Santiago is set in the middle of Chile’s unusual, ribbon-like shape land mass (4,300 km long and on average 175 km wide). The capital city sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes one side and the Chilean Coast Range on the other, making for a dramatic flight landing to begin your stay!

Must Experience

• Enjoy the spectacular views at Valle Nevado which is 90 minutes from Santiago. In winter, it offers some of the best skiing in the Andes and in summer you can hike, bike and ride horses.
• Join an exciting white water rafting trip down the Cajon de Maipo. Raft down the Maipo River with the Andes as the background, brave the “Jump of Faith” into the cold water and end the trip with a tasty BBQ lunch.

• Rising high above the rest of the city is the glittering glass skyscraper Sky Costanera. It offers the highest views in Latin America. Standing 304 metres tall, you have 360-degree views of the city below and the surrounding Andes. A perfect setting for a welcome sunset champagne reception for corporate meetings and incentive groups.

• Take the cable cars and ride from Metropolitan Park to the top of San Cristobal Hill, where the statue of the Virgin Mary looks over the city 300m below.

• Take a private city walking tour starting at Plaza de Armas in the heart of the city and stroll through the beautiful Cerro Santa Lucia Gardens, visit the iconic Sacramentinos Church and the Presidential Palace. You can also add on visits to some of the many great Santiago museums.

• Full day tour to the port of Valparaiso, set on the Pacific Coast with its steep vintage funicular rides, colorful houses and famous Sotomayor Square. After a local lunch, visit the “Garden City” of Viña del Mar, before returning via Casablanca Valley.

• Taste the famous Chilean wines on a wine tour to one of the famous vineyards near Santiago such as Concha y Toro or Santa Rita Winery.

Must Eat

• Humitas is a popular Andean street food snack eaten all over Chile made of fresh corn mashed together with onion, basil, and butter. It is then wrapped in corn husks and baked, held together during cooking with thread or twine.

• Pastel de choclo is considered comfort food for most Chileans. It is a beef and corn casserole with a gratin cheese-like corn crust, similar to Shepherds Pie.

• Chilean Alfajores are double-decker cookies with fillings of dulce de leche or molasses paste.

Best Nightlife: When out enjoying the Santiago nightlife, sip on the famous pisco sour cocktail made with fresh lemon juice, egg white, Pisco, simple syrup and crushed ice. Also try the corn beer called chicha. Start your evening with sunset cocktails overlooking the city on the 9th floor at The Singular Rooftop Bar. Then try one of these top 2 restaurants: Borago or 99 Restaurante. Then move on for a drink at Lolita Jones Bar and for dancing our choice would be La Feria nightclub and for music lovers, it is Club de Jazz Santiago.

Best time to visit: The beach destinations are popular from late December through January. September-November and March-May are the best shoulder season months. Wine country has grape harvests and wine festivals in March. The best time for skiing are the winter months June to August.

Top Tips: Time your visit to enjoy one of these great festivals

• 3rd week of February it’s the Vina del Mar Music Festival which is 2 hours from Santiago
• 18 September it’s the independence day celebrations called Fiestas Patrias
• Wine lovers should travel in March and April when many grape harvest festivals happen around the country – we recommend Fiesta de Vendimia which is held in the plaza of Santa Cruz.

Our recommended DMC:  Christian Gangotena and his team at Pure Travel Group – Chile, will create unforgettable itineraries for your South America adventure.