Santiago City Tour & Santa Rita Winery: Full Day Private Experience

Summary

Explore Santiago’s Landmarks & Taste Chilean Wine in One Day

You’ll dive into Santiago’s vibrant heart—historic plazas, hidden corners—and then unwind among vineyards at Santa Rita Winery for an authentic wine tasting and lunch.

What’s the experience like?

The day kicked off with our guide picking us up right at the hotel—no waiting around, just straight into the city. First stop: Plaza de Armas. It’s busy, always full of life. I noticed painters setting up their easels near the benches, and there was this old guy with a vintage camera offering black-and-white portraits. The air smelled faintly of roasted peanuts from a street vendor on the corner. Our guide explained that this is Kilometer Zero for Chile—everything starts here.

We wandered over to Plaza de la Constitución next. The square’s got this calm vibe, even though it sits right by the presidential palace. Statues of past presidents line the paths; our guide pointed out Salvador Allende’s statue and shared some stories about his time in office. You can really feel how much history has happened on these streets.

The Government Palace itself—La Moneda—is impressive up close. Designed by Joaquín Toesca, it’s all white stone and symmetry, but you can still see marks from its dramatic past if you look closely. Our guide didn’t shy away from talking about the 1973 bombing and how they restored the building after. There were school kids on a field trip taking notes, which made it feel even more real.

Cerro Santa Lucia was next—a green hill right in the middle of everything. We climbed up slowly (the steps are a bit uneven), passing fountains and old cannons tucked between gardens. From the top, you get this wide view of Santiago: glass towers mixed with old churches, mountains in the distance if it’s clear out. On our visit, there was a breeze carrying hints of eucalyptus from the trees below.

After soaking in city life, we left downtown behind for wine country—about 45 minutes outside Santiago. The drive out to Santa Rita Winery felt like a reset: vineyards rolling past both sides of the road, sunlight flickering through grape leaves. At the winery, our local guide led us through gardens and into cool cellars lined with barrels. We heard stories about “Bodega de los 120 Patriotas”—turns out there’s real history behind those bottles. The tasting included two Reserva wines and a Gran Reserva; I liked how they explained each pour without any snobbery. Lunch was at their restaurant—local flavors, nothing too fancy but really good.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Santiago City and Winery Tour

• Visit Plaza de Armas
• Walk Plaza de la Constitucion
• See Government Palace
• Explore Cerro Santa Lucia
• Tour and wine tasting at Santa Rita Winery

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for people who aren’t big wine drinkers?

Absolutely! While wine tasting is part of the experience, you’ll also explore Santiago’s main sights and learn about local history and culture.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts a full day—including city sightseeing in Santiago and your visit to Santa Rita Winery outside town.

Is lunch included at the winery?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant inside the winery is included in your tour price.

Will we have an English-speaking guide?

Yes—all guides speak English fluently and share lots of local insights along the way.

What’s included

Your private tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Santiago, all transportation, live commentary from a professional guide, entry to attractions listed above, guided wine tasting at Santa Rita Winery (with two Reserva wines and one Gran Reserva), plus lunch at their on-site restaurant. Alcoholic beverages are covered too!