Choose from 124 Fun Things to Do in Chile
ShowingFilter 121-124 of 124 listings.
MontGras Winery
The brainchild of brothers Hernan and Eduardo Gras, and partner Cristian Hartwig, MontGras Winery opened in 1993. Using state-of-the-art technology, the award-winning winery is best known for its full-bodied syrah, malbec, carmenere, and cabernet sauvignon wines.
The Basics
Wine lovers can peek behind the scenes of the winery in Palmilla and discover its winemaking process on one of a number of a guided tours. One tour includes a walk around the vineyards, a visit to the wine cellar, and a guided wine tasting, while another excursion offers hands-on experience in the vineyards to try picking, selecting, and treading grapes. You can even create your own wine blend during a special workshop, and finish by bottling, corking, and labeling your wine to take home with you.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The legal drinking age in Chile is 18.
- Advance booking is required for tastings and winery tours, which are conducted in both Spanish and English.
- The winery and parts of the vineyards are wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
The MontGras winery is located in Chile's Colchagua Valley, about a 10-minute drive north of Santa Cruz. There is no public transport to the winery, but it's possible to visit as part of a tour with transportation or take a taxi from Santa Cruz.
When to Get There
Winery tours are possible year-round, and advance bookings are highly recommended. The annual harvest typically runs from mid-February through the end of April.
Chile's Colchagua Valley
A prime Chilean wine-growing region, the Colchagua Valley runs along the Colchagua riverbank. Naturally sheltered between the Andes and the Coastal mountain ranges, the area features an ideal terroir for wine growing. It is most known for its red wines; the most popular varietals are cabernet sauvignon, carmenere, merlot, malbec, and syrah. Aside from wine tasting, visitors come to the region for cycling tours, horseback riding excursions, and rides on the Santa Cruz Wine Train.
Address: Camino Isla de Yaquil s/N, Palmilla, Region del Libertador Gral, Chile
From $ 29
Plaza Muñoz Gamero
This historic town square is among the most popular destinations in the Magallanes Region because of its unmistakable energy and close proximity to some of Punta Arenas' major attractions. Travelers can easily walk from Plaza Munoz Gamero to Casa Braun-Menendez, the Sociedad Menendez Behety and the local cathedral, and many visitors agree that the best handmade crafts in town can be found here.
Walking the plaza takes only a few minutes, but most visitors gather at park benches or relax in the shade of trees to take in the sights and sounds of local life. Local folklore states kissing the statue of Magellan's feet is good luck, so visitors looking to change their fortune should be sure to do so before leaving the plaza. A central information center also offers travelers maps and recommendations, making this a perfect first stop on a trip to Punta Arenas.
Practical Info
Sociedad Menendez Behety is located on the east side of the square, and beautiful old mansions can be found to the plaza's north. Travelers looking to explore the stalls of local vendors and shop for handmade crafts should arrive any time before dusk, when merchants close up shop and head home for the evening.
Address: Punta Arenas, Chile
From $ 58
Cousiño Palace
The Chilean building boom of the late 1800s, spurred by rising silver, copper and nitrite prices worldwide, inspired some of the city's most marvelous architecture. Grand palaces were built with stern neoclassical facades fashionably adorned with touches of baroque and art nouveau frill. The finest of them all is at the heart of the ritzy Calle Dieciocho neighborhood: the Cousiño Palace.
The mansion was designed by architect Paul Lathoud for the Cousiño Goyenechea family, a prominent clan who owned everything from the famed Cousiño-Macul Vineyards, to assorted coal and silver mines. The French-inspired building often draws comparisons to Versailles, and has hosted foreign dignitaries from Marshal Tito to Queen Elizabeth.
The mansion was designed by architect Paul Lathoud for the Cousiño Goyenechea family, a prominent clan who owned everything from the famed Cousiño-Macul Vineyards, to assorted coal and silver mines. The French-inspired building often draws comparisons to Versailles, and has hosted foreign dignitaries from Marshal Tito to Queen Elizabeth.
Today, you can tour its soaring marble halls and 12 sumptuously decorated rooms, each offering a glimpse into the lives of the Chilean aristocracy during those heady boom years.
Practical Info
On the southern border of Santiago's historic center, Cousiño Palace is close to the University of Chile in the once opulent neighborhood of Calle Dieciocho. The area is more maneuverable in a car than the narrow, congested streets immediately surrounding Plaza de Armas, seven very pretty blocks away. Still, it's much more convenient to take the L2 yellow line to the Toesca station. Travelers must visit on a 45-minute guided tour, which are offered throughout the day. Most guides speak both Spanish and English.
Address: Calle Dieciocho 438, Santiago de Chile, Chile
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30am to 1:30pm, 2:30pm to 5pm; Sat-Sun 9:30am-1:30pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 125
Baños Morales
It's immediately obvious when you look on a map that Chile is a narrow country. From the salty shores of the Pacific Ocean, rarely is it more than 100 miles east to the snowcapped Andes. For urbanites living in Santiago, Baños Morales is a favorite spot for escaping to Chile's mountains"”leaving the heat of the lowlands behind and retreating into the hills. Here at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet, visitors are surrounded by snowcapped peaks and glacially fed alpine lakes, as well as springs that are naturally heated by the rich, volcanic earth. While the town of Baños Morales itself houses no more than three dozen people, it's nearby Monumento Natural El Morado that draws hikers and travelers in droves. Hike the Sendero El Ventisquero trail that leaves from Baños Morales, and passes by hot springs, lakes, and vistas over the 3.5 mile trail. Horseback riding is a popular option for those who prefer not to hike, as is soaking in thermal springs to ease the achy joints. While here, take a deep breath of fresh mountain air that blows through the Andean valleys, and leave the city smog behind to commune with the natural beauty.
Practical Info
Baños Morales is located 56 miles from the capital city of Santiago, and while it's technically possible to visit as a day trip, most travelers opt to stay overnight in Refugio lo Valdes. For hikers, there is an admission fee of $4 for visiting the natural park.
Address: Chile
From $ 110