an ordinary arrival hall can become part of a carefully constructed period setting on screen.
Conchalí, a commune in northern Santiago, adds an urban dimension to the production’s Chilean backdrop. The district forms part of the wider metropolitan area and has a more everyday residential character than the capital’s best-known historic landmarks. Its streets and built environment offer useful material for a film attempting to recreate the atmosphere of an earlier decade.
For visitors, Conchalí provides a different perspective on Santiago beyond the familiar tourist circuit, with local neighbourhoods, businesses and community spaces shaping the area’s identity. It is a reminder that a city’s character is not limited to its grandest squares or most photographed buildings.
Plaza de Armas in Santiago is one of the capital’s most historically significant public spaces. Surrounded by important civic and religious buildings, the square has served as a focal point of city life since Santiago’s colonial beginnings. Its architecture and central position make it a natural choice for productions looking to evoke Chile’s political and social history.
Visitors can explore the surrounding streets, admire the historic buildings and observe the daily rhythm of the city. The square is also a useful starting point for discovering central Santiago on foot, although its modern crowds and contemporary businesses may remind visitors that travelling back to the 1970s is, unfortunately, not included in the ticket price.
Municipal Theatre of Santiago, also known as Teatro Municipal de Santiago, is a historic performing arts venue renowned for its architecture and cultural importance. Located in the city centre, the theatre hosts opera, ballet and classical music performances, making it one of Chile’s leading cultural institutions. Its elegant interiors and historic atmosphere make it a compelling setting for period filmmaking, particularly when a production needs a location that conveys the formality of diplomatic or official life. Visitors can investigate public performances and available tours through the venue’s own visitor services. Even without a film connection, it is an appealing stop for anyone interested in Santiago’s cultural heritage.
The Valparaíso funiculars offer a memorable way to experience one of Chile’s most distinctive port cities. These historic hillside lifts connect different levels of Valparaíso, a city known for its colourful houses, steep streets and sweeping views over the Pacific. The funiculars reflect the practical challenges of navigating the city’s dramatic geography while also contributing to its character.
Their old-fashioned appearance and surrounding architecture can provide an evocative backdrop for a film set decades ago. Visitors can combine a ride with a walk through the historic hills, although individual services may have varying operating schedules. Comfortable shoes are advisable, because the city has a talent for turning a casual stroll into an unexpected workout.
The Port of Valparaíso is another important location in the coastal region. As one of Chile’s principal maritime hubs, the port features commercial docks, shipping infrastructure and waterfront activity that reflect the city’s long relationship with international trade. Its working environment makes it a plausible setting for scenes involving travel, logistics and movement between locations.
Visitors can appreciate the port’s wider maritime character from public areas and designated viewpoints, but access to operational docks is controlled for safety and security reasons. Those interested in the city’s seafaring history can also explore its historic waterfront and surrounding neighbourhoods without attempting to enter restricted working zones.
Casino de Viña del Mar, in the coastal city of Viña del Mar, is a landmark entertainment venue known for its imposing architecture and prominent position near the waterfront. The casino has long been associated with the city’s resort atmosphere, attracting visitors seeking entertainment and a taste of its established coastal culture.
Its grand appearance makes it a useful visual reference for a film recreating the atmosphere of the early 1970s. Travellers can explore the surrounding public areas and waterfront, while access to the casino’s facilities depends on its current rules and operating arrangements. It is an appealing addition to a coastal itinerary for visitors who want to experience a different side of Chile beyond Santiago’s busy streets.
Palacio Rioja in Viña del Mar offers a glimpse into the architectural tastes of an earlier era. This French-inspired mansion is a historic property associated with the city’s cultural heritage and is known for its ornate interiors and landscaped grounds. Its formal rooms and period details make it a fitting visual setting for scenes requiring an atmosphere of wealth, diplomacy or official business.
The palace also offers visitors an opportunity to explore the city’s architectural past. Public access, guided visits and opening arrangements can vary, so checking current visitor information before travelling is sensible. It is the sort of place that makes a modern meeting room look rather unimaginative by comparison.
Paseo Ahumada in central Santiago is a busy pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, services and street activity. Its location in the heart of the capital makes it a useful setting for capturing the everyday energy of the city. For a film set in 1973, streets such as this can be transformed through period signage, older vehicles and carefully selected background details.
The modern version remains a lively place to walk, shop and observe Santiago’s urban life. Visitors can explore the surrounding streets and connect the walk with other central landmarks, although the contemporary retail environment is naturally different from the one the film aims to recreate.
San Cristóbal Hill, one of Santiago’s best-known natural landmarks, rises above the city and offers extensive views across the metropolitan area towards the Andes on clear days. The hill forms part of Metropolitan Park, a large urban green space with walking routes, viewpoints and recreational attractions.
