Explore Santiago & the Chilean Lake District - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, Explore the Chilean Capital

Welcome to Chile! You'll land in the mountain-wrapped capital of Santiago, where a private driver will be waiting to whisk you to your hotel for the next three nights. The rest of your day will be at your leisure. You can spend the afternoon relaxing after your flight or step out and start exploring the city. You'll find plenty to do in Chile's capital, from visiting some of Santiago's most historic sites, shopping for souvenirs, or simply enjoying the views of the surrounding snowcapped Andes.

You'll see the city with a local guide tomorrow, but if you want to get out and stretch your legs, visit Cerro Santa Lucia (Santa Lucia Hill), a park that sits atop a 226-foot (69 m) hill in the middle of the city. This remnant from a 15 million-year-old volcano was once the favored lookout spot for conquistadores during their conquest of Chile. It was turned into a park in the late 1800s and now consists of multiple staircases that wind around and to the top, with breathtaking city and mountain views. Later, you can grab dinner before heading back to your hotel to rest up for tomorrow's adventures.

Day 2: Santiago Guided City Tour

It's your first full day in Chile, and time to hit the ground running with a local guide. Set out on a 3.5-hour tour of Santiago, starting with the beating heart of the city, Mercado Central. You'll get the chance to interact with locals, both suppliers and buyers, while sampling tidbits of local ingredients, like exotic fruit, along the way. Fresh seafood is a staple here and you'll also uncover regional delicacies like picoroco, giant barnacles that grow only on the coasts of Chile and Peru. 

Next up, take a stroll around the historic Plaza de Armas, founded in 1541 by Pedro de Gamboa, a Spanish explorer, although it's thought that the remnants of an Inca settlement once stood here. The square is flanked by the stoic Catedral Metropolitana, built in 1775. After ogling its impressive neoclassical bell towers, head for a bird's-eye view of the cityscape at Cerro San Cristóbal. From your precipice high above Santiago, you'll be able to spot the tallest building in all of South America, Gran Torre Santiago.

Day 3: Day Trip to Valparaíso & Viña del Mar

Leave the capital behind today for a day trip to Chile's Pacific coast. Your first stop is Viña del Mar, a ritzy resort town that owes its modern facade to the numerous earthquakes that rocked its shores, resulting in the need to rebuild. Still, some remnants of the 20th century remain, including the Germanic Wulff Castle, overlooking the sea, and the Quinta Vergara, a Venetian-Gothic palace that was once the home of Viña del Mar's founder. After exploring, settle into one of the oceanfront restaurants for specialties like caldillo de congrio (sea eel soup).

Before you know it, you'll arrive in Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and irresistible artsy enclave that's best known for its colorful architecture. Navigate the hills by hopping on the electric trolley, which connects the grand Plaza Sotomayor to Plaza Aníbal Pinto, before one final push upward on the Reina Victoria Funicular. From here, you can gradually explore the kaleidoscopic neighborhoods of Cerro Alegre, Cerro Florida, and Cerro Concepción, dotted with steeples and cobbled squares. La Sebastiana, once the home of Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, is a must-see before you return to Santiago.

Day 4: Fly to Puerto Varas & the Lake District, Tour Puerto Varas & Puerto Montt 

Rise and shine early this morning—you're headed for Chile's captivating Lake District! A driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for your 1.5-hour flight south to Puerto Montt. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your accommodation in Puerto Varas, just a 30-minute drive away and situated right on the indigo Lago Llanquihué, which reflects the snowcapped Osorno volcano in the distance. You'll spend the rest of the afternoon unraveling the unique culture and history of these two cities with a local guide.

Head back to Puerto Montt, where you'll pay a visit to the Plaza de Armas. These towns are heavily influenced by both German heritage and the First Nations Mapuche culture, and you'll get your first taste at the Monument to the German Colonists. Snap pictures of the panoramic viewpoints at Mirador Manuel Montt with Isla Tenglo in the distance, before heading to the Angelmó Port to peruse the local handicrafts and sample traditional dishes. Make your way back to Puerto Varas to visit the city's own Plaza de Armas and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Day 5: Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

The adventurous portion of your trip begins today in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, a vast protected landscape that encompasses the Osorno volcano and Lago Todos los Santos. Meet your guide and head up to the Osorno Mountain Ski Center for unparalleled views of the national park and surrounding geographic features like the Calbuco volcano. Ride the ski lift for even more awe-inspiring photo opportunities at Estación Glaciar or Estación Primavera. 

