7 Spectacular Santiago Day Trips

Though remote destinations like Patagonia and the Atacama Desert tend to top travel itineraries in Chile, plenty of the country’s leading attractions are located just a couple hours from Santiago. The following day trips are the perfect getaways for travelers looking for a convenient hiatus from Chile’s capital city.

Valparaíso

Though Chile’s central coast could keep travelers busy for days, visitors short on time can still experience all this historic port city has to offer in one day. Start at Plaza Sotomayor, then climb the Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion hills and marvel at the numerous artists’ shops, hip cafés, brightly-painted houses, and graffiti. Ride a funicular, like Ascensor Concepción, and check out one of the city’s best lookouts at Paseo Yugoslavo. Many of Valparaíso’s best bars and restaurants are within walking distance from this spot. Whether arriving by car or bus, the trip to Valparaíso or “Valpo” should take between 90 minutes and two hours.

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Isla Negra

See the most impressive of poet Pablo Neruda’s three Chilean residences with a day trip to the coastal town of Isla Negra. With gorgeous views of the ocean waves crashing on the grey rocks and several charming cafés and restaurants, Isla Negra offers a quaint, poetic respite from Santiago’s hustle and bustle.

Wine tasting in the Central Valley

Chile’s most productive wine region, the Central Valley, encompasses four different wine growing sub-regions, including: the Rapel Valley, the Maipo Valley, the Curicó Valley and the Maule Valley. Within these valleys, numerous vineyards offer high-quality tours and wine tastings. On the outskirts of Santiago, Latin America’s largest wine producer Concha y Toro offers popular and affordable tours and tastings. Also close to Santiago, the Viña Aquitania provides a more boutique experience.

Cajón del Maipo

This gorge, located about an hour away from Santiago near San Jose del Maipo, has camping and picnic areas, hot springs, and spectacular hikes. A trip to the El Yeso reservoir also has numerous camping spaces and hiking trails nearby. Visit the Baños Morales for a peaceful afternoon or take a hike to the San Francisco Glacier for a glimpse of the area’s prized natural beauty.

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Reñaca & Concón

For travelers who find big beach cities unappealing but still seek proximity to the ocean, visit Reñaca or Concón. These small beach towns are down the road from Viña del Mar, but offer a more relaxed environment. Sandboard affordably in Reñaca or have a beer and seafood empanada on the beach in Concón. The towns neighbor each other, and arriving to each is made easy by orange buses that drive along the coast. Take one from Viña or Valpo that say “Concón” or “Reñaca.”

Skiing at El Colorado or Valle Nevado

Travelers visiting during ski season (June through October) can scope the powder at El Colorado or Valle Nevado ski centers. Beginners should stick to El Colorado, as it has many easy slopes. Meanwhile Valle Nevado is great for advanced skiers. Both centers are located a couple hours’ drive from Santiago’s city center. Equipment rental and transportation from the city are available through numerous local tour companies.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.