Parasailing in Santiago: Penguins, wine & sand dunes

See penguins in their habitat, then sandboard down coastal dunes

A full-day tour from Santiago combines five separate Chilean experiences in one route: wild penguins and seal lions by boat, a clifftop lunch with homemade empanadas and pisco sour at a paragliding school, sandboarding on the Concon dunes, and passes through Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. A live guide in English or Spanish leads groups of at least two. Hotel pickup is included, and the day runs 9 to 13 hours depending on pickup locations.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife, food, and sandboarding adventure

• Pick up passengers in Santiago or Valparaiso
• Drive through Valparaiso and Viña del Mar
• Stop to see sea lions
• Pass by Reñaca beach
• Boat trip from Zapallar to see penguins
• Lunch on cliff with ocean view
• Watch paragliding or try it (optional)
• Sandboarding at Concon dunes
• Return to drop off passengers

The experience

You start from your Santiago hotel and drive toward the coast, passing through Valparaiso and Viña del Mar to reach Zapallar, one of Chile's most exclusive beach towns. The route itself shows the contrast between these two cities: Valparaiso's bohemian character against Viña del Mar's resort polish. Along the way you stop to watch seal lions on the rocks, then board a boat to reach the penguin colony in their natural habitat, the centerpiece of the day.

Lunch happens on a cliff overlooking the Pacific at a paragliding school zone, where you eat typical Chilean food (empanadas, pebre, fresh fruit, nuts), and drink Chilean wine and homemade pisco sour. The view carries all the way to the horizon, and if you want, you can pay extra to try paragliding with a professional instructor on site. After eating, the group heads to the Concon sand dunes, where you strap on a sandboard and slide down the face of the dunes standing or sitting, whatever feels right. The dunes offer their own view of the ocean and the coastline stretching toward Valparaiso.

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, binoculars for wildlife viewing, bottled water and soda, and WiFi on board. A minimum of two guests runs the group option. Private tours are also available. Children from age one are welcome, though infants sit on an adult's lap. The guide speaks English or Spanish and handles all logistics, including the boat ride and the meal setup.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• boat ride to the penguin colony.
• binoculars.
• a clifftop picnic with empanadas, pebre, fresh fruit, nuts, Chilean wine and homemade pisco sour.
• sandboards and access to the Concon dunes.
• bottled water and soda throughout the day.
• WiFi on board.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group from SantiagoGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeLasts about 10 to 13 hours, depending on traffic and whether it is high or low season. Includes a traditional Chilean picnic with excellent empanadas, fruit, peanuts with merken (an indigenous blend of spices), pebre (salsa), wine, pisco sour and more. The vehicle, either a car, van or SUV, depends on the number of people or other factors. Pickup is included.

Private from SantiagoGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeLasts 13 hours. Includes a Chilean picnic and drinks: excellent empanadas, fruit, peanuts with merken (an indigenous blend of spices), pebre (salsa), wine, pisco sour and more. The vehicle used, a car, van or SUV, depends on the number of people or other factors. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Penguins

Is this one for you?Book the group option if you're traveling solo or with one other person and want to meet other travelers. Choose the private tour if your group prefers to set its own pace and skip the pickups in Valparaiso. The 9- to 13-hour span depends on how many stops the guide makes for other passengers, so a private booking shortens the day if time matters.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the penguins like when you see them on the boat?

The penguins live in their natural habitat near Zapallar and are reached by boat from the beach. The tour includes binoculars so you can watch them up close without disturbing the colony.

Is sandboarding hard if I've never done it before?

Sandboarding works standing or sitting down, so you can choose what feels comfortable. The dunes are the activity for the day, and the guide sets the pace for everyone.

What's included in the picnic lunch?

Lunch is homemade Chilean food: empanadas, pebre, fresh fruit, nuts, Chilean wine and pisco sour. The meal happens on a cliff with ocean views, and the operator makes sure no one leaves the table hungry.

Can I try paragliding during the tour?

Paragliding is available for an additional cost with a professional instructor at the school where you eat lunch. It's optional and booked separately at checkout if you want to try it.

How long is the drive from Santiago to the coast?

The full day runs 9 to 13 hours depending on whether the guide picks up other passengers in Valparaiso. Hotel pickup from Santiago is included, and the route passes through Valparaiso and Viña del Mar before reaching the coast.