Best of Valparaiso

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Valparaíso
The old port city of Valparaíso has mural-filled hillside neighborhoods, historic mansions transformed into museums, and a colorful old quarter listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. The cobblestone lanes and winding stairways make for some memorable exploring, and you can save some legwork by riding one of 15 vintage ascensores (funiculars) up to the hilltops. It’s worth overnighting in one of the city's charming B&Bs or boutique hotels to make the most of the Valparaíso experience. Its bohemian districts also have some excellent dining options and nightlife.    

Guided tours take you to iconic sights of Valparaíso, like the dynamic Plaza de la Victoria and La Sebastiana, the hilltop home of the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. You can also take in an eyeful of large-scale street art on a walk through the districts of Bellavista and Cerro Concepción. The neighboring seaside city of Viña del Mar is a short drive north and is dotted with leafy gardens, wide palm-lined boulevards, and a long sandy beach.
Plan your trip to Chile
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Discover Valparaíso
Ultimate Guide to Valparaíso

Spread across a multitude of hills carpeted with colorful homes and overlooking a wide, arcing bay, Valparaíso is Chile’s most engaging city. Commonly known as Valpo, it boasts eye-catching architecture, a flourishing creative scene, and a distinct bohemian vibe. This guide will help you plan your trip and find the best that the city has to offer.

Kick off your trip at a boutique winery hotel in Chile's Casablanca Valley (photo courtesy of La Casona)
Map of Luxury Chile Art, Food & Culture Tour - 7 Days
Luxury Chile Art, Food & Culture Tour - 7 Days

Sample Chile's art, cuisine, and culture on this luxury weeklong tour. You'll taste fine wines on vineyard tours in the lush Casablanca Valley and learn to make classic Chilean dishes, from ceviche to empanadas, in a cooking class with a local chef. Discover world-famous street art in UNESCO-listed Valparaíso and head to the rural Cajón de Maipo region for hikes to traditional villages. End in the vibrant capital, Santiago, for a walking tour of its historic landmarks.

The lush vineyards of Chile's Casablanca Valley
Casablanca Valley Cycling & Wine Tasting Tour - 5 Days

Cradled between mountains and sea, the Casablanca Valley's cool climate and lush soils make it one of the top wine-growing regions in Chile. Setting out from the capital of Santiago, this active 5-day tour strikes a perfect balance between cycling and wine tasting, as you pedal your way through spectacular scenery and visit three of the valley's renowned wineries. End with an unforgettable ride over the mountains to the coast, where you'll discover the remote Pacific beaches of Tunquén.

Chilean vineyards
Map of Active Chilean Honeymoon: Casablanca & Atacama - 8 Days
Active Chilean Honeymoon: Casablanca & Atacama - 8 Days

Have an alternative honeymoon with this biking and hiking adventure trip through gorgeous Chile. Arrive at Santiago, Chile's lively and eclectic capital before beginning a bike tour through the vineyards of Casablanca. Alternate physical activity with wine tours as you cross this region's magnificent landscapes. Then, you'll change it up by traveling to the Atacama Desert. One of the driest places on earth, this desert presents challenges and beauty in equal parts, and is perfect for hiking.

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

Explore Chile's vibrant capital and colorful seaside towns at your own pace during this weeklong family trip. Get to know Santiago from above in a revolving restaurant before embarking on a city tour in the streets below, then spend an evening watching traditional dance as you feast on local cuisine. Relocate to the coast and explore Valparaíso, known as "Chile's San Francisco." Ride the rickety funiculars and get to know the surrounding countryside via horseback rides from a family-owned ranch.

Start your trip in the colorful coastal city of Chile's Valparaíso
Map of Cities & Wineries in Chile & Argentina: Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza & Buenos Aires – 10 Days
Cities & Wineries in Chile & Argentina: Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza & Buenos Aires – 10 Days

Discover some of Chile and Argentina's most iconic cities and beloved wine country on this 10-day tour. Touch down in Chile, where you'll explore the UNESCO-listed coastal city of Valparaíso and visit the vineyards of the Casablanca Valley, then tour Santiago's historic plazas, palaces, and cathedrals. Next, fly to Argentina, where Mendoza serves as your base for exploring wineries, hot springs, and mountain scenery. End in Buenos Aires for a cycling city tour and an Argentine cooking class.

Explore the salt flats of the Atacama Desert and share in the experience with your family
Map of Family-Friendly Chile Highlights: Santiago, Atacama Desert & Valparaíso - 10 Days
Family-Friendly Chile Highlights: Santiago, Atacama Desert & Valparaíso - 10 Days

Explore Chile from several angles with this 10-day kid-friendly tour of its highlights. Starting in vibrant Santiago, you'll make your way through the otherworldly landscape of the Atacama Desert and view the world's clearest night skies. Head back to Santiago and take a trip up the Cajón del Maipo into the Andes before relaxing on a tour of Chile's finest wine and cuisine in the Casablanca Valley and Valparaíso. With some classic beach time thrown in for good measure, this trip has something for all ages.

