Discover the best day trips from Santiago, Chile with this inspirational guide.
If you’re headed to Chile, you’ll likely end up flying into Santiago for some amount of time.
Santiago’s a stunner – a unique city that’s sandwiched between the coast and the mountains.
After taking some time to explore the city, it’s worth taking one of the many Santiago day trips to explore the surrounding regions. It would be a shame to miss out on the incredible cultural and natural attractions in the areas surrounding Santiago!
Whether you’re into Nobel prize-winning poets, lounging on the beach, or hiking through the mountains, there are plenty of unique Santiago day trips for any kind of traveler.
Want to learn more about the best day trips from Santiago? Read on for my top picks.
The Best Day Trips from Santiago
ValparaÃso
Distance from Santiago: 71.6 miles/115.2 km
Highlights: Pablo Neruda’s house, street art and local galleries, views from the hills
How to get there: Pullman and Turbus buses leave frequently from Santiago to Valparaiso. It takes about 1.5 hours and costs ~6,000 CLP to arrive in ValparaÃso from Santiago. You can also take a guided day tour from Santiago.
A charming seaside town wedged between a shipyard and a hill, ValparaÃso (or lovingly named ‘Valpo’ by the Chileans) is one of the most wonderful day trips from Santiago.
Its significance as a port city and cultural hub in Chile earned it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Valparaiso’s laid back streets boast beautiful boutiques and vibrant street art around every corner. If you’d rather skip the hassle of figuring out transportation and logistics, a day tour from Santiago with a local guide is also an easy and fun option.
While in Valparaiso, visit the Nobel prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s quaint home, which overlooks the sea atop a hill. Or, you can take the funicular car up to the top and get lost wandering through the city’s winding alleyways and admiring colorful street art on the way down.
You can also take a guided walking tour to learn more about the city of Valparaiso and its historic and cultural significance. While there, sample some fresh, delicious Chilean seafood at the Caleta Portales.
Extending Your Trip to Valparaiso
Book a room at the bold and colorful Winebox Hotel, which is one of Chile’s most beautiful and unique hotels perched on the hill with breathtaking views of the entire Valparaiso area. Make sure to reserve early, as this hotel sells out fast! (Book Winebox hotel on Booking.com)
Viña del Mar, Reñaca, and Concón
Distance from Santiago: 75.7 miles/121.8 km
Highlights: Beach, eating seafood on the water, Reloj de Flores, Castillo Wulff
How to get there: By bus, it takes about 1.5-2 hours and costs ~6,300 CLP to arrive in ValparaÃso from Santiago’s Pajaritos bus terminal. You can also take a guided day tour from Santiago, which includes Viña del Mar.
As Valpo’s friendly neighbor, Viña del Mar is a classic beach town.
With sparkling surf crashing alongside rocky cliffs, it’s the perfect place to catch some sun or simply enjoy the fresh sea air with a pisco sour in hand, while people-watching or tasting some fresh seafood dishes.
Pair an afternoon in Viña del Mar with a morning in Valparaiso, or simply spend the day wandering this beach area.
Within Viña del Mar, you can visit the Reloj de Flores, a giant clock made of flowers that’s one of Viña del Mar’s most popular (albeit cheesy) attractions. Alternatively, you can head to one of the local museums or visit a real life castle, the Castillo Wulff.
If you want to get away from the crowded shores of Viña del Mar, head a bit farther down the coast in a local bus to the quieter towns of Reñaca and Concón. Here you can truly get a break from the energy of the city and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Pacific Ocean.
Extending Your Trip to Viña del Mar
Book a private room or a dormitory bed at the NOT FOUND Hostel. This place is more like a boutique hotel and less like a bunkhouse full of stinky backpackers. Breakfast is also included! (Book NOT FOUND Hostel now on Booking.com)
Isla Negra
Distance from Santiago: 68.1 miles/109.6 km
Highlights: Pablo Neruda’s house
How to get there: There are Pullman buses from Santiago’s Pajaritos Bus Terminal that pass through Isla Negra en route to other destinations (be sure to ask the employee at the bus station for more detailed instructions). Alternatively, you can sign up for a guided group tour like this one to Isla Negra from Santiago, which includes a wine tasting (umm, count me in!).
If you haven’t quite had enough of Pablo Neruda in Santiago and Valparaiso, you’re in luck! His third home, open to the public, is a quick hop from Santiago in a small town called Isla Negra.
