Chile · 1-DAY TOURS
The 15 best full-day trips you can book right now, with what each costs, how long it takes and who it suits. The first one is first for a reason.
Leave Santiago by air-conditioned minivan for Salto del Soldado, the hairpin turns of Cuesta Caracoles, Portillo Ski Center, and Laguna del Inca. Guides such as Sol, Carlos, Dina, and Sebastian are known for warm, helpful service. The day includes a mountain picnic, though it takes place near Los Andes, not beside the lagoon.
“Edison the guide was great. He is very passionate.”
You’ll tour Santiago aboard a London-style double-decker bus, stopping at Plaza de Armas, La Moneda, Bellavista, shopping districts, and Cerro San Cristóbal. Your day ticket also covers the cable car, funicular, and panoramic buses in Metropolitan Park. Audio commentary is available in six languages, with help from Spanish, English, and Portuguese staff.
“A great way to get around the city and see all the best sites. The bus comes every 30 minutes and very easy to get around.”
Ride from Santiago into the Andes on a 9 to 10 hour guided trip with hotel pickup. Visit Farellones and El Colorado, continue to Valle Nevado at 3,000 meters, and enjoy sweeping views. Guides speak Spanish, English, or Portuguese. Lunch, lift tickets, clothing, and equipment cost extra, and snow conditions vary by season.
“mesmo sendo no verão o passeio é super bacana. conhecemos as pistas, principais estações e a vista é de tirar o fôlego. Paisagem magnífica. vale super a pena. nota 10 para o Christian”
Travel from San Pedro de Atacama to the Tropic of Capricorn, Red Rocks, Chaxa Lagoon, and the high Altiplano lagoons. You will walk at up to 3,800 meters, reach heights near 4,200 meters, and learn about desert wildlife from an English or Spanish-speaking guide. Breakfast, lunch, transport, and entrance fees are included.
“Lolo was an outstanding guide 5 stars for all aspects of the trip. Will book another with excursion with this group. She made it fun and informative. And what a great smile. You can tell she loves what she does!!! Bravo”
Leave Santiago at 7:00 am for a private drive into the Andes. You’ll visit Cajón del Maipo, El Yeso Reservoir, Casa Chocolate, and the Tinoco railway tunnel with a guide and driver. Expect remarkable mountain scenery, a long road day, changing weather, and some uneven mountain roads. Guides have included Juan, Ignacio, Boris, Polina, Oskar, and Chris.
“Sebastian was a GREST driver we were on some scary roads. He did a great job. Our tour guide was very nice but the tour itself seems unorganized. We left very early and went to a town that non of the vendors had set up yet. Not much to see. The canyon itself was beautiful and the lake near the dam was very peaceful. The Andes are different from any mountains I have seen. I really expected more but what we saw was ok.”
Travel from Puerto Natales across the Chilean-Argentine border to Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier. An English- or Spanish-speaking guide joins the outing, often in El Calafate. Expect a long bus day, striking Patagonian scenery, glacier viewpoints, and an optional boat ride. Bring your passport, Argentine pesos, and lunch.
“Very long day. I did it after a long hike day and it was nice to do something that didn’t require a lot. Crossing the boarder was clear. We didn’t pick up our guide until we got into El Calafate.”
Start with hotel pickup in Santiago and cross Casablanca Valley to the Pacific coast. See Reñaca Beach and Viña del Mar, ride a Valparaíso funicular, walk its colorful historic center, and visit Pablo Neruda’s La Sebastiana. The small group can have up to nine people, with museum fees, meals, and wine tastings extra.
“Great day trip, top sites - would have loved more time in Valaparaiso to explore, however were wheeled into a pre-determined, over priced lunch.”
Spend about seven hours exploring Valparaíso with a small group of up to 10 people and a local guide such as Catalina, Cristian, Paula, or Danae. Visit Caleta Portales, markets, Cerro Concepción, Cerro Alegre, and Paseo 21 de Mayo while using buses, trains, taxis, and historic elevators. Lunch is separate, and the route can follow your interests.
