Middle Chile Overview

V!VA User‘s Description

There are many attractions in Middle Chile surrounding Santiago that are certainly worth a visit, although they are often skipped over by visitors in their rush to the National Parks of the north or south. A popular weekend escape from the capital is to Cajón del Maipo, an Andean river valley 70km to the west. Hiking, mountain biking and rafting trips are popular here, and easily arranged. It can get a bit busy at weekends but during the week you may feel as though you have the whole thing to yourself.

In the winter months (June to September) opportunities for skiing are plentiful and the closest resorts are just a 90-minute drive from the capital, so day trips are feasible. Equipment and instruction in English are available at all those mentioned. The closest is Farellones, which is technically three resorts strung together. Each has a slightly different feel but between them they offer slopes to suit every level of skier as well as food and accommodation for every budget.

Another option for skiers would be to head out to Portillo – two hours drive from Santiago close to the border with Argentina, which is particularly popular with twenty to thirty-somethings and has a more relaxed, hip reputation.

Another good trip from Santiago is to a vineyard and winery, where you can find out how Chilean wine has become a world-wide phenomenon in the last 20 years and, of course, taste some of the goods. If you visit in March you’ll see the grapes being harvested and pressed. It is possible to take an all-inclusive tour from Santiago, which can be a good idea if you’re short on time or Spanish skills. Otherwise, it’s far cheaper to organise transport yourself, as the vineyards themselves don’t charge. Two of the best vineyards are Viña Concha y Toro, one of the oldest in the country, and Viña Santa Inés. Both offer tours in English.

The stretch of coast nearest to Santiago features is by far the most visited and developed in Chile. The resort of Viña del Mar (Viña for short) could be anywhere in the world, with its five-star high-rise hotels, beachfront restaurants and bars and wide sandy beached packed with sunbathers. It’s at its busiest in January and February when Chileans take their holidays.

Nearby, the town of Valparaíso is perched on a hill encircling a wide bay just south of Viña – it is considered one of Chile’s most beautiful towns, with its colourful houses lining the hillside. There are few roads between the beach and the town, rather tourists and locals travel between the two by the fifteen funicular railways – or so-called ‘elevators’ along the bay.