Many travelers claim that this is his most fascinating home, with very different decor and history than his other two homes.
While you can catch a public bus to Isla Negra, it’s recommended to go on a guided tour with an expert who can provide context on the history of Neruda’s home. A guided day tour from Santiago, like this one, is an excellent alternative to doing it yourself.
Outside of Neruda’s house, Isla Negra is also surrounded by a charming, seaside town with craggy rocks, offering a lovely place to spend a day and get some peace and quiet.
Alternatively, you can pair this day trip with the next one, visiting both Isla Negra and Pomaire on the same day.
Pomaire
Distance from Santiago: 40.8 miles/65.6 km
Highlights: Hand-crafted pottery, giant empanadas
How to get there: Buses from Santiago run frequently to nearby town Melipilla. From there, you can hop on a local bus onward to Pomaire. There are also a handful of direct buses to Pomaire – for these be sure to inquire at the bus station kiosk.
Are you a fan of artisan goods, handmade pottery, and charming pastoral living? If so, Pomaire is one of the best Santiago day trips.
This town became an artisan hotspot because of natural clay deposits in the nearby land, causing the pottery industry to boom here.
Pomaire’s iconic pottery symbol? A reddish clay pig often found in homes and restaurants.
If you’re getting hungry during your trip, Pomaire is also home to some of the biggest empanadas in Chile, ranging from 1.5 kg to 10 kg! You can get them just about anywhere, but the ones at San Antonio Restaurant are excellent. Share one with a friend, or come hungry and devour one all by yourself.
A day trip to Pomaire goes well with a morning in Isla Negra (above) or paired with exploring the nearby city of Melipilla.
Casablanca Valley
Distance from Santiago: 48.6 miles/78.2 km
Highlights: Wine tasting!
How to get there: The easiest way to get around Casablanca Valley is to rent a car and drive (responsibly). You can also book a guided wine tasting tour from Santiago to several of the wineries in the Casablanca region. There’s also an option to take a bus to Casablanca, then simply visit the wineries by private taxi from there.
En route to ValparaÃso from Santiago, you may see rows and rows of green vineyards. This is the Casablanca Valley, home to some of Chile’s best white wine vineyards famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir wines. Located west of Santiago, visitors flock from all over Chile to hop from vineyard to vineyard on sunny days. There are several wineries in the Casablanca region, but some of the most famous/awesome include:
Matetic Vineyards | Address: Fundo el Rosario, Casablanca, Región de ValparaÃso, Chile | Cost: 6,500 to 22,000 CLP
Casas del Bosque | Address: Hijuelas Nº 2 Ex Fundo, Sta Rosa, Casablanca, Región de ValparaÃso, Chile | Cost: 7,000 to 12,500 CLP for tour and tasting
However, if you’re planning on drinking, we recommend booking a full day tour from Santiago (like this one ). On a tour, you can sample many wineries in the Casablanca region without worrying about transportation.
Extending Your Trip to Casablanca Valley
If you want to take a couple of days to see the different wineries, we suggest getting a hotel. For a splurge option, the Hotel Boutique BC Wine Casablanca is a beautiful, locally-owned hotel that can help you book wine tours.
Maipo Valley
Distance from Santiago: 28.1 miles/45.2 km
Highlights: More wine tasting!
How to get there: Again, the easiest way to get around Maipo Valley is to rent a car and drive (responsibly). You can also book a guided Maipo valley tour from Santiago to the most famous vineyards in the Maipo Valley region.
On the opposite side of Santiago, right next to the Andes Mountains, is the Maipo Valley, home to even more vineyards of both the red and white variety. As one of the most popular Santiago day trips for wine lovers, you can sample the amazing variety and flavors of Maipo Valley wines.
The famed Casillero del Diablo (of Concha y Toro Winery) is located here, as well as several other famous Chilean vineyards that specialize largely in Cabernet Sauvignon and other cold weather varieties.
To hop around and do a few tastings, we recommend you book a wine tasting tour that provides transportation directly from Santiago.
