This tour will show you Santiago’s historic downtown and beyond. You will be picked up at the Port of Valparaiso by one of our expert guides in a private vehicle and drive for an hour and a half to Chile’s capital of Santiago.
We start by visiting San Cristobal Hill where we will take a cable car to the summit and enjoy the most amazing panoramic views of the entire city and Andes Mountains. (See note below).
Afterwards, we will drive through the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista before arriving in the historic city center where we will see Florestal Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Plaza de Armas (Santiago’s main square), the Cathedral, City Hall, Historic Post Office, Old Congress Building, Palacio La Moneda (The Government House), National Theater, and Santa Lucía Hill. Originally named Cerro Huelén by the Mapuche Indians, Santa Lucía Hill is where Pedro de Valdivia founded the city in 1541.
We will also pass through the vibrant bohemian neighborhood of Lastarria. We will then drive to the eastern side of the city, to the financial heart of Santiago, known for its modern buildings and impressive glass skyscrapers, passing by Costanera Center, South America’s tallest building. You will see why this area is known as “Sanhattan” among the locals.
Then we will visit the upscale neighborhood of Las Condes and stop at El Pueblito de Los Dominicos, a beautiful handicraft market in the shadow of the Andes designed to resemble a colonial village, where you will see local artisans actually working in their trade. Located next to the beautiful San Vicente Ferrer Church, a national monument, the village is a “must see” in Santiago. The shops built with clay and straw, are home to more than 180 artisans, representing the best and most complete showing of Chilean handicraft.
Please note:
(1) The order of sites visited may vary.
(2) On weekends and national holidays, due to excessive crowds and lines to board the gondola at San Cristobal Hill, we will not take the gondola, but rather we will visit an alternative site in the tour van for panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. We will do the same on Mondays, since the gondola is closed for maintenance on this day.
(3) As with any major city, Santiago has heavy traffic in some sectors, especially on weekdays. Your driver will do his or her best to avoid highly-congested areas, but in order to see the city’s major landmarks in the downtown area inevitably you will run into traffic, which can be heavy at times. We appreciate your patience and understanding, as traffic is completely beyond our control.