Best Day Trips From Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile is a great city to base yourself out of for some of the best day trips in the area. Within an hour drive from the city, you can experience the ocean, snowy mountains, wineries, and lagoons! You cannot beat that! While there are plenty of exciting things to see and do in Santiago, the valleys and towns surrounding the city offer incredible experiences as well.

I’ve recommended Santiago, Chile to many travellers who are travelling to South America for their first trip. This is due to the great safety levels, delicious food, and ease of transportation around the area. And to mention, the amazing nearby valleys and mountains!

Continue reading this post to check out some of the best day trips from Santiago, Chile!

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Best Day Trips from Santiago, Chile

Valparaiso and Viña del Mar

Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are must-visit cities near Santiago, as they offer amazing beaches and plenty of exciting activities to do. And best yet, these two cities are just a day trip’s distance away from Santiago! In Valparaiso, you can find bright and colourful buildings nestled along winding streets up hills. There are incredible views of the water from many different spots in the city!

Viña del Mar boasts beautiful beaches and large green areas. It is certainly a great place to enjoy the ocean views and explore well manicured flower gardens!

Portillo and Inca Lagoon

Portillo is a ski resort located at high altitude in the Andes Mountains. Aside from skiing, you can find amazing panoramic views of the mountains, hike, and marvel at the beauty of the area. Also located here is one of the prettiest lagoons in the Andes Mountains – Inca Lagoon. Under certain conditions, the water is mirror smooth and displays stunning reflections of the surrounding mountains. It definitely is one of the best day trips from Santiago!

Maipo Canyon (Cajon del Maipo)

To this day, I love talking about my incredible day trip to Maipo Canyon (Cajon del Maipo) and my trip was over two years ago! The area is very memorable due to it’s beauty and endless views of snow capped mountains.

The valley is a great spot to relax and have a picnic (with Chilean wine of course!). Nearby, you can relax in the hot springs before heading back to Santiago after one of the best day trips from the city!

Colina Hot Springs

Located to the North of Santiago is Colina Hot Springs, nestled at the base of Andes Mountains. Here, there are 9 pools of water that are naturally heated to around 25 degrees Celsius. The pools have a variety of healing properties, including stress relief. While you relax, you will even have stunning views of the Andes Mountains!

Casablanca Valley Wine Tasting

My favourite wine to this day is from a winery in a valley I visited in Chile. It is incredible to see the endless fields of grapes, with amazing mountain views in the distance. In Casablanca Valley, there are numerous wineries, many of which offer well organized wine tours and tastings. There are plenty of varieties of wines to try, and you can purchase bottles or souvenirs right from the winery.

What are your recommendations for the best day trips from Santiago, Chile? Let me know in the comments!

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