Andes Day Trip from Santiago: Valle Nevado & Farellones

Winding mountain roads take you from Santiago into the Andes in a single morning and afternoon.

This 11-hour guided tour from Santiago climbs into the Andes to Valle Nevado, South America's most famous ski resort, and the mountain village of Farellones, with air-conditioned transport, a live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, and hotel pickup included. The route follows winding roads through the high peaks, with free time at each stop to photograph the landscape and explore at your own pace. Children from age 8 are welcome; the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Farellones and Valle Nevado

• Travel to Farellones village
• Explore Farellones and take photos
• Learn about mountain community history
• Travel to Valle Nevado ski resort
• Explore Valle Nevado and take photos

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Santiago hotel and climbs steadily into the Andes on roads that switchback through the foothills. An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group upward, and a live guide narrates the landscape—the geology, the altitude, the shift in vegetation as you rise. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French depending on the group.

Farellones comes first: a mountain village built into the peaks where you have free time to walk the streets, photograph the surrounding ridges, and absorb the alpine atmosphere. In winter months the village sits in snow; in other seasons the bare rock and thin air make the altitude real. The guide can explain how people live and work at this elevation, but the stop itself is yours to spend as you want—some travelers linger over a coffee at a local café, others climb to a viewpoint for wider shots of the range.

Valle Nevado follows: a ski resort that sprawls across the mountainside with modern lodges, lifts, and restaurants set against the raw Andean backdrop. You have free time here too, to walk the resort grounds, stand at the edge of the runs, and photograph the contrast between the built infrastructure and the dramatic peaks. The resort sits at high altitude and the air is thin, but the tour is suitable for all fitness levels—the stops are exploratory, not strenuous.

The return to Santiago follows the same winding route downward, arriving back at your hotel after 11 hours away. The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout, which matters on the climb and on the descent when the temperature swings are sharp.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the 11-hour day.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• hotel pickup from Santiago.
• free time to explore and photograph at both Farellones and Valle Nevado.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Brotherstours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided drive through high-altitude scenery with planned photo stops—you'll see Valle Nevado and Farellones from the vehicle rather than hiking to them.

Top questions

What is Farellones like when I get there?

Farellones is a mountain village built high in the Andes where you have free time to explore the streets, photograph the surrounding peaks, and experience the alpine atmosphere. In winter the village sits in snow; in other seasons you see bare rock and the landscape at full altitude. The guide can share the history and lifestyle of Chile's mountain communities, but the stop is yours to spend as you choose.

How much time do I spend at Valle Nevado?

Valle Nevado is one of South America's most famous ski resorts, and you have free time to walk the resort area, photograph the Andean landscape, and see how the modern facilities sit against the dramatic mountain scenery. The amount of time is built into the 11-hour tour structure, giving you room to explore without rushing.

Is the drive difficult, or is it just winding roads?

The tour follows winding mountain roads that climb steadily from Santiago into the high peaks, and the altitude and switchbacks are real—the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. For all other fitness levels, the vehicle is air-conditioned and the pace is comfortable; you are not hiking or climbing, only riding and stopping to explore.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French depending on the group composition, and is a live guide who narrates the landscape and can answer questions throughout the day.

Can I bring children on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 8. The tour involves 11 hours in an air-conditioned vehicle and free time at two mountain stops, so children should be comfortable with the drive and the altitude.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes air-conditioned transport, a live guide, and hotel pickup from Santiago. Lunch is not included, so plan to eat at one of the stops or bring your own food.