Relaxed Family Vacation in Chile: Santiago & Valparaíso - 7 Days

Day 2: Panoramic City Tour, Dinner Show at Bali Hai Restaurant

Today, get a feel for Chile's capital city, its history, and its culture during a fun 3.5-hour tour. Meet your guide at your hotel, and visit Santiago's main attractions, including La Moneda Presidential Palace, the cathedral, and the Santiago City Hall. If the kids aren't into history, don't worry: your guide will also take you to Forestal Park—a huge green area in the city—and the Lastarria neighborhood, a lively, hipster area of the city filled with cool cafés and vintage shops.

Continue exploring the city however you wish this afternoon, or opt instead for a siesta because this evening promises to be a spectacle your family will never forget. As dinner time approaches, make your way to the Bali Hai Restaurant and sample national and international dishes while feasting your eyes on traditional Chilean and Polynesian dances. Listen to this strange, otherworldly music and watch the Tepual Folkloric and Aromas de Tahiti groups express their culture, tradition, and history through movement. 

Day 3: Full-Day Viña San Esteban Vineyard & Quintessence Alpacas Tour

Get ready for a day that will delight both adults and children. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and transfer 1.5 hours north of Santiago to Viña San Esteban—a family-run vineyard. Begin a guided tour of the vineyards and cellars while marveling at views of the steep, verdant slopes lined with vines and backed by the snowy Andes mountains in the distance. End the tour with a tasting of three wines, accompanied by nuts and local cheeses. Ply the children with soft drinks while you enjoy your drinks, and feast on a homemade, gourmet picnic while appreciating the vistas.

Afterward, relax on a beautiful 40-minute ride west to Quintessence Alpacas. Learn about the family business, which is dedicated to the fine breeding, export, and manufacture of the best alpaca fiber. See how the yarn is made, and get up close to some of the most well-bred alpacas in the world. Find out their names and stroke the friendly ones—these fluffy creatures are always a favorite with kids, so you may have trouble tearing them away! Return to Santiago for the evening and amble around the city center, where you'll find plenty of restaurants to suit all tastes.

Day 4: Transfer to Valparaíso, Valparaíso & Viña del Mar Tour 

Have breakfast at the hotel, pack your bags, and take a full-day tour through the fertile valleys of Curacaví and Casablanca, heading toward the Pacific coast and the port city of Valparaíso—your destination for the next few days. Considered the San Francisco of Chile, Valparaíso is a bayside town with colorful cliffside homes and a network of cable cars. Enjoy the novel experience of climbing steep slopes in funiculars to the various summit neighborhoods, not forgetting to wander around the vintage stores and quirky cafés at the top. 

After wandering up and down Valparaíso, your next stop is the neighboring seaside town of Viña del Mar, known for its gardens and working flower clock. The colorful clock isn't to be missed, with a clockface completely made up of shrubs and flowers and moving clock hands that tell the time. Observe the interesting architecture across the city and stop at Reñaca Beach, the perfect destination to play in the sand, paddle in the sea, and spot sea lions in the distance. You won't be short of lunch options as the promenade contains dozens of restaurants. Head back to Valparaíso for the night.

Day 5: Free Day in Valparaíso

Spend a leisurely morning eating brunch in one of Valparaíso's many hipster cafés, knowing that you have the day to yourselves today. The city is filled with activities that families will love. If you're fans of art, La Sebastiana up on Cerro Bellavista is a must. Not only does this hilltop get you into a quieter part of the city where grandmas come out and sweet the front stoop every morning, but you'll be treated to a visual feast in the house-turned-museum of the famous Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Stare out of windows to clifftops dotted with pastel-hued houses and the Pacific Ocean behind.

Another cerro (hill) worth ascending—and one of Valparaíso's most popular—is Cerro Concepcion. Dawdle in the shops and art galleries here while overlooking picturesque views of rolling hills and even the dunes of Concon. Look at the colorful murals decorating old buildings, and stock up on arts and crafts as well as other souvenirs. Spend a relaxed evening in the neighborhood of your choice and find a quiet spot to enjoy dinner.

Day 6: Chilean Ranch Adventure

Make lasting memories today during an eight-hour excursion to a traditional Chilean estancia (ranch) just outside of Valparaíso. You'll be met by views of rolling hills and the sounds of farm animals as you arrive, and the kids can get up close and personal with the farm's residents, which range from chickens, ducks, and geese to donkeys and rabbits. If there are any horse lovers in your family, you can embark on a guided trail ride or take a horseback riding lesson before cooling off with a refreshing swim and satisfying your hunger with a traditional Chilean barbecue for lunch. 

As evening approaches, make your way back to Valparaíso and climb one of the summits to watch the sun setting—an atmospheric way to end your Chilean adventure. Many restaurants also boast terraces from where you can enjoy ocean views while tucking into freshly-caught fish, cocktails, and, for the kids, mocktails. 

Day 7: Return to Santiago, Depart

It's time to say goodbye to colorful Valparaíso! Use the morning to pick up any last-minute souvenirs before meeting your driver in the hotel lobby. Reminisce about all the family memories you've made over the past week during the 1.5-hour journey east to Santiago's airport. Buen viaje!

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