Best Day Trips from Santiago, Chile
Santiago sits between the Pacific and the Andes, so the day trips are spectacular. Here are the ones I'd actually make time for.
Santiago sits in the perfect position for day trips. You've got the Pacific coast an hour away, the Andes mountains practically on your doorstep, and some of the world's most celebrated wine valleys spread around the city. After a few days exploring the capital, getting out into Chile's incredible landscapes is absolutely essential.
I've been lucky enough to experience several of these day trips during my time in Chile, and the variety is what strikes you. You can taste wine in the morning, explore UNESCO heritage coastal towns by afternoon, or spend an entire day surrounded by snow-capped peaks and turquoise mountain lakes. Here are the best day trips from Santiago that I can find, that show off why Chile's Central Valley is such a special region.
The Best Day Trips from Santiago
Valparaíso & Viña del Mar (1.5 Hours) - for UNESCO street art, funiculars, and coastal charm with Pacific views. I loved this.
Cajón del Maipo (1 Hour) - for Andes mountain scenery, turquoise lakes, and natural hot springs.
Wine Country - for world-class tastings at famous vineyards like Concha y Toro and Casablanca Valley.
Valle Nevado (1.5 Hours) - for skiing and snowboarding in the Andes (June-September).
Pomaire (1 Hour) - for traditional Chilean pottery and massive empanadas.
There's something here for most tastes: culture, nature, wine, or adventure, all accessible from Santiago as your base.
Valparaíso & Viña del Mar - The Coastal Escape
The colourful port city of Valparaíso completely changed my expectations of Chilean coastal towns. This UNESCO World Heritage site climbs up hillsides in a rainbow of painted houses, connected by century-old funiculars that still rattle tourists and locals between the levels.
I spent most of my time wandering the street art districts of Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, where every wall tells a story. The bohemian atmosphere attracts artists and backpackers, but it's the authentic Chilean port culture that makes Valparaíso special. Pablo Neruda's house museum (La Sebastiana) provides fascinating insight into how the Nobel Prize-winning poet lived and worked here.
Viña del Mar, just 15 minutes away, offers a completely different vibe. Known as "Garden City," it's more polished and beach-focused, good for lunch with ocean views and a stroll along sandy beaches.
Best day trips combining both cities:
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Full-Day Tour - includes UNESCO sites, funicular rides, and Casablanca Valley wine tasting. About $110, includes hotel pickup and guided tours of both cities.
Coast Tour with Wine Tasting - combines the coastal cities with a vineyard visit. Good for taking in Chile's two main attractions in one day (note: this is a full-on day out).
Cajón del Maipo - The Mountain Adventure
Just an hour southeast of Santiago, Cajón del Maipo delivers some of the most dramatic Andes scenery you'll find anywhere. The drive alone is spectacular, winding through mountain villages with snow-capped peaks on the edge of your vision that reach over 5,000 metres.
The highlight is El Yeso Reservoir, a turquoise lake surrounded by towering mountains that looks almost artificial in its perfection. What I took away was that there's some places on earth that feel like they just stepped out of a photograph.
The area has everything from gentle sightseeing to serious mountain adventures. Natural hot springs at Termas Valle de Colina provide relaxation with views, while more active visitors can try white-water rafting on the Maipo River.
Best Cajón del Maipo tours:
Full-Day Cajón del Maipo with Wine and Picnic - includes El Yeso Reservoir, mountain picnic with Chilean wine, and scenic stops. Around $95 with hotel pickup.
Small-Group Cajón del Maipo Tour - limited to 15 people for a more personal experience. Includes glacier viewpoints and traditional lunch stop.
Wine Country - The Famous Valleys
Chile's wine reputation is built on valleys surrounding Santiago. Admittedly, I was a fan of certain Chilean red wines before I landed in SCL airport! What surprised me is that you can taste some really delicious bottles without travelling too far out of the city. The most accessible option is Concha y Toro, one of Chile's most famous wineries, just 30 minutes from central Santiago.
The Concha y Toro tour includes their legendary "Casillero del Diablo" (Devil's Cellar) underground storage, where they supposedly spread rumours of the devil living there to prevent theft. Whether you believe the story or not, their carmenère wines are genuinely delicious.
If you'd prefer a more comprehensive wine experience, the Casablanca Valley produces some of Chile's best white wines and is a pretty stunning area.
Best wine tours from Santiago:
Concha y Toro Premium Tour - includes garden tour, cellar visit, and premium wine tastings with cheese pairings. Half-day option for around $75.
Casablanca Valley Wine Tour - visits multiple vineyards including organic producers like Emiliana. Often combined with coastal tours.
Valle Nevado - The Ski Experience (Seasonal)
During Chilean winter (June-September), Valle Nevado becomes one of South America's major ski destinations. It's just 90 minutes from Santiago, and sits at over 3,000 metres elevation with reliable snow and views across the Andes.
Even if you don't ski like me (I haven't built up the courage yet, though I love to snow-mobile and snow-shoe), the mountain scenery and alpine atmosphere make for an incredible day trip. The winding road up is spectacular, and the resort's restaurants have a decent reputation for lunch with panoramic mountain views.
Best ski day trips:
Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip - includes transport, equipment rental options, and mountain access. Prices vary by season, around $90-140.
Pomaire - The Traditional Village
For a completely different Chilean experience, Pomaire might be the closest you get to "authentic" culture, and it's still just an hour from Santiago. This tiny village specialises in traditional clay pottery and you can be served an empanada weighing up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds). This is for real!
I think the area feels charming because it's such a contrast to Santiago's modern city vibes. The local craftspeople are working in clay right on the streets, you can learn basic pottery skills from them, and the restaurants serve traditional Chilean dishes, usually in massive portions!
If you're driving, this is a great stop off with other destinations, or for a half-day trip on its own.
Getting Around
Almost all visitors take organised tours for convenience and safety, especially for mountain destinations where roads can be challenging. However, public buses connect Santiago to Valparaíso, and rental cars work well for the wine valley trips if you have a designated driver.
Of all the options I've shown, most tour prices range from $60-140 per person depending on duration, inclusions, and group size. Hotel pickup is standard for most operators.
Planning Your Santiago Day Trips
If it's your first time in Chile, I'd recommend Valparaíso because it's completely unique (and colourful) and probably Cajón del Maipo for the incredible mountain scenery. If you enjoy your wine, you should definitely book Concha y Toro or a Casablanca Valley tour. Don't expect to do too much exploration after that!
If you're planning to stay overnight in Santiago, check out my guide on where to stay in Santiago for the best neighbourhoods and hotel recommendations. And if you're flying into Santiago, my transport guide from SCL airport covers all the options for getting to the city centre efficiently.
The beauty of Santiago's location is that you can experience Pacific coastlines, Andes peaks, and world-class wine regions all from the same base. That's not something I expected when I landed in Santiago. With just a couple of carefully-chosen day trips, you'll see multiple sides of Chilean culture and landscape.