“À guided tour using all the local types of public transport that we would never have tried in our own. Such an original experience and fun! Small group and and a great choice of restaurant for lunch with a fabulous view over the city. Our guide Paula was informative, friendly and professional. Highlight among many great insights was probably the lively fish market!”
Travel from Puerto Varas through Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park to Petrohué Falls and Todos los Santos Lake. A bus and Andean Lakes catamaran carry you to Peulla, where you can have lunch or pay for activities such as a safari, horseback riding, hiking, or canopy tours. Guides speak Spanish and English, with Alfredo praised for clear, funny explanations.
“Peaceful village . Good time in the bus / boat / walk”
Spend 10 hours in the Atacama highlands with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, visiting Chaxa Lagoon, the Red Stones, Aguas Calientes, and the Meñiques and Miscanti lagoons. Guides such as Brandon and Valentin add useful regional stories, while breakfast and lunch are served in scenic outdoor settings.
“Brandon was super knowledgable about the area and the tour was extremely informative.”
You’ll leave Santiago early, stop for optional ski clothing rental, and climb through 60 mountain curves to Valle Nevado at 3,000 meters. Hotel pickup covers Santiago Centro, Providencia, and Las Condes. Guides speak Spanish or Portuguese, with past guests praising Albert and Ítalo for friendly help. Bring warm clothes, and buy your park ticket and ski pass in advance.
“O guia Albert foi extremamente simpático e eficiente, nos orientou sobre tudo do início ao fim. Recomendo.”
Travel privately from Santiago to Casablanca Valley, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar with a guide such as Manuel, Javier, or Patricio. Taste wine at Bodegas RE, tour Pablo Neruda’s La Sebastiana, ride the El Peral funicular, and see coastal landmarks including the Flower Clock and a Rapa Nui moai. Lunch is not included.
“We enjoyed this long day visiting a lovely winery, Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar from Santiago. Our guide was so friendly and informative. Be aware that on Mondays museums are closed so we did not get to enter the Pablo Neruda house/museum. Just a drive by. The lunch stop at a seaside restaurant in Vina Del Mar was excellent-a reserved table with views of the sea, but not included in the price of the tour.”
Ride from Puerto Varas to Osorno Volcano in a climate-controlled van with an English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide. You’ll stop at the ski and mountain center for views of Lake Llanquihue, Calbuco, the Andes, and the Pacific Ocean, with time for the chairlift, photos, coffee, and a snack. Guide Paloma has added local history, flora, and fauna to the drive.
“Este tur es de suerte segun como amanesca el día, si puedes subir o no a la segunda estacion o si tienes posibilidad o no de visibilidad hacia el lago. El servicio de transporte no tiene nada que ver con ello. Nuestro guia muy amable y nos fue explicando todo al paso que ibamos llegando al volcan.”
Spend seven hours above San Pedro de Atacama visiting Licancabur Volcano viewpoints, the Quepiacó River, Pacana’s Monks, Aguas Calientes and Quisquiro salt flats, and Crystal and Black lagoons. Breakfast, lunch, transport, and a Spanish or English-speaking guide are included. Guides such as Sarah and Francisca have earned warm praise for their friendly, clear explanations.
“Basically you stay on one road. Drive to a certain point and then drive back again. It is completely possible to do this on your own and get better time efficiency. A lot of time spent on pick ups, waiting and on meals which are good but not the reason for going to Atacama”
Leave El Calafate at 6:30 AM for a long but memorable day in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. You’ll cross the Cancha Carrera border, ride a 4x4 inside the park, see Lake Grey, the Cuernos del Paine, Salto Grande, Lake Nordenskjold, and Laguna Amarga. English and Spanish guides lead the trip, with lunch and hotel transfers included.
“Ônibus não funcionava o ar condicionado . Ficamos mais de 60% do passeio dentro de um ônibus . Paradas para almoço muito rápidas e sem muita opção”
Pick an altitude, a coastline or a cellar.
