Santiago & the Central Valley Holidays

Chile's capital, Santiago, is often overlooked as a mere stopover after the long international flight, and certainly it is less showy than Buenos Aires or Rio, but it is well worth staying a few nights in one of many good hotels, and exploring the city and its surrounding attractions in the Central Valley. Badly damaged by earthquakes over the years, Santiago's architecture is an interesting mix of historic and modern, with gleaming buildings alongside baroque buildings and the impressive Presidential Palace on the central Plaza de Armas. We recommend at least a couple of days for your Santiago and Central Valley holidays and while you're there, make sure you head up San Cristobal hill with your camera, to get the best views of the city and the surrounding Andes. After that, you can move on to Chile's surrounding attractions; the coast, Andes and vineyards.
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Santiago & the Central Valley holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Santiago & the Central Valley Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

Practical guide

Best time to visit Chile

Travel Advice & Information

Chile Travel Advice & Information

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Astrotourism: The Best Stargazing in Chile

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Luxury Hotels in Santiago and the Central Valley

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Eating in Santiago

Chile testimonials

3 reviews
4.7 / 5
"We appreciated Original Travel's in-country experts to plan our personalized itinerary. Guides and drivers always early, helpful, friendly and flexible. We like boutique hotels with personality and character of the city/country we are visiting. We got just that. Love the app, and I kept referring to it during the trip. Dossiers also super helpful. It was so easy communicating with the concierge on WhatsApp. Escorting us through the airport, and meeting us in-country was also always appreciated. We recommend Original Travel to EVERYONE. We are hooked with the personalised itineraries and perfectly planned trips. Thank you!"
Therese - London
Published on 13th December 2023
"They did wonderfully in putting together a new side trip in Chile in a matter of hours and, in particular, finding us a sublime hotel when our original one melted away in an Atacama "rain event"."
Harper - Bournemouth
Published on 30th May 2019
"All has gone great so far. The flight over the Andes was amazing and Atacama is stunning, too. The place where we are staying could not be bettered. It is simply brilliant."
Harry - London
Published on 22nd June 2019
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Who is a Santiago & Central Valley holiday best for?

Foodies and wine lovers. The food in Santiago is great; from the bustling central fish market to any number of upmarket international restaurants and more typical Chilean lunch options. South of the city, the Central Valley is where the majority of Chile's wine comes from. The Maipo Valley, closest to Santiago, is home to the most widely known export; Concha y Toro, whose winery can be visited in a day trip. Maipo's cool ocean breezes, bright sunshine and elevated slopes are perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, one of the export varieties Chile has become synonymous with, but local vineyards also grow Merlot and Chardonnay on the upper slopes. Beyond that, deeper into the picturesque landscape of vines with the Andean backdrop, are many smaller vineyards, some of which form part of the 'Wine Route' and offer charming overnight accommodation. Try a glass of delicious Carménère red wine - the grape was originally from the Bordeaux region of France but is now almost exclusively grown in Chile.


Special Things to Do near Santiago

While there is plenty to keep you busy in Santiago itself, it is certainly worth heading on a day trip to the coastal town of Valparaiso, an important port as well as a UNESCO heritage site.

Best places to go in Chile

San Pedro de Atacama Visit Valparaiso Valle de la Luna Torres del Paine National Park Punta Arenas Puerto Natales Andes Mountains
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