Santiago

The metropolitan capital city of Chile, founded in 1541 has a history of glamour & elegance defined from its Spanish Conquestadores beginnings. Santiago is set against a backdrop of the mighty cordillera 'Los Andes' which dominate the skyline & tower over the valley below.

The modern International airport that serves the city is located some 24 kms or approximately half an hour from the city center. For International arrivals where pre-booked transfers are arranged, the transfer drivers will meet you directly outside the Customs & Immigration facility & will display a sign with your name clearly written on it.

The rural countryside out by the airport quickly gives way to urban sprawl & humble dwellings, then into the city suburbs & the city center.

Getting around Santiago is easy. For those who are self sufficient then the subway is an easy efficient means of getting about very inexpensively & it has regular station stops. Taxis are hailed in the streets as they drive & the local bus system, while crowded at rush hour times, is also practical & easy to negotiate.

This is a city with wonderful old world Public buildings, museums, art galleries, palaces & religious monuments & churches. It abounds in statues to all manner of historic figures be they military heroes, revolutionaries or civic leaders.

Santiago bustles during the week days with a central marketplace that oozes commerce - fruits, vegetables, plants, cut flowers, meats & above all, excellent seafood are to be found here. Santiago is well worthy of more than simply a 'stopover' on route elsewhere.

There are a variety of sightseeing excursions on offer which we have detailed below.



Historical Santiago sightseeing

You will be picked up from your city hotel & taken on a three hour city sightseeing excursion.

This tour will include the highlights of the old city - the La Moneda Palace built in the mid 18th Century, Plaza de Armas which is a picturesque gathering center surrounded by the Santiago Cathedral & the National Historic Museum. The Central Market is always a bustling hive of activity with cut flowers, fruits, vegetables & renown seafood vendors vying for the customers eye. Then, it is on to Santa Lucia Hill for an overview of the city below, before finally heading into the oldest area of the city & the Cousino Palace, an edificio of elegance dating back into the 19th century.



Concha y Toro Winery & Maipo River Canyon excursion

This is a half day excursion leaving Santiago city each morning, heading to Puento Alto, a very small rural town, over huge rocky cliffs crossing the Maipo River. The tour travels on to the village of Pirque where Via Concha y Toro a winery established in 1883.

You will have a guided tour of the property including the original cellars. Wine tasting is a integral part of this process & as well, you have the opportunity to purchase some of this locally produced quality product.

On the journey back to Santiago, the Andes mountains dominate the skyline.




Viña Del Mar & Valparaíso full day excursion

Departing Santiago in the morning each day this full day excursion heads west down the fertile valleys towards the Pacific Ocean. You will see small farm holdings, some with livestock & others cropping & vegetables.

Valparaiso is Chiles second largest city & principal port. It has historic significance as the landing point for the Spanish & from where they began their push inland in the 1540's in a quest to conquer new lands for the King. Evidenced by the grand architectural features of bygone times, Valparaiso is both quaint & now, trending modern.

The excursion heads on to Viña del Mar, one of the Chileans seaside beach resorts which attracts multitudes of city dwelling visitors for weekends & summer vacation.

From the foothills of the Andes, down the heavily farmed valleys to the Pacific Ocean & back, this 8 hour daytrip is full of variety & will provide you with a glimpse of Chile's diversity of landscape.