Santiago Tour from San Antonio or Valparaiso: City Highlights

La Moneda Palace, a colonial plaza, a cathedral, a hilltop, and the bars of Bellavista in five hours

A small group tour of Santiago departing from San Antonio or Valparaiso cruise port, with pickup included and transport by air-conditioned minivan. The route covers La Moneda Palace (where the guide explains the 1973 military coup), Plaza de Armas (the city's founding square), the Metropolitan Cathedral, Santa Lucia Hill, and Bellavista, the bohemian neighborhood where Pablo Neruda's house stands among restaurants and bars. Groups stay under 12 people per vehicle. The tour runs five hours total, including the drive from the port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. La Moneda Palace20m
2. Plaza de Armas20m
3. Metropolitan Cathedral15m
4. Santa Lucia Hill30m
5. Bellavistapass by

Transfer and Santiago city tour

• Pick up at San Antonio or Valparaiso port
• Drive to Santiago (1.5 hours)
• Visit La Moneda Palace and learn history
• Stop at Plaza de Armas and hear about Santiago
• Visit Metropolitan Cathedral
• Visit Santa Lucia Hill and city history
• Pass through Bellavista district, see bars and La Chascona
• Stop at park to see swans and flamingos

The experience

The driver picks you up at San Antonio or Valparaiso port and drives roughly ninety minutes inland to Santiago. Once in the city, the guide stops at La Moneda Palace, the presidential residence, to walk through the country's political history and the events of 1973. From there, the route moves to Plaza de Armas, the main square where Santiago was founded, then into the Metropolitan Cathedral, the most important religious building in Chile.

Santa Lucia Hill comes next: a viewpoint in the city center where the guide points out how the landscape shaped the city's growth. The tour then passes through Bellavista, the neighborhood known for its bars, restaurants and galleries. The guide shows you La Chascona, the house where poet Pablo Neruda lived, and can point out lunch spots if you want to eat there (lunch is on your own). A stop at a park in an upscale district rounds out the day, where you can see and feed black-necked swans and Chilean flamingos before heading back to the port.

Bottled water is included throughout. The minivan is air-conditioned, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on the group. If you're booked on a cruise, provide your ship's name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at checkout so the driver can time the pickup and return.

What’s included

• One-way transfer from San Antonio or Valparaiso port with pickup included.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan for groups of no more than 12 people.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 79 years) · Senior (80 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled 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

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

Operated by CENTRAL VALLEY TOURS

Is this one for you?Small groups of up to 12 travel together in one vehicle, so you're not on a coach with fifty others. The minivan size keeps the pace relaxed and the guide's attention distributed. This works best if you're arriving by cruise ship and have a fixed re-boarding time, since the driver coordinates the pickup and return to match your ship's schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What is La Moneda Palace and why does the guide spend time there?

La Moneda Palace is the presidential residence of Chile. The guide stops there to explain the country's political history, particularly the military coup of 1973 and its impact on the nation.

Can I get lunch during the Santiago tour?

Lunch is not included, but the tour passes through Bellavista, a bohemian district full of restaurants and bars where you can eat on your own. The guide can point out options if you want to stop.

How long is the drive from the port to Santiago?

The drive from San Antonio or Valparaiso port to Santiago takes approximately one hour and a half. The five-hour tour time includes this drive plus all the stops in the city.

What is Bellavista and what will I see there?

Bellavista is Santiago's most famous bohemian district, known for its bars, restaurants and cultural venues. The tour passes through it and stops at La Chascona, the house where poet Pablo Neruda lived.

Does the tour include a stop where I can see wildlife?

Yes. A park in one of Santiago's upscale districts is included, where you can see and feed black-necked swans and Chilean flamingos.