REGION: Central Chile
ACTIVITY LEVEL: 1-2 (Easy +)
DURATION: 6—8 hrs.
MIN. / MAX. PEOPLE: 2—15; larger groups with advanced booking.
SEASON: Year round
INCLUDED: Professional local tour guide (with First Aid Accreditation and mobile phone), and private transportation with seat insurance.
NOT INCLUDED: Travel insurance, personal equipment, lunch, tips or anything not listed in the program.
GUEST PROVIDES: Comfortable clothes appropriate to the activity.
TOUR OPERATED BY: Patagonia SouthernLand Expeditions staff.

Depart from your Santiago hotel. We drive to La Vega Central, our first stop. It is Santiago’s main market and is bustling, noisy and crowded, especially in the mornings and weekends. Then we drive to the Central Market. The origin of this market goes back to Chilean colonial times when farmers living north of Santiago had to cross the Mapocho River to bring their products to the Plaza de Armas. In the market you discover an abundant display of fruit and produce. We stroll through the small aisles to take in the colors and smells of native fruit and veggies.

Come prepared for a true market experience that will be a memorable part of your stay in Santiago. During the tour, you have the opportunity to enjoy a nice lunch in the Central Market (at your expense).

Then, we continue to the historical center of the city to see the Presidential Palace La Moneda and Constitution Square. Also see the former National Congress and the Justice Tribunal buildings on route to the impressive Plaza de Armas (Main Square). Here, we find the Metropolitan Cathedral, Governor’s Palace, the former Main Post Office and National Historic Museum.

Then we cross the Mapocho River to reach the bohemian Barrio Bellavista district around San Cristóbal Hill. We visit the top of this emblematic hill in the heart of Santiago city and enjoy the views of the city and the surrounding Andes Mountains.

Finally, we visit the village of Los Dominicos. Located next to the beautiful San Vicente Ferrer Church (a National Monument), the village is a must stop for every tourist. The artisan’s village mixes our history and our handcrafting traditions. The shops, built with mud and straw, are home to more than 150 artisans, representing the best and most complete showing of Chilean handicrafts. You see artists working on natural products such as leather, fine woods, straw, baked mud, glass, wool, roots, metals and semiprecious stones such as silver and lapis lazuli, transforming them into beautiful and unique works of art.

Our tour finishes at your hotel or other arranged destination.

Note: It is essential that you wear layered clothing in order to fully enjoy and participate in this excursion, windbreaker, sunglasses, hat, and sun protector.