Santiago and the vineyards holidays
Santiago and the vineyards holidays at a glance
Santiago is a city of contrasts, sitting within a fertile valley beneath the snow-draped Andes. Chile’s capital combines a compact colonial heart with modern skyscrapers, fashionable neighbourhoods and a thriving food scene.
The historic centre reveals Chile’s colonial past, while districts like Bellavista and Lastarria bring stylish cafés, shops, restaurants and cultural venues. Santiago’s blend of old and new gives you an excellent overview of contemporary Chilean life.
Beyond the city, the surrounding Mediterranean landscape creates ideal conditions for viticulture. The nearby valleys are home to many of Chile’s most respected wineries, making Santiago one of South America’s premier destinations for food and wine lovers.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Santiago and the vineyards
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Snow-draped Andean peaks overlook Santiago, Chile’s huge capital, surrounded by sunlit fertile valleys which produce well-respected wines.
When to visit Santiago and the vineyards
Santiago and the surrounding vineyards can be visited year-round, with different seasons offering distinct advantages.
Soaring temperatures drive many locals out of the capital in search of cooler climes, meaning Santiago is less congested and offers better views of the surrounding Andean peaks. The Santiago a Mil Theatre and Performing Arts Festival takes place in January, and from February the Vendimias wine harvesting festivals kick off in the vineyards.
The autumnal hues of the valleys and vineyards are spectacular, and temperatures remain fairly warm. The Vendimias harvest festivals continue with traditional music, dancing and food – and, of course, plentiful wine.
These months are the coldest with the most rainfall. Snow sports enthusiasts should head to the Valle Nevado mountains for the ski season.
Independence Day on 18 September is electric, with lively crowds dancing in the streets and plenty of delicious traditional food. Temperatures begin to warm up and rain is scarce.
Top Things to do in Santiago and the vineyards
Santiago combines urban sightseeing with outdoor adventures and world-class wine experiences – there’s a great range of things to do in Santiago, from the city streets to the surrounding valleys.
Get under the skin of Santiago by exploring its most atmospheric neighbourhoods by bike.
Eat and drink your way round the contrasting neighbourhoods of Santiago.
Ski next summer at Portillo, where the season kicks off in July and August.
Explore the fertile countryside of the Colchagua Valley at your own pace over two relaxing days of driving.
Visit prestigious wineries just an hour’s drive from Santiago for a guided tour and tasting.
Accommodation in Santiago and the vineyards
Our accommodation in the region spans stylish city hotels in Santiago itself to boutique stays out among the vineyards, so you can base yourself wherever suits your trip best.
Altiplanico Bellas Artes is an upmarket, innovative property in an arty neighbourhood close to the centre of Santiago.
Casa Real offers luxurious accommodation in the elegant setting of Santa Rita Vineyards in Chile’s Maipo Valley.
Modern chain hotel just steps from the airport with good facilities, a comfortable place for much-needed rest before or after a long flight.
Hotel Cumbres Lastarria is a smart contemporary hotel in Santiago’s arty Lastarria district with a cool design twist.
Hotel Magnolia is a boutique hotel in central Santiago which skilfully blends the traditional with the contemporary.
Ismael offers comfort, convenience and value for guests seeking a base close to the historic centre of Santiago.
Welcoming boutique hotel in a converted historic house, blending French classical style with contemporary tones.
Modern, business-like hotel with a convenient location and a bold, contemporary colour scheme.
Santa Cruz Plaza is a colonial-inspired hotel in the centre of town with good facilities including a pool and three restaurants.
A sophisticated first class property offering opulent, traditional luxury in a chic district of Santiago.
A stylish, first class hotel close to central Santiago combining a luxurious classical style with contemporary features.
In a quiet neighbourhood of Santiago, Hotel Bidasoa has elegant rooms, a pool deck and two restaurants.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Santiago and the vineyards
We have a selection of unique and memorable holidays that include a visit to Santiago and the vineyards, with something for everyone. Book with Journey Latin America.
