Things to Do in Santiago

Inspired by the French resort Les Arcs, Valle Nevado contains almost 7,000 acres of skiable domain – the largest accessible ski spread in South America. This new ski center rests snugly in one of the best locations of any resort in Chile and caters to all levels. It also offers off-piste runs and hosts an extensive terrain park full of rails, boxes, jumps, and a quarter-pipe suitable for even the most enthusiastic freestylers.

Detachable lifts have changed the ski industry forever – and Valle Nevado´s The Andes Express was the first one to be built in Chile, reflecting just how modern the resort aims to be. Five new runs were built in 2010.

The ski area also contains a spa, sauna, Kid´s Zone, emergency services, a cinema, and an outdoor heated pool with nearby cocktail bar.

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.

Though Santiago's historical district boast many architecturally outstanding buildings, most were built or refurbished in the early 1900s, well after the Spanish Colonial period. The Red House - or Casa Colorada - is a fine exception.

It's no mystery why this squat stone structure has survived Santiago's tectonic history of earthquakes (and the gas-lamp fires that inevitably followed) intact. Originally completed in 1779 as the home of "Count of the Conquest" Don Mateo de Toro y Zambrano, it has served as a salon for Chile's politicians and VIPs for centuries.

Today, the Casa's thick-walled corridors and sturdy rooms are home to the Museo de Santiago, a solid museum featuring dioramas about key moments in the Chilean history.

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.  

The Santiago skyline is dominated by San Cristobal Hill (Cerro San Cristobal), a forested mountain rising 2,821 feet (860 meters) above the city. The site is protected as part of the Santiago Metropolitan Park (Parque Metropolitano), one of the most famous city parks in Chile, and was developed into a public green space at the start of the 20th century, after the astronomical observatory was constructed on top of the hill. Today, the park serves as a scenic escape above the smog that can grip Santiago on winter days, and offers fantastic views across this city of 6.5 million to the Andes Mountains.

When standing in the streets of Santiago, surrounded by whistles and horns, the snowcapped Andes stand in the east as an invitation to escape. When city dwellers do choose to escape the city, a favorite spot is Baños Colinas set high in the Andean foothills. Here at a lung-testing 8,200 feet"”where even the air in the middle of summer has a welcome alpine chill"”travelers can slink into thermal springs that are naturally heated by the earth. The waters here have healing qualities and rich deposits of calcium, and you'll notice your skin is soft and smooth after this alpine soak with a view. Speaking of views, a popular activity in Baños Colinas is hiking amidst the hills, particularly the trail to a panoramic viewpoint of San Jose volcano. Serious alpinists can continue farther to the highest peaks and ridgelines, although most travelers are content with a day hike followed up by a soothing soak in the naturally heated pools. To extend the adventure into the night, bring a tent and sleeping bag to camp atop the hills"”cradled beneath a blanket of stars that bursts through the inky black night.