Chile » Santiago

Portillo & Laguna del Inca: Andes Day Trip with Lunch

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Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/11

Duration10h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · PT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Snow peaks, blue lagoon views and a warm meal in Portillo

You’ll wake early in Santiago for a day trip into the Andes with a local guide, stopping at Salto del Soldado for legends and mountain air before reaching Portillo Ski Center. Lunch at Hotel Portillo comes with views of Laguna del Inca’s unreal blue water. It’s not just about scenery — it’s how you’ll feel sitting quietly among giants.

10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Meet at Turistik Parking, Parque Arauco
See Salto del Soldado Viewpoint
Visit Uspallata border area
Arrive at Portillo Ski Center
View Laguna del Inca lagoon
Return to Mall Parque Arauco

The Experience

Opened my eyes to the bus window fogged by our breath — outside, the Andes just sort of rose up, all rough edges and snow patches. We’d left Santiago early, still half asleep, but something about winding past Parque Arauco mall (never thought I’d start an adventure next to Ripley’s) felt oddly right. Our guide, Claudia, had this habit of pointing out little things — “see that?” she said as we rolled by a roadside stand selling sopaipillas. The air smelled like cold stone and diesel for a bit, then it thinned out into something sharper as we climbed higher.

The Salto del Soldado Viewpoint was our first real stop — just a slice of rock and river if you’re not paying attention, but Claudia told us the story about the soldier who supposedly jumped across while escaping. I tried to picture it but mostly just stared at the Aconcagua River twisting through those cliffs. There was this moment where everyone got quiet; even the wind seemed to hush for a second. Someone’s thermos hissed open and suddenly it smelled like instant coffee mixed with mountain air. Weirdly comforting.

After that, the road curled up toward Portillo Ski Center. It wasn’t ski season but you could still see old tracks on the slopes — ghost lines in the snow. Lunch at Hotel Portillo was included (thank god because I was starving), and there’s something about eating hot food while staring straight at Laguna del Inca that makes you forget your phone for once. The lake really is that blue — almost fake-looking against all that white. Claudia tried to teach us how to say “Laguna del Inca” with proper Chilean rhythm; Li laughed when I tried it (I probably butchered it). The whole thing felt less like a tour and more like being let in on some local secret people actually care about.

I still think about that view sometimes — how small we looked next to those mountains, how good it felt to just sit there with soup warming my hands and not rush anywhere. On the way back down, someone started humming quietly and I realized nobody wanted to break whatever spell we’d found up there.

What’s included

Your day includes round trip transfer from Santiago’s Turistik Parking near Parque Arauco mall (exclusive for your group), guidance from a bilingual local expert throughout the journey into the Andes, stops at Salto del Soldado Viewpoint and other key spots along the way, plus lunch served at Hotel Portillo overlooking Laguna del Inca before heading back down in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turistik