Best Day Trips from Santiago

Thanks to Chile’s unique thin shape, Santiago has easy access to the mountains, the coast, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for a day at the beach, a hike in the mountains, or a wine tasting at a vineyard, a fantastic day trip is within easy reach of the capital city. Read on for a guide to some of the best day trips from Santiago.

Valparaíso

Known as la joya del Pacífico (the jewel of the Pacific), Valparaíso was one of the most important ports in the world in the late 19th century.

Though its fortunes changed significantly with the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, with wealthy families leaving the city in droves for Santiago and neighboring Viña del Mar, the remnants of its past grandeur remained, and the city has since been revitalized by a community-led preservation movement during the 1990s, rescuing much of its unique cultural heritage that had fallen victim to urban decay.

The two best-preserved areas are the neighboring hills Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, each a maze of streets lined with quaint old houses, boutique shops, and cafes. Each deserves a lengthy stroll, taking time to admire the unique mix of architectural styles as well as the beautiful wide views of the Pacific Ocean along the coast; an especially beautiful mirador can be found along Paseo Yugoslavo. Also be sure to visit La Sebastiana, home of Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, and don’t leave without trying the city’s signature dish, la chorrillana, for lunch.

Viña del Mar

While Valparaíso has the gritty charm of a bohemian port city, its neighbor Viña del Mar has more of the glitz of a resort and casino city. To be honest, the city itself is a bit dull, but it has long, sandy beaches perfect for relaxing or for a frigid dip in the chilly waters of the Pacific. Try Playa Acapulco, and be sure to grab a sandwich or a completo from Fuente de Soda Cevasco on your way over for a picnic lunch on the beach.

Concón

Just north of Viña, Concón is famous for its enormous sand dunes, which look straight out of the Sahara but incredibly lead down directly to the Pacific. The view from up here is absolutely stunning, especially at sunset. It’s also a popular beach town—spend the early afternoon at Playa La Boca before heading over to the dunes for sunset. Grab some empanadas from Las Deliciosas before you head to the beach—a local institution since 1968, they are famous for their fried seafood empanadas.

Isla Negra

This town’s main attraction is the Casa de Isla Negra, another of the poet Pablo Neruda’s homes. Neruda had three houses in Chile (Santiago, Valparaíso, and Isla Negra), but he considered this one his favorite.

With its charming decoration and privileged location right on the coast, it’s easy to see why. The house is open as a museum and is well worth a visit. If the weather is nice, head a few towns south to El Tabo and relax on the beach at Playa Chica Las Cruces.

Zapallar

This town, long a popular balenario (beach resort) for the upper classes of Santiago, looks straight out of California, with fancy houses high up in the hills above the coast. This feels like a day trip not just from the city but even from the continent, with its streets filled with large, expensive homes and boutique shops that you don’t usually see in South America. But there’s nothing stuffy about Zapallar—it’s quite cozy and inviting.

Make your way down the hill to the C-shaped cove and lovely playa, then walk along the beach and out to the Santuario de la Naturaleza Cerro La Cruz for great views of the town and up the coast. You can also continue along a walking trail cut into the rocky coast heading south. For a fantastic seafood lunch overlooking the cove, visit Restaurant Chiringuito.

It’s also worth checking out the town of Cachagua to the south, which has an extensive network of walking trails cut into rocks along the water at Paseo y Playa Las Cujas. For a delicious sandwich or a restorative coffee and dessert in the afternoon, try Cafetería Don Matías.

Cerro Manquehue (Hike)

This hike is one of the best within easy reach of Santiago. Though it technically falls within the city limits, Cerro Manquehue is the tallest of the mountains around the capital that form the foothills of the Andes. The hike takes a couple of hours each way and is relatively physically demanding, but the views are well worth the effort.

Parque Natural Aguas de Ramón (Hike)

If you’re looking for an easy hike, head to this park directly east of the city. With leisurely routes leading to a waterfall and providing great views of the snow-capped Andes, this is an excellent spot for a relaxed hike accessible to people of all ages.

Viña Santa Rita

Directly south of Santiago, the Valle del Maipo is one of the most important wine-growing regions of Chile, particularly renowned for its full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons.

There are numerous vineyards around Santiago, but there is none better to visit than Santa Rita, one of the oldest and most famous vineyards in Chile.

Founded in 1880 by Don Domingo Fernández Concha, who brought back vine cuttings, winemaking equipment, and a team of experts from France to help him get started, the vineyard sits on a huge piece of land at the base of the Andean foothills, with beautiful gardens, Roman-inspired baths, a neo-Gothic chapel, and an enchanting manor house, which holds the lovely boutique Hotel Casa Real.

Even if you decide not to splurge on a night at the hotel, you should definitely come for a tour of the property culminating in a wine tasting in the cellar. This is a chance to learn about the fascinating history of winemaking in Chile as well as to appreciate the natural beauty of your surroundings and, of course, the rich flavor and balance of the vino.

Looking for tips on what to see and do back in the city? Visit our Santiago page here.