Its funicular railway and panoramic outlooks make it a popular destination for both residents and tourists. For filmmakers, elevated viewpoints can provide establishing shots that show the scale of the capital and its surrounding geography. For visitors, it is an opportunity to step away from traffic and crowded streets without leaving the city. Bringing a camera is sensible, although the view may encourage a longer stay than originally planned.
Maipo Valley vineyards, south of Santiago, provide a rural contrast to the capital’s urban landscapes. The valley is widely associated with Chilean wine production, with vineyards and agricultural estates set against a backdrop of hills and the distant Andes. Its open countryside offers a different visual atmosphere from the city’s crowded streets and historic buildings.
Such landscapes can serve a production that needs driving sequences, secluded estates or countryside settings. Visitors can explore the region through authorised vineyard tours and tastings, subject to individual operators’ arrangements. The area also makes a worthwhile excursion for travellers interested in Chile’s agricultural traditions and rural scenery, rather than spending an entire holiday navigating Santiago’s traffic.
Cajón del Maipo, a mountainous canyon region southeast of Santiago, is known for its rugged scenery, winding roads and dramatic Andean foothills. The area attracts visitors interested in hiking, mountain views, outdoor activities and excursions into Chile’s highland landscapes. Its changing terrain provides a striking contrast to the capital’s built-up environment and the gentler vineyards of the Maipo Valley.
For a production such as Wild Horse Nine, the region’s expansive views and remote roads can help create a feeling of distance and uncertainty. Travellers should plan according to road and weather conditions, particularly when heading into mountainous areas, where conditions can change more quickly than a holiday itinerary would prefer.
Moab, Utah, provides a different landscape from the Chilean locations associated with the film. The town is a popular base for exploring the American Southwest, with red sandstone formations, desert scenery and striking geological features shaping its surroundings.
The region is particularly well known for its outdoor attractions and dramatic open spaces. Additional footage captured around Moab can offer a useful visual contrast to Chile’s coastal and mountainous settings, depending on how the production uses the material in the finished film. Visitors can explore the area through established parks, trails and guided excursions, following local regulations and respecting protected landscapes.
Monument Valley, spanning the Arizona–Utah border region, is famous for its enormous sandstone buttes rising above a wide desert plain. Its distinctive landscape has appeared in numerous films and television productions, making it one of the most recognisable cinematic environments in the American West.
The region’s broad horizons and isolated rock formations provide a visual language quite different from Easter Island’s archaeological sites or Santiago’s historic streets. For travellers interested in the film’s additional American landscape footage, Monument Valley offers a compelling destination in its own right. Access to parts of the area is managed by the Navajo Nation, so visitors should follow the applicable entry rules and use authorised tours where required.
Taken together, these locations show how Wild Horse Nine draws on a varied collection of landscapes to establish its world. Easter Island provides the monumental stone figures and isolation at the heart of the story’s setting, while Santiago supplies the urban and historical atmosphere. Valparaíso and Viña del Mar add coastal architecture and maritime character, and the Maipo Valley and Cajón del Maipo bring in the rural and mountainous terrain.
Utah’s desert scenery introduces another visual dimension. The locations are not interchangeable, and that variety is part of what makes the film’s setting interesting. Still, viewers should distinguish between a place appearing in production information and an exact scene being filmed at a particular corner or building. Publicly available details do not necessarily disclose every individual setup or private location.
My opinion is that Wild Horse Nine has a particularly appealing collection of filming locations because the settings offer more than attractive scenery. Easter Island gives the story a sense of distance and history, while Santiago’s streets and public buildings provide a convincing foundation for its political backdrop. Valparaíso and Viña del Mar bring a coastal personality that feels distinct from the capital, and the landscapes around Maipo and Cajón del Maipo add a welcome change of pace.
The Utah locations also show how a film can draw on contrasting environments to build its visual identity. For travellers, the temptation is to turn every location into a checklist, but that can miss the point of visiting somewhere with its own history and culture. I would prioritise Rapa Nui and Santiago first, then add the coastal cities if time allows. That sounds like a far better holiday than chasing every last camera angle.
For now, these are the locations associated with Wild Horse Nine in the supplied production information, although further details may emerge as more behind-the-scenes material becomes available. Some places are open to visitors, while others are working facilities, private properties or protected cultural sites with access restrictions.
Always check local guidance before planning a visit, and remember that the experience of a real destination rarely matches a perfectly framed movie shot. Would you put Easter Island at the top of your travel bucket list, or would you rather explore Santiago’s historic streets and Chile’s coastal cities? Share which location you would visit first and tell us what other Wild Horse Nine filming details you would like to see covered next.