Central Chile

The heart of Chile: the Santiago metropolis, the colorful hill city of Valparaíso, wineries of the Central Valley, and Easter Island far out in the Pacific.

This region corresponds to the "Central" zone in Chile's official natural macro-regions, covering the Valparaíso Region, Santiago Metropolitan Region, O'Higgins Region, Maule Region, Ñuble Region and Biobío Region; Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is administratively part of the Valparaíso Region, so it is also included here. This is the part of Chile where population and economy are most concentrated, squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific, and it is the starting point and transit hub for most travelers entering the country. Highlights include: in the capital Santiago, the Plaza de Armas, the viewpoints on Santa Lucía Hill and San Cristóbal Hill, plus museums and dining districts; in the World Heritage old town of Valparaíso, the colorful hillside houses, old funiculars and street murals, with the nearby Viña del Mar a seaside resort city; wine regions such as Maipo, Casablanca, Aconcagua (Colchagua) and Maule for winery tastings; and in winter, ski resorts in the Andes only an hour or two by car from the capital. Easter Island lies in the Pacific about 3,700 km away, famous for its moai statues and the Rano Raraku quarry, and is reached by flight from Santiago. A classic itinerary is 2–3 days in Santiago, a one- or two-day trip to Valparaíso, and another one or two days of winery visits; Easter Island needs a further 3–5 days. For transport, Santiago International Airport is the hub, the network of intercity long-distance coaches is well developed, and the wine regions suit a self-drive or an organized tour. Note that Santiago can have air pollution in winter, and in big cities you should watch your belongings.

Destinations

Itineraries