Inca Lagoon tour from Santiago: wine tasting and mountain drive
The Andes unfold in 29 switchbacks on a single afternoon.
This 11-hour tour from Santiago includes hotel pickup, a wine tasting at In Situ Family Vineyards with the Andes as backdrop, a scenic mountain drive to Inca Lagoon, and free time to explore the lake and lunch at Portillo restaurant. The route passes Aconcagua (the highest peak in the Americas), llama stops for photographs, and Los Caracoles, the winding mountain road with 29 switchbacks near the Chile-Argentina border. A live guide leads the group; lunch is at your own expense, and the winery stop is replaced by a picnic and wine tasting on Sundays and holidays.
11h
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit vineyard, Inca Lagoon, and Portillo
- Hotel pickup in Santiago at 8 a.m.
- Drive to In Situ Family Vineyards
- Wine tasting at vineyard with Andes view
- Stop to photograph and pet llamas
- Stop to see Aconcagua mountain
- Drive along Los Caracoles mountain road
- Visit Inca Lagoon and learn its legend
- Free time for lunch at Portillo Restaurant
- Explore shores of Inca Lagoon
- Stop to photograph winding road
- Return to hotel in Santiago
The Experience
The day starts with hotel pickup in Santiago before 8 a.m., then heads toward the Aconcagua Valley. On clear days, you'll stop to see Aconcagua itself—6,960 meters above sea level and the highest mountain in all the Americas—before arriving at In Situ Family Vineyards in San Esteban. There you taste the winery's high-quality wines in an outdoor space with the Andes and vineyard rows framing the tasting.
After the winery, the route climbs toward Inca Lagoon with a stop where free-roaming llamas roam and can be photographed and touched. The road then enters Los Caracoles, a series of 29 switchbacks carved into the mountainside a few kilometers from the Chile-Argentina border—you'll stop to photograph the winding road itself. The drive is the centerpiece of the afternoon; the switchbacks and mountain views are what make the route memorable.
Inca Lagoon sits beside Portillo, South America's first ski resort, where you have free time to explore the lake shore (weather and season permitting) and lunch at Portillo's Restaurant at your own cost. The return journey includes one more photo stop at the famous winding road before heading back to Santiago. The whole day runs about 11 hours. Wear comfortable shoes for the small amount of walking involved, bring sunblock and a wind jacket, and note that in winter, snow closures may prevent access to the lake shore.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from Santiago.
- transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- wine tasting at In Situ Family Vineyards.
- free time to explore Inca Lagoon and photograph llamas along the route.
- stops at Aconcagua (weather permitting) and Los Caracoles switchback road for photographs.
Operated by Go2Chile Travel
Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese, so you can follow the commentary in your language. The tour suits all fitness levels, though wear comfortable shoes for the small amount of walking involved and bring sunblock and a wind jacket for the high altitude and exposure.
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Top questions
What is Inca Lagoon and why is it worth the drive?
Inca Lagoon is a natural alpine lake in the Andes beside Portillo ski resort. According to local legend, the Inca spirit Illi Yunqui buried his princess there after she fell from a cliff, and the waters took on an emerald shade from her eyes. You have free time to walk the shore and take photographs, though winter snow closures may restrict access.
Can I see Aconcagua on this tour?
Yes, on clear days the route includes a stop to photograph Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas at 6,960 meters above sea level. The stop depends on weather; the guide will determine if visibility allows it.
What happens at In Situ Family Vineyards?
In Situ Family Vineyards is a family-owned winery in San Esteban, Region V. You taste their high-quality wines in a charming outdoor space with the Andes mountains and vineyard rows as the backdrop. On Sundays and holidays, the winery visit is replaced with a picnic and wine tasting at the llama stop instead.
What is Los Caracoles?
Los Caracoles is a famous mountain road with 29 switchbacks located a few kilometers from the Chile-Argentina border. The name means "the snail road" because of its winding shape. You'll stop to photograph the switchbacks and the views from the road.
Is lunch included, and what about the llamas?
Lunch at Portillo's Restaurant is at your own expense. The tour includes a stop where free-roaming llamas can be photographed and petted, and there is also a restroom stop where you can purchase optional empanadas if you wish.
What language does the guide speak?
The guide speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language suits you.
Inca Lagoon tour from Santiago: wine tasting and mountain drive
11h · EN · PT +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 79 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.842,172 reviews
