Chile Wine and Lakes: Santiago, Colchagua and Puerto Varas
Overview
- Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
- Departures: Private, any date
- Group size: Private, from 2 travellers
- Accommodation: Comfortable 3–4★ hotels and a vineyard-area inn
- Country: Chile
A nine-day private journey from Santiago to the vineyards of Casablanca and Colchagua and the port of Valparaíso, then south to Puerto Varas for Osorno volcano, the Petrohué falls and an optional day on Chiloé.
This journey is designed for travellers who enjoy good food and wine, gentle outdoor time and beautiful scenery without long hikes. It suits couples and friends looking for a relaxed, unhurried trip, with comfortable bases and time to enjoy each place. Nine days is enough to combine central Chile‘s wine country with the lakes and volcanoes of the south.
You start in Santiago, a modern capital backed by the Andes, then visit the cool-climate vineyards of the Casablanca Valley on the way to Valparaíso, a hillside port city of colourful houses and funiculars listed by UNESCO. A night in the Colchagua Valley, known for its full-bodied reds and especially Carménère, brings tastings and a chance to slow down in the countryside.
A short flight south takes you to Puerto Varas, on the shore of Lake Llanquihue with views of the near-perfect cone of Osorno volcano. From here you explore Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, with its turquoise Petrohué falls and the emerald waters of Lake Todos los Santos, and may join an optional day trip to the island of Chiloé, known for its wooden churches and seafood.
Day-by-day itinerary
You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After resting, take an easy walk around the Lastarria or Bellavista neighbourhoods, both known for cafés, galleries and restaurants. On clear days, look out for the snow-capped Andes rising directly behind the city.
Overnight: Santiago
A guided tour introduces Chile’s capital, starting at the Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and historic buildings. See La Moneda presidential palace and the bustling Central Market, known for seafood. Climb Santa Lucía hill or ride up Cerro San Cristóbal for panoramic views, and finish with free time to explore at your own pace.
Overnight: Santiago · Meals: Breakfast
Drive west to the Casablanca Valley, where cooling breezes from the Pacific favour crisp white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc. Visit a winery for a tasting, then continue to Valparaíso. Explore its hillside neighbourhoods on foot, ride one of the old funiculars and admire the street art and colourful houses, before returning to Santiago in the evening.
Overnight: Santiago · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel south for around two and a half to three hours to the Colchagua Valley, one of Chile’s best-known red wine regions. Visit two wineries for guided tours and tastings, learning about Carménère, a grape that has found a second home in Chile. Spend the evening in the countryside, surrounded by vineyards and low hills.
Overnight: Colchagua Valley · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a relaxed morning in the valley, perhaps visiting the small town of Santa Cruz and its museum. Transfer back to Santiago airport for the flight south to Puerto Montt, then continue by road to Puerto Varas, around half an hour away. In the evening, walk along the lakeshore with views of Osorno volcano across the water.
Overnight: Puerto Varas · Meals: Breakfast
Follow the shore of Lake Llanquihue into Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. See the Petrohué falls, where turquoise water rushes over dark volcanic rock beneath Osorno volcano. Continue to the shore of Lake Todos los Santos, with an optional boat trip, and, weather permitting, drive up the slopes of Osorno for views across the lakes.
Overnight: Puerto Varas · Meals: Breakfast
Join an optional full-day excursion to the island of Chiloé, crossing the Chacao Channel by ferry. Visit the town of Ancud and one or more of the island’s wooden churches, several of which are listed by UNESCO, and taste local dishes such as curanto, traditionally cooked in an earth pit. Alternatively, spend the day relaxing in Puerto Varas.
Overnight: Puerto Varas · Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a final free day in the Lake District. Visit the town of Frutillar, known for its German heritage, wooden houses and lakeside promenade, or ask about kayaking, cycling or horse riding. In the evening, enjoy dinner in one of Puerto Varas’s restaurants, perhaps with local salmon and a glass of Chilean wine.
Overnight: Puerto Varas · Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, enjoy a last look at the lake and the volcanoes. Transfer to Puerto Montt airport for your flight back to Santiago and onward international connections. Alternatively, extend your stay with a trip further south into Patagonia.
Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
- Eight nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast
- Private airport and hotel transfers throughout
- Domestic flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt (economy class)
- Guided city tour of Santiago
- Guided day trip to the Casablanca Valley and Valparaíso with winery tasting
- Two winery visits with tastings in the Colchagua Valley
- Guided excursion to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and the Petrohué falls
- Lunches as listed in the itinerary
Not included
- International flights and the return flight from Puerto Montt, unless confirmed in your quote
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional excursions such as the Chiloé day trip or the Todos los Santos boat ride
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses
Good to know
Sample itinerary: we adapt the route, hotels and dates to you and confirm everything in your written quote.
Private transfers and guided excursions with a driver throughout, and a domestic flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt; the return to Santiago is by domestic flight from Puerto Montt.
Frequently asked questions
Spring and autumn are lovely in central Chile, with the grape harvest usually taking place in late summer and autumn. The Lake District is wettest in winter, so the southern summer and shoulder seasons generally offer the best chance of clear volcano views.
Not at all. Winery visits are designed for all levels of interest, with explanations of how wine is made and the chance to taste a range of styles. Non-drinkers can enjoy the vineyard landscapes, food and the visits to Valparaíso and the lakes.
Yes. Puerto Varas is a natural link to the south, and the journey can be extended with flights towards Patagonia, for example to visit Torres del Paine. A specialist can help adapt the route and timing to the season.
