Chile’s underrated capital of Santiago [1] offers fine hotels and restaurants, plus a surrounding landscape where (at some times of the year) it’s possible to ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon. Wine-oriented visitors can almost simultaneously enjoy the port city of Valparaíso [2] (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its neighboring beach resort Viña del Mar [3], the ski centers of Portillo [4] and Valle Nevado [5], and rafting on the Río Maipo. Complex logistics make a rental car desirable, if not quite imperative, for winery visits.
Arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez and transfer to a Santiago [1] hotel. In the afternoon, Viña Cousiño Macul [6] is open for tours and tasting within the city limits.
Depart midmorning for Viña Concha y Toro [7], Chile’s largest winery, in the suburb of Pirque. After tour and tasting, drive up the Cajón del Maipo [8] for lunch at San Alfonso [9], followed by white-water rafting down the Río Maipo. Alternatively, hike to a glacier at Monumento Natural El Morado [10], with a late afternoon return to Santiago.
In winter, skiing at Valle Nevado [5] can substitute for the Cajón del Maipo [8] excursion.
Leave in the early morning, by rental car, for the Aconcagua valley [11]. Plan on tours and tasting at Viña San Esteban (Los Andes [12]) and/or Viña Errázuriz (San Felipe [13]), continuing to the Pacific coast for Maitencillo’s luxury Marbella Resort [14] or other more economical accommodations. In wintertime, stay in Los Andes for a day’s skiing at Portillo [4].
Start a leisurely day at Maitencillo [14], with a midday excursion to Zapallar [14] (take binoculars to view the Humboldt penguins at nearby Monumento Natural Isla Cachagua [14]). A longer and more strenuous alternative could be an excursion to Parque Nacional La Campana [15], climbing its namesake peak for Andes-to-the-Pacific panoramas.
Take an almost equally leisurely drive south through Viña del Mar [3], Chile’s traditional summer vacation destination, to Valparaíso [2]; in winter, come directly from Los Andes to Viña and Valparaíso [2]. Take an afternoon to explore the historic hills and backstreets of Chile’s main port, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Neruda’s La Sebastiana [16] residence.
Departure midmorning for the Casablanca valley, southeast of Valparaíso [2], home to Chile’s finest white wines. Lunch at a winery restaurant such as Viña Indómita or House of Morandé before a late afternoon return to Valparaíso [2]. Alternatively, stay at Viña Matetic’s secluded neocolonial guesthouse.
Leave early for Neruda’s Isla Negra [17] home, now a museum. It’s a fairly slow drive by paved back roads or a longer one by four-lane freeway to the Colchagua valley wine district. Look for accommodations in San Fernando [18], the gateway to Colchagua, or Santa Cruz [19]; if it’s not too late, take the day’s last tour at Viña Montes to enjoy the sunset over the valley.
Plan on a full day for Colchagua valley wineries, with a possible extension to the surfing capital of Pichilemu [20].
Return to Santiago, with possible excursions en route to the historic mining town of Sewell [21] or to Viña Santa Rita [22], just south of Santiago.
Sightsee for a full day in Santiago [1], with options such as the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino [23], including lunch at the Mercado Central [24] or in Barrio Bellavista [25]. Depart in the evening from Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/-chilean-heartland/valparaiso
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/-chilean-heartland/vina-del-mar
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-aconcagua-valley/portillo
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/ski-resorts/valle-nevado
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/sights/outer-comunas/vina-cousino-macul
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/cajon-del-maipo/vina-concha-y-toro-and-vicinity-pirque
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/cajon-del-maipo
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/cajon-del-maipo/san-alfonso
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/monumento-natural-el-morado
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/-chilean-heartland/aconcagua-valley
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-aconcagua-valley/los-andes
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-aconcagua-valley/san-felipe
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/the-chilean-heartland/vicinity-vina-del-mar/northern-beach-resorts
[15] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/vicinity-vina-del-mar/parque-nacional-la-campana
[16] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/valparaiso/museums/la-sebastiana
[17] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/vicinity-valparaiso/-south-central-coast/isla-negra
[18] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-southern-heartland/san-fernando
[19] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-southern-heartland/santa-cruz
[20] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/-southern-heartland/pichilemu
[21] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/chilean-heartland/southern-heartland/rancagua/sights/el-teniente-sewell
[22] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/vicinity-santiago/cajon-del-maipo/vina-santa-rita
[23] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/sights/plaza-de-armas/museo-chileno-de-arte-precolombino
[24] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/sights/plaza-de-armas/mercado-central
[25] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chile/santiago-and-vicinity/sights/providencia/barrio-bellavista