Valparaíso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca: Small Group Day Trip

Summary

Colorful hills, ocean breezes and a taste of Chilean wine country

You’ll wander Valparaíso’s painted hillsides with a local guide, see Viña del Mar’s famous Moai before it returns home, and stroll windswept avenues by the Pacific. End your day trip from Santiago tasting wines among Casablanca Valley vineyards — with hotel pickup included so you can just soak it all in.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely stepped out in Viña del Mar when our guide, Camila, waved us over to the Moai statue outside the Francisco Fonck Museum. She told us it’s one of the last ones left on the mainland — and soon heading back to Rapa Nui. There was this odd hush around it, even though buses rumbled by and a little kid tried to climb its base (his mom wasn’t thrilled). I didn’t expect to feel something just looking at a stone figure, but there you go.

The Flower Clock was next — honestly, I thought it might be cheesy, but it’s actually kind of sweet. Locals paused for selfies, and a gardener in blue overalls was trimming the edges like he did it every day for years. Then we walked along Avenida Perú, sea breeze mixing with the smell of churros from a street cart. Camila pointed out Wulff Castle and the summer palace — she made a joke about presidential vacations that I half-understood (my Spanish is shaky). The Pacific looked gray and endless; gulls everywhere.

Valparaíso felt like another planet. We rode an old funicular up Cerro Alegre — it rattled so much I grabbed the handrail tighter than I meant to. Street art covers everything: cats in sunglasses, poems in wild colors. Camila knew some of the artists by name; she even showed us her favorite mural near Pasaje Bavestrello. At Plaza Sotomayor, fishermen were hauling buckets of shellfish while pelicans eyed them hopefully. The city smells like salt and paint and frying fish all at once.

I kept thinking about that view from Cerro Concepción — rooftops tumbling toward the bay, sunlight catching on laundry lines. After all that walking (and climbing), sitting down in Casablanca Valley with a glass of chilled white was perfect. Our host at the vineyard poured each tasting himself and told stories about his family’s vines; I probably drank slower than anyone else because I wanted to make it last. The ride back to Santiago felt quieter somehow — maybe everyone was just thinking about their own favorite part.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, and Casablanca tour

• Pick up from Santiago hotel
• Travel to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar
• Tour Caleta Portales fishing terminal
• Visit Plaza Sotomayor and naval monument
• Walk Cerro Alegre murals and viewpoints
• Explore Pasaje Bavestrello
• Visit Baburizza Palace museum
• Ride historic funicular on Cerro Concepción
• Walk Cerro Concepción viewpoints
• Stop at Viña del Mar Easter Island Moai
• Photograph Viña del Mar Flower Clock
• Walk Avenida Perú waterfront and see castles
• Travel to Casablanca Valley vineyard
• Enjoy wine tasting and learn about wine
• Return to Santiago

Top questions

How long does this Valparaíso & Casablanca day trip take?

The full tour lasts about 10 hours including driving time from Santiago and stops at each destination.

Is hotel pickup included for this small group tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Santiago are included in your booking.

How many people are on each tour group?

This is a small group tour limited to 7 travelers for a more personal experience.

Do we get to ride a funicular in Valparaíso?

Yes, riding one of Valparaíso’s historic funiculars is part of the experience.

Is lunch or food included during the tour?

A wine tasting is included in Casablanca Valley; other meals or snacks are not specified as included.

Are entrance fees covered for attractions?

The guided walking tours and vineyard tasting are included; entry fees are not specifically mentioned for museums or other sites.

Can children join this day trip?

The tour is suitable for all ages; infants seats are available if needed.

Will we visit both Valparaíso and Viña del Mar on this trip?

Yes, both cities are featured along with time in Casablanca Valley for wine tasting.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Santiago, comfortable air-conditioned transport throughout, guided walking tours through Valparaíso’s hillsides (with funicular ride), stops at Viña del Mar landmarks like the Flower Clock and Moai statue, plus a wine tasting session at a local vineyard in Casablanca Valley before heading back home again.