After your panoramic perspective of the park, head to Petrohué, a tiny village sandwiched between Lago Todos los Santos and the turquoise Río Petrohué. You'll get to see the area's otherworldly landscapes firsthand at the Saltos del Río Petrohué, a centuries-old lava field where the river has started to carve its way into the rock, creating waterfalls and canyons. You'll also have the opportunity to sail or kayak along the lake before ending the day back in Puerto Montt.

Day 6: Kayaking Adventure on Reloncaví Estuary

Kick-off another day of adventure with a kayaking trip through the Reloncaví Estuary. Your guide will take you on a drive along Lago Llanquihué to Ensenada, where you'll pick up your kayaking gear, choosing either a single or tandem kayak. Continue on to the town of Ralún, situated at the mouth of the fjord. This is the starting point for your expedition as you begin paddling southward. Enjoy the surrounding scenery, serene water, and sweeping landscapes, before stopping for a traditional lunch and a quick hike.

Hop back in the kayaks and continue heading south as views of the Yate and Hornopirén volcanoes come into view. A wide variety of wildlife should appear along the way, including sea lions, dolphins, and even Magellanic and Humboldt penguins speeding through the water beside your kayak. Your excursion ends in the village of Cochamó, where you'll hop on the bus back to Puerto Varas.

Day 7: Full-Day Excursion to Isla Chiloé 

Rise and shine early this morning—you're headed for Isla Chiloé. Start the day with a one-hour journey south to the city of Pargua, then hop aboard a ferry that will take you across the Chacao Channel. Along the way, there's a good chance you'll spot pelicans and sea lions. After a 45-minute journey, you'll step foot on Chiloé, part of an eponymous archipelago made up of 40 isles. This central island is known for its First Nations culture, rainbow-hued stilt houses, and abundance of wildlife, all of which you'll be exploring.

Your first stop of the day is in Ancud, located in the northern part of the island. Visit Fort San Antonio, built in 1770 and one of the last Spanish fortifications left standing after the War of Independence. You'll also have the chance to visit some of Chiloé's UNESCO-listed wooden churches, built by Jesuit missionaries, and stroll the Mercado Municipal. Keep making your way south to the town of Dalcahue, the gateway to neighboring Isla Quinchao. While you won't be crossing the canal, you'll visit the Mercado Dalcahue, built in the traditional Chiloé style, on palafito stilts.

The final stop of the day is the largest city in Chiloé and capital of the island, Castro. Take a tour of the colorful Manuel Montt stilt houses and seek out the San Francisco Church, a canary yellow testament to the island's history of colonial Catholicism. The church was built by architect Eduardo Provasoli in 1912 and is possibly the best example of Chiloé's neoclassical wooden chapels. You'll end the day searching for treasures at the largest handicraft market on the island, Feria Artesanal y Mercado Campesino Lillo.

Day 8: Visit the Towns of Lago Llanquihué

Although you've been staying along the shores of Lago Llanquihué for several days, you'll spend your eighth day in Chile exploring other nearby villages. Start just 15 minutes north of Puerto Varas in the village of Llanquihué. Known for the production of sausages, you'll have time to sample the local specialty and walk the lakefront pier and promenade before visiting a local brewery to tour the facility and sample some of their craft beers. Make another 20-minute jaunt northward to the town of Frutillar next, built in the style of Germany's Bavaria region.

Founded in 1856, the town has deep German roots that become more obvious the more you explore. Stroll around Frutillar to discover charming European architecture, lush gardens, and the beautiful Muelle Frutillar, a wooden dock that looks out to the Osorno and Puntiagudo volcanoes. If you're curious about the town's Bavarian ancestry, make a stop at the German Colonial Museum. Your final stop of the day is in Puerto Octay for a quick stroll in the Plaza de Armas and along its quaint streets.

Day 9: Trekking in Parque Nacional Alerce Andino

Situated 1.5 hours outside of Puerto Varas, the Parque Nacional Alerce Andino is where you'll spend your final day of the trip. The journey to get there includes peekaboo views of the Pacific Ocean and a quick jaunt through the town of Lenca before arriving at the start of your adventure for the day. A park ranger will be waiting to provide safety instructions and directions for a 2.5-mile (4 km) hike to the Salto Río Chaica. 

Follow the mostly flat and easy path along the Salto Río Chaica trail through the park's ancient temperate rainforest, home to some of the oldest trees in the world (some of these Alerce trees are thought to be over 2,500 years old). You'll also have the chance to spot exotic bird species like Magellanic woodpeckers, the chucao, and coscoroba swans, all while taking in the beautiful waterfalls before looping back to the beginning of the hike.

Day 10: Fly to Santiago, Depart 

Wave farewell to Chile's Lake District today as you ascend into the clouds on a 1.5-hour flight back to Santiago, where you'll connect with your departing flight. Viajes seguros! Safe travels!