Some of the most popular/famous vineyards in Maipo Valley include:
Santa Rita | Address: Camino Padre Hurtado 695, Alto Jahuel, Buin, Región Metropolitana, Chile | Cost: 14,000 CLP and up for tour and tasting (reservation required)
Concha y Toro | Address: Avenida Virginia Subercaseaux 210, Pirque 9480092, Chile | Cost: 16,000 CLP for tour and tasting (reservations required)
Vina Undurraga | Address: Camino a Melipilla 34, Talagante, Región Metropolitana, Chile | Cost: 14,000 CLP and up for tour and tasting (reservations required)
Extending Your Trip to Maipo Valley
Maipo Valley is so close to Santiago that we’d recommend staying in Santiago and commuting each day. However, if you’d like to stay closer to the vineyards, you can book a room at La Calma de Rita, a centrally located lodge in Maipo Valley.
Valle Nevado
Distance from Santiago: 40.8 miles/65.7 km
Highlights: Skiing, snowboarding, cozying up by the fire and admiring the views
How to get there: The simplest way to get to Valle Nevado from Santiago is to rent a car and drive in from Santiago. However, if you prefer to take shared transportation, there is a shuttle option called SkiTotal that costs 18,000 CLP each way.
Whether you’re there to ski or simply to enjoy the scenery, a day trip to Valle Nevado (or “Snow Valley”) is definitely worth taking.
During the winter, Valle Nevado is perfect for beginners to advanced skiers who want to get some slope time.
For non-skiers (or during the off-season), the mountain views here are some of the best in the region, and people come from all over the world to ski these slopes.
If you’re looking for a relaxing day in a stunning mountain lodge, Valle Nevado is one of the best day trips from Santiago no matter the season.
Extending Your Trip to Valle Nevado
Although pricey, there are several hotels connected to the Valle Nevado Ski Resort, like the Valle Nevado Hotel. If you’re on a budget, we’d recommend looking for an apartment or off-site hotel in the area instead.
Maipo Canyon
Distance from Santiago: 26.3 miles/42.3 km
Highlights: Hot springs, El Yeso Dam, hiking
How to get there: You can get to Maipo Canyon o on Santiago’s public transit. Take the metro to Bellavista de la Florida, Las Mercedes, or Plaza de Puente Alto, then hop on Bus 72 to Cajon del Maipo. You can also take a colectivo (shared taxi) from Metro Las Mercedes.
If you’re reading through this list and wondering which day trips are good for nature lovers, you’ve finally arrived!
Maipo Canyon is a stunning mountainous gorge located just over an hour from Santiago.
In the Cajon del Maipo area, you can do all kinds of adventure activities with stunning views surrounding you.
It’s an outdoor lover’s paradise, with endless amounts of fresh air and beautiful trails to explore. You can get to the Cajon del Maipo area on public transportation, but if you want to do any serious hikes or adventure activities, we strongly recommend going with a tour.
A few of the most popular activities in the area include:
Hiking: The most popular hiking trails in Cajon del Maipo are El Morado Glacier and San Jose Volcano.
El Morado Glacier | 10 kilometers
Volcan San Jose & Hot Springs | 8 kilometers | Book Guided Tour Here
Exploring El Yeso Dam
White water rafting | Book Guided Tour Here
Horseback riding | Book Guided Tour (plus Wine Tasting) Here
Extending Your Trip to Cajon del Maipo
All of these activities and more can be done as a day trip from Santiago, but if you’re interested in staying a few days in Cajon del Maipo, you can camp or book a local guesthouse nearby.
Sewell Mining Town
Distance from Santiago: 91 miles/146.5 km
Highlights: Historic mining buildings and ghost town
How to get there: You cannot access Sewell Mining Town without being on an organized tour, since private vehicles cannot enter this protected area.
High in the Andes lies Sewell Mining Town, which is now a historic ghost town and UNESCO World Heritage Site located just a few hours from Santiago high up in the Andes Mountains.
It’s fairly far from Santiago’s city center, but is worth the trip, especially if you’re interested in historic landmarks.
Founded in the early 1900s, a large Chilean company built Sewell Mining Town to extract copper from the surrounding areas. In the 1990s, the operations stalled and it was abandoned shortly after.
Inside the town are colorful houses, a main square, and old shops and businesses that now lie completely deserted.
You can’t go to Sewell Mining Town on your own, but you can book a guided tour to Sewell that will bring you from your Santiago hotel to the town along with a guide who can teach you about the fascinating history of this place.
It’s a unique and worthwhile place to visit, and is one of the most fascinating of all of the day trips from Santiago.
Day Trips from Santiago, Chile: Read Next
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