Vicinity of Santiago

An extraordinary number of interesting sights are near Santiago [1], suitable both for day trips and overnights. Among the many activities are winery tours, winter skiing and summer hiking, horseback riding, and white-water rafting and kayaking.

ADS Mundo (El Golf 99, Las Condes, tel. 02/3877070, www.adsmundo.cl [2]) has the widest variety and greatest frequency of day tours for Santiago and vicinity, including coastal excursions such as Valparaíso [3] and Isla Negra [4].

Activities-oriented operators include Cascada Expediciones (Don Carlos 3219, Las Condes, tel. 02/2329878, www.cascada.travel [5]), which specializes in the Cajón del Maipo [6], and Altué Active Travel (Encomenderos 83, Las Condes, tel. 02/2321103, www.chileoutdoors.com [7]), though its day excursions are substantially more expensive.

In addition to its human-rights focus, Chip Travel (Av. Santa María 227, Oficina 12, tel. 02/7775376, www.chip.cl [8]) offers more traditional historical and cultural tours, winery excursions, trips to Pablo Neruda’s Isla Negra [4] house, and visits to rural Caleu [9]. Rates, with fluent English-speaking personnel, range US$25–45 per person for half-day excursions and US$50–100 per person for full-day excursions.