Santiago: Viña Santa Cruz Wine Tour & Cable Car with Museums

One Winery, Five Wines, Three Museums, and a Cable Car Over the Colchagua Valley

You travel to Viña Santa Cruz in a private van with your party only, spend 6 hours exploring three museums (including 80+ classic cars), ride a cable car over the valley with a wine glass in hand, and taste 5 wines guided by the winery's team. Lunch at the on-site restaurant is on your own, and the full day—including 2h 45m drive each way—keeps you off public transport and away from group logistics.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Depart Santiago by private van
• Rest stop midway
• Arrive at Viña Santa Cruz
• Visit Automobile Museum with classic cars
• Explore the Wine Museum
• Tour the Meteorite Museum
• Ride cable car to Cultures Hill
• Learn about indigenous groups
• See llamas on the hill
• Enjoy Gran Chamán wine tasting
• Have lunch at winery restaurant
• Return to Santiago by private van

The Experience

Most wine tours from Santiago stick to the tasting room and call it a day. This one doesn't. You leave the city in a private van—just your group, no strangers—and after 2 hours and 45 minutes (with a rest stop built in), you arrive at Viña Santa Cruz to find three separate museums waiting. The Automobile Museum alone holds over 80 classic cars, including a DeLorean from Back to the Future and an IndyCar that stops you mid-sip if you're not careful. The Wine Museum spans 2,000 square meters. The Meteorite Museum is there too. It's a lot, and it works because you're not rushing.

The Gran Chamán tasting is the spine of the day: four wines guided by someone who actually knows the winery's philosophy, not just the tasting notes. Then you ride a private cable car up Cultures Hill with a fifth wine in hand, looking out over the Colchagua Valley while learning about the Mapuche, Aymara, and Rapa Nui peoples—and yes, there are real llamas up there. Lunch happens at the winery's restaurant (you pay separately), where the kitchen works with seasonal ingredients from the valley itself. The whole experience at Viña Santa Cruz runs about 6 hours, which sounds long until you realize you're not watching the clock.

The drive back to Santiago is the same route, same van, same WiFi and bottled water you had on the way out. By the time you're back in the city, you've seen a DeLorean, tasted five wines, ridden a cable car, and learned something about Chilean indigenous culture that you didn't expect to get from a winery visit. The private transport means no group herding, no waiting for stragglers, no sharing the van with people on a different schedule than yours.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned van for your group only.
• WiFi and bottled water on board.
• entry to three museums (Automobile Museum with 80+ classic cars, Wine Museum, Meteorite Museum).
• guided tasting of 4 Gran Chamán wines with an introduction to the winery's philosophy.
• a fifth wine served during the private cable car ride up Cultures Hill.
• access to indigenous cultural exhibits and valley views.
• time to explore at your own pace during the 6-hour visit at Viña Santa Cruz.
• lunch at the winery's restaurant available separately.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Gems of Chile

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to skip the logistics of renting a car, navigating to the valley, and timing museum visits yourself—the private van and fixed itinerary handle all three, leaving you free to move between wine, cars, and culture without planning the route.

Top questions

How long is the drive from Santiago to Viña Santa Cruz?

Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes each way, with a rest stop included on the route.

What's included in the wine tasting?

A guided tasting of 4 Gran Chamán wines at the winery, plus a fifth wine served during the cable car ride. The guide explains the winery's philosophy and the valley's character.

Are the museums included in the tour?

Yes. You visit the Automobile Museum (80+ classic cars), the Wine Museum (2,000 m²), and the Meteorite Museum as part of the experience.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at the winery's restaurant is available but costs extra. The restaurant serves contemporary Chilean cuisine with seasonal ingredients from Colchagua Valley.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It's not recommended for travelers with serious mobility issues, as the cable car and museum visits involve some walking.

Is the van shared with other groups?

No. Private transportation means only your party travels in the van.

What's on Cultures Hill?

A cable car takes you up to see indigenous-themed cultural exhibits representing the Mapuche, Aymara, and Rapa Nui peoples, plus panoramic views of the Colchagua Valley. There are also llamas on the hill.

Does the van have air conditioning and WiFi?

Yes. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and WiFi is available on board, along with bottled water.