Fly south to Patagonia for an itinerary of kid-friendly hiking, biking, and wildlife-watching
Map of Chile Outdoor Adventure for Families: Santiago, Valparaíso & Patagonia - 10 Days
Chile Outdoor Adventure for Families: Santiago, Valparaíso & Patagonia - 10 Days

Tailor-made for active families, this 10-day Chilean adventure will keep even the most energetic youngsters entertained and engaged. Get your bearings in Santiago with a city tour and dinner at a fun revolving restaurant, then transfer to coastal Valparaíso to ride up steep hills in rickety funiculars and meet the four-legged inhabitants of a local ranch. Excitement awaits as you fly south into Patagonia next, where you'll explore spectacular fjords, forests, and glaciers by foot, boat, horseback, and bike.

Chile is one of the world's leading wine-producers
Map of Chile's Famous Wine Valleys - 7 Days
Chile's Famous Wine Valleys - 7 Days

Chilean wines are today considered to be among the best in the world. Chile’s geographical diversity coupled with its Mediterranean climate makes it ideal to grow sustainable wines and to produce a variety of wine styles. The country is home to a wide range of wineries, from age-old to new biodynamic establishments committed to sustainable viticulture.

A ripening vineyard in Colchagua Valley
Map of Chile's Iconic Wine Valleys - 6 Days
Chile's Iconic Wine Valleys - 6 Days

Calling all oenophiles: This guided 6-day tour is a chance to become a Chilean wine connoisseur. Starting in the capital city, you'll hit the open road for the country's best wine valleys offering an array of climates, varietals, and production techniques. There will be estates and vineyards to explore galore, as well as dozens of tastings—often paired with delectable local cuisine.

Sunset over the Serrano Valley and Torres del Paine National Park
Highlights of Chile: Santiago, Patagonia & Wine Country - 10 Days

This epic 10-day tour showcases three diverse regions of Chile, with a perfect balance of outdoor adventure and quiet relaxation. Explore the city streets of Santiago, then fly south to the rugged peaks and glaciers of Patagonia. After embarking on a series of unforgettable full-day treks deep into Torres del Paine National Park, you'll head north again to spend the remainder of your trip unwinding among the vines at a wine country retreat in the Casablanca Valley.

The Moon Valley, Atacama Desert
Map of Chile's Beaches & Natural Wonders - 12 Days
Chile's Beaches & Natural Wonders - 12 Days

Stretching thousands of miles in length, Chile can feel a world away with its mountains, glaciers, deserts, and rugged coastline. This 12-day trip hits the highlights with a series of unique guided tours. Move at a relaxed pace as you make your way from the Atacama Desert in the north, to Patagonia in the south. You'll also make urban stops in Santiago, Valparaiso, and upscale Viña del Mar for two days of beachy fun.

See penguins and other wildlife in Patagonian Chile
Map of Chile Outdoor Adventure for Families: Santiago, Valparaíso & Patagonia - 14 Days
Chile Outdoor Adventure for Families: Santiago, Valparaíso & Patagonia - 14 Days

See the top highlights of Chile on this 14-day family tour filled with outdoor fun and adorable wildlife. Start in Santiago to visit historic neighborhoods and parks, meet friendly alpacas, and explore local vineyards. Head to the colorful coastal city of Valparaíso for street art, museums, and funicular rides, then it's off to Patagonia to mingle with curious penguins on Isla Magdalena, navigate to icy glacier walls by boat, and end with a trek through the incredible vistas of Torres del Paine National Park.

Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) close to San Pedro de Atacama
Map of Wonders of Chile - 14 Days
Wonders of Chile - 14 Days

On this two week trip, you’ll visit many of the classic places that have made Chile an iconic country for travelers and mountaineers alike. You’ll journey to places like the Atacama Desert and the Patagonian glaciers as you discover a land of myths and mountains. You’ll also have the chance to stay in Santiago and Valparaíso to get a sense of Chile’s city life.

Explore Chile by car
Map of Chile Grand Tour: Deserts, Lakes & Beaches - 15 Days
Chile Grand Tour: Deserts, Lakes & Beaches - 15 Days

This comprehensive 15-day tour allows visitors to see the most interesting cities and regions in the whole of Chile. Moreover, some of this adventure is of the self-drive variety, meaning you'll get to hop behind the wheel and make it a road trip. It begins in the capital of Santiago with excursions to nearby Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, two of the most beautiful coastal cities in the nation. Then, it's off to the high-altitude deserts of the northern Atacama and its otherworldly landscapes. The tour culminates with road trips in the Chilean ecological wonderland known as the Lake District.

See the deserts and lagoons of the Atacama before flying south to Patagonia
Map of Luxury Wonders of Chile: North to South Grand Tour - 14 Days
Luxury Wonders of Chile: North to South Grand Tour - 14 Days

This two-week Chilean adventure will take you to its most scenic regions: the northern deserts, coastal wine country, and the wilds of southern Patagonia. And though this itinerary is jam-packed with outdoor activities, you won't sacrifice anything in terms of comfort—it's first-class treatment the whole way. Stay in luxury hotels and dine at the finest restaurants in between astronomy tours, visits to salt flats, glacier hikes in Torres del Paine, wine tours in the Casablanca Valley, and more.