Chile stretches 4,300 km along South America's Pacific coast, offering stunning diversity from the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonian glaciers in the south. Experience world-class wine regions, vibrant cities like Santiago and Valparaíso, and breathtaking natural wonders including Torres del Paine National Park.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso is Chile's main port city, built across a horseshoe of steep hills overlooking the Pacific. The historic core, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of funiculars, hillside staircases and streets covered in murals, with the port and naval activity visible below. It rewards walking without a fixed itinerary far more than most Chilean towns, since the layout itself is the attraction. Expect a day of climbing and descending hills rather than flat sightseeing.
Highlights: Street art on Cerros Alegre and Concepcion · Ride the historic ascensores (funiculars) · Fresh seafood at Mercado Puerto · Pablo Neruda house museum La Sebastiana
Cajon del Maipo
Cajon del Maipo is the canyon the Maipo River cuts as it descends from the Andes southeast of Santiago, and it's the capital's closest mountain escape. The valley narrows quickly once you leave the city outskirts, with the river, farmland and rising peaks replacing the urban sprawl within under an hour. It's a day for being outdoors - walking, rafting or simply sitting by the river - rather than for monuments or museums.
Highlights: El Morado Natural Monument glacier views · Banos Morales natural hot springs · Embalse El Yeso reservoir turquoise waters · Rafting on the Maipo River at Cascada de las Animas
Casablanca Wine Valley
Casablanca sits on the route between Santiago and the coast, and its cool, foggy microclimate made it one of Chile's leading regions for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir rather than the heavier reds grown further inland. The valley is flatter and more open than Cajon del Maipo, with vineyards visible from the road, and the wineries here are set up for visitors with tastings and tours built into a normal day. It works well as a stop on the way to or from Valparaiso and Vina del Mar rather than a full standalone day.
Highlights: Vina Indomita panoramic terrace winery · Vina Kingston for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir tastings · Fresh seafood at Restaurante Las Vertientes · Cool-climate varietals unlike the warmer Maipo Valley
Pomaire
Pomaire is a small village known for pottery, specifically the reddish-brown unglazed clay work (greda) that local artisans have made for generations. The whole main street is lined with workshops and stalls selling bowls, pig-shaped piggy banks and cookware, and several workshops let you watch pieces being thrown and fired. It's a short, focused trip rather than a full day of sightseeing - most of the experience is the craft itself and the traditional Chilean food served alongside it.
Highlights: Handmade clay pottery workshops you can try yourself · Famous oversized empanadas (media luna) at local restaurants · Cazuela de vacuno (traditional beef stew) in clay pots · Artisan market street stalls along main avenue
Vina del Mar
Vina del Mar sits right next to Valparaiso on the coast but feels like a different kind of city - planned, green and beach-oriented, in contrast to Valparaiso's chaotic hillside sprawl. It's the resort town Chileans associate with summer holidays, casinos and the Festival de Vina music festival, with wide avenues, parks and a long stretch of sandy beach. Paired with Valparaiso, it makes a natural two-town day trip from Santiago, since the drive between them takes only a few minutes.
Highlights: Playa de Vina del Mar and Playa Renaca beach walks · Castillo Wulff oceanside mansion · Municipal Casino de Vina del Mar (South Americas oldest casino) · Jardin Botanico with 3,000+ plant species
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized wine tours from $80-130 per person including transport, guide, and tastings; Valparaíso day tours from $45-70
- Private
- Private car hire from $120/day for Maipo wine country or Cajón del Maipo; rates higher for further destinations
- Public
- TurBus and Pullman Bus to Valparaíso ($6-12 each way, 1.5 hrs); Microbuses to Cajón del Maipo from Plaza Egana metro ($2 each way)
- Rental
- Car rental from $40-60/day for economy; essential for wine routes and Cajón del Maipo to access multiple wineries and viewpoints
Multi-day tours from Chile
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from ChileWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
For Valparaíso, take the earliest bus from Alameda terminal (departures from 6 AM) to arrive before the Santiago day-tripper crowds — the hills are magical in the morning light before noon.
Wine country tours to Maipo valley are best on weekdays when wineries are quieter; some premium bodegas require advance booking regardless of day.
Cajón del Maipo is best visited in spring (September-November) when the river is flowing strongly and wildflowers are blooming in the high Andes above the canyon.
Pomaire village (60 km west of Santiago) is a unique half-day trip for handmade black clay pottery at incredibly low prices — the artisan workshops line the main street and demonstrations are free to watch.