Santiago's Best Alternative Music Festivals

The Chilean capital is packed full of unique, alternative festivals that cater for all different types of music lovers. Here is a list of some of Santiago’s best alternative music festivals.

Ruidosa Festival

Founded by Chilean musician Francisca Valenzuela, Ruidosa is a music festival with a purpose: to empower women through music and community. The annual event features a bill of female musicians and female-led bands (also exposing the need for female inclusion in mainstream festivals) while creating a platform for women to discuss gender rights and issues. It has featured some of Chile’s most popular musicians and is open for absolutely everyone to attend. And yes, everyone is welcome – this is by no means a girls-only event, but it does promote a safe and inclusive space.

Francisca Valenzuela performs at Ruidosa

En Órbita

Piknic Électronik Santiago

Piknic Electronik Santiago is a weekly electronic party, where the young and hip of Santiago gather together during the summer months. It’s often hosted at one of the city’s best shady spots to escape the scorching heat: the San Cristobal hill, whose leafy gardens offer stunning views of the city. The event boasts an array of cocktail spritzers and refreshing drinks, comfy seats and intimate stages, making it the perfect chillout zone to enjoy electronic ambience.

Fauna Primavera

Fauna Primavera has brought some of pop music’s biggest artists to Chile: Iggy Azalea played in 2017, while Lorde is set to headline in 2018. But the festival also boasts a list of impressive indie and electro bands, from Courtney Barnett to Claptone, and some of Chile’s finest alternative acts, such as Miss Garrison and Javiera Mena. For those who prefer to avoid the busy crowds and chaos of the massive Lollapalooza festival, Fauna Primavera is a great alternative to experience some of the world’s best pop, rock and electro music in a more mature setting.

Womad

A festival that first took place in 1980 in the UK, WOMAD is a world festival originally brought together by Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel. It currently takes place in the UK, Spain, Italy, Abu Dhabi, New Zealand and Australia, with Chile being its only edition in the Americas. The Chilean event takes place on the grounds of the city’s spectacular cemetery, right outside its main gates. It’s a free celebration of music from across the world, and is a place to share positive thoughts and leave with heartwarming memories.

Santiago Gets Louder

For lovers of the harder stuff, Santiago Gets Louder is responsible for bringing some of the world’s biggest metal and alternative bands to the Chilean capital. System of a Down, Megadeath, Deftones… this festival has made the dreams of metal fans come true, delivering legendary acts to a country often overlooked on bands’ international tours. It also gives rising local and Latin bands a valuable platform to play to large audiences. It’s undoubtedly the primary event for alternative rock and metal fans in the country.

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.