Santiago is the country’s largest and most populous city. With the Andes on one side and the Chilean Coastal Range on the other, this city not only boasts of dramatic views but also of colorful neighborhoods and amazing food. Additionally, Santiago is located in a spot that makes it a great base to visit other parts of Chile. From vineyards to coastal landscapes, this 5 day trips from Santiago post covers some of the best places to visit from the capital city of Chile.
How to Get from Santiago to these Destinations
Driving is the easiest and fastest. You can rent a car for less than $50 a day from Santiago. This maybe fully worth it if you are splitting the fare amongst a few people. I rented a car from the airport for $44. Some companies also include toll which makes it a really good deal. Self driving also allows you a lot of freedom and flexibility.
Other ways to get around is to either take public transport or join an organized tour but these may not be an option for all the destinations below.
5 Day Trips from Santiago
1. Valparaiso
Dubbed the “Jewel of the Pacific”, this colorful coastal city is one of the South Pacific’s most important seaports. Valparaiso is built on over 40 hills and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city is best known for its colorful street art and funiculars that help to zip people up and down its many hills. It is a very popular day trip from Santiago.
You can easily spend an entire day like I did in Valparaiso or couple it with another city. Casablanca Valley and Viña del Mar are both good destinations if you want to visit more than one destination in a day. Note that this is best done if you are self driving.
How to Get to Valparaiso
- By Car – It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes on Route 68
- By Bus – Catch a bus from Terminal Alameda . It takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours one way. More HERE
- By Tour – There are lots of tour like THIS one from Santiago
See HERE or below for a post on Valparaiso. I’ve highlighted all the best places to see in Valparaiso.
2. Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar is very close to Valparaiso and is a popular beach destination. Situated on the Pacific, it is where locals go to escape the summer heat of Santiago. Viña (for short), has long stretches of sandy beaches and boulevards, amazing sea food restuarants and lively night life. Reñaca Beach is a popular destination for surfing and sunbathing. Wulff Castle, Costanera and Reloj de Flores are also popular sites.
Similar to valparaiso, Viña del Mar can also be visited on the same day as Valparaiso or Casablanca. Or you can easily spend the entire day in Viña del Mar, just relaxing.
How to Get to Viña del Mar
- By Car – It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes on Route 68
- By Bus – Catch a bus from Terminal Alameda . It takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours one way. More HERE
- By Tour – There are lots of tour like THIS one from Santiago
3. Casablanca Valley
Visiting the Casablanca Valley is a fantastic day trip from Santiago, especially if you love wine and vineyards. Casablanca is located between Santiago and Valparaíso. This region is home to boutique wineries mostly producing Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. There are a lot of wineries in this region. See my post below on the best ones to help you narrow it down.
One thing to note about visiting wineries in Casablanca is that you need to make advanced bookings for tours and tastings.
As mentioned above, you can visit Casablanca on its own or by combining the visit with a stop at Valpariso or Viña del Mar. I don’t recommend cramming all 3 places in one day. I spent the entire day in Casablanca and really enjoyed it!
How to Get to Casablanca
I highly recommending driving or taking a tour in Casablanca, especially if you want to visit multiple wineries. The wineries are a lot closer than the ones in the Maipo Valley but still not walking distances.
- By Car – It takes about 50-60 minutes
- By Tour – There are lots of tour like THIS one from Santiago. Your hotel in Santiago may have recommendations too
See HERE or below for the best wineries in the Casablanca Valley.
4. Maipo Valley
The Maipo Valley is one of the most important wine producing regions in Chile. The valley is surrounded by the Andes on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. This region produces primarily Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are several wineries that you can tour in Maipo. My favorite was the closest to Santiago. Latin America’s largest wine producer, Concha Y Toro is also located in the Maipo Valley. See below for the best wineries in this region.
Like the Casablanca Valley, you need to make reservations for tours and tastings here as well.
How to Get to Maipo Valley
I highly recommending driving or taking a tour, especially if you want to visit multiple wineries. The wineries in the Maipo Valley are not located close to each other. While taxing is an option, it can be expensive.
- By Car – It takes about 35-45 minutes
- By Tour – There are lots of tour like THIS one from Santiago. Your hotel in Santiago may have recommendations too
- By Public Transport – There are a few wineries that can be visited using public transport but bus/train times can be unpredictable and you may end up missing your scheduled tours. If this is your only option, ask the wineries you are interested in visiting what the public transport options are and make contingencies for delays.
See HERE or below for the best wineries in the Maipo Valley.
5. El Cajón del Maipo
Located southeast of Santiago, El Cajón del Maipo is a river gorge with stunning views of the Andes. There is a lot you can do here in a day. A popular activity is to hike up to the El Morado lookout point. There are also trails to the San Francisco Glacier and Laguna Morales. The gorge is home to several little towns, including the more popular San José de Maipo that offers some great local cuisine. There is a thermal bath called Baños Morales close by as well.
How to Get to El Cajón del Maipo
- By Car – It takes about 60-90 minutes
- By Tour – HERE and HERE are some options from Santiago (I am not affiliated with either of these companies. Just giving some options)
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2 comments
It’s funny because we’ve been thinking about visiting Chile, so your post is very timely. These look like great day trips. Thanks for sharing.
That’s awesome! Chile is so stunning! All I’ve wanted to do since coming back is to go back soon!