Group Santiago and the vineyards Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Andean Flamingo: Andes laid bare
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
17 days from £5,636
Charito: Pure Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Buenos Aires
12 days from £3,685
Gaucho: Vintage Argentina
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
12 days from £3,791
Lapwing: Patagonian Odyssey
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
14 days from £6,673
Nandu: Peaks and plains of Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (north) · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
20 days from £5,526
Penguin: Extremes of Chile
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park
14 days from £5,022
Sandpiper: Atlantic to Pacific in style
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · Santiago and the vineyards
19 days from £7,062
Tangara: Blue lakes and emerald coasts
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Argentinian lake district · Buenos Aires · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro · Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde
15 days from £3,892
Tailor-Made Santiago and the vineyards Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Chile: Andean Skiing and Atacama Desert Adventures
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert
12 days from £7,250
Active Chile: Hiking, cycling and kayaking in the lake district and Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (north) · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park
13 days from £4,500
Active Chile: Trek in Torres Del Paine
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park
13 days from £4,070
Active Patagonia: Classic treks in Argentina and Chile
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Buenos Aires
14 days from £5,030
Food and wine: Vineyards of Argentina and Chile
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Santiago and the vineyards
13 days from £7,300
Luxury Chile and Argentina: Simply Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Argentinian lake district · Buenos Aires
13 days from £12,800
Luxury Chile: Exclusive lodges and untamed landscapes
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · Atacama Desert · Chilean Lake District (north)
13 days from £14,280
Luxury Chile: Patagonia, Chiloe and Maipo valley vineyards
Places visited: Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · Santiago and the vineyards
13 days from £11,350
Patagonia cruise: Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Islands and fjords of southern Patagonia · Valdes Peninsula and Atlantic Patagonia · Buenos Aires
13 days from £6,250
Self-drive Chile: Off the beaten track
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Aysen and the Carretera Austral
14 days from £4,600
Signature Andes: Highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
16 days from £5,510
Signature Brazil, Argentina and Chile: Coast to coast
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buenos Aires · Mendoza and the vineyards · Santiago and the vineyards
15 days from £5,650
Signature Chile: Atacama Desert to Patagonian glaciers
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park
12 days from £6,050
Signature Northern Chile and Argentina: Atacama Desert to Iguazu Falls
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
15 days from £5,600
Signature Patagonia: Highlights of Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Valparaiso and Vina del Mar · Chilean Lake District (south) · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Torres del Paine National Park
13 days from £7,700
Signature Peru and Chile: Machu Picchu and Easter Island
Places visited: Lima · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Santiago and the vineyards · Easter Island
15 days from £5,930
Value Patagonia: Journey to the glaciers
Places visited: Torres del Paine National Park · Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south)
14 days from £4,000
FAQs about visiting Santiago and the vineyards
Santiago and the vineyards is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Santiago and the vineyards?
Santiago has a hot dry summer and cool winters with some rain and even snow. Spring and autumn (Sep-Oct and Apr-May) are pleasant times for a city visit. The vineyards are at their prettiest in spring (Sep-Oct) but a visit may be most interesting at harvest time (Mar-Apr).
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in Santiago?
The main language spoken in Santiago is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in Santiago?
The Chilean Peso is the main currency used in Santiago. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. There are also many banks and money exchanges (casas de cambio) where you can exchange US dollars cash; rates for euros and sterling are harder to find and frequently poor.
- What is the time difference between Santiago and UK?
The time difference between Santiago and the UK is GMT -4 hours. Sometimes daylight saving is observed in the summer, from Sep/Oct to early March.
- What places combine with Santiago and the vineyards?
Valparaiso, colourful Pacific port growing in popularity among visitors, 106km (2hours by road); a beach wind-down in Chile’s principal resort, Viña del Mar (100km, 2 hours); a few days on Polynesian Easter island (5 hours direct by air); winter skiing in the family resort of Valle Nevado (65km, 1 hour 40mins by road).
- How do I get to Santiago and the vineyards?
You can fly direct from the UK to Santiago. Flight time is approximately 14½ hours.
- What are the festivals and cultural events in Santiago and the vineyards?
Feria Internacional de Artesania: Nov; Parque General Bustamente, Centro, Santiago, the city’s best craft festival.
Feria Internacional del Libro: Nov, Machopo station, Santiago. A Hay Festival is imminent for Santiago – watch this space!
Fiesta de la Vendimia: Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, An annual grape harvest festival in early Mar.
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