Shared day
Our coast day
Shared, with pickup
- Length10 hours
- StopsCoast to Concon
- GuideSpanish, English, Portuguese
See your group's price
Valparaiso day trip from Santiago, stop by stop
Valparaiso and Vina del Mar day from Santiago
★ 4.2 · 4,090 guest ratings
Compare 4 alternatives
Cost of the coast day for your group
Choose a day from Santiago and the number of travellers.
- Our coast day10 hours, pickup · per person, from $39
≈
View - Valparaiso and Vina10 hours, Renaca · per person, from $44
≈
View - Coast and Casablanca10 hours, Fonck Museum · per person, from $40
≈
View - Classic small group10.5 hours, up to 15 · per person, from $35
≈
View
All amounts are from-prices on GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. Exact prices are shown at booking.
A Valparaiso day trip from Santiago packs a port city, a garden city and a wild stretch of coast into one long day. Here is how it unfolds, and what to save for another visit.
Editorial team, valparaisotour.com · Updated November 11, 2026 · ~7 min read
Facts at a glance
- DistanceSantiago to Valparaiso is 120 km along Route 68.1
- Our dayA guided day of 10 hours with pickup, from $39.
- On the wayA courtesy wine and olive oil tasting stop.
- On the coastThe port on its hills, the garden city, the surf beach and the rocks of Concon.
- Not insideIsla Negra is a separate trip of about two hours each way.2
Is Valparaiso a day trip from Santiago
Is Valparaiso a day trip from Santiago? Yes, and an easy one. The two cities are linked by Route 68, and the coast lies 120 km from the capital, about an hour and a half by road.1 Chile's tourism service describes Valparaiso and Vina del Mar as sister cities just over an hour from Santiago, good for a quick escape as well as a longer stay.3 Most visitors who come for a day go home feeling they have seen the essentials.
A day does have limits. The ride there and back takes a good share of the hours, and the hills of Valparaiso reward slow wandering more than a fixed schedule. What a single day does well is give you the shape of the coast: the steep port city, the gardens and promenades of its neighbour, and the surf and rocks to the north. Many travellers use it as a scouting trip and decide afterwards whether to come back for a night.
The day sold on this site is built for exactly that overview. It runs for 10 hours, starts with a pickup from your lodging and is guided in Spanish, English or Portuguese. Its listing promises a tasting on the way out, then the painted hillsides of Valparaiso, the parks of Vina del Mar, the beach at Renaca and the headland rocks around Concon. It is a long day, so a good breakfast and comfortable shoes are worth more than any souvenir.
One day or more
What the day covers and what it skips
| Place | On our day | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso hills | Yes, on foot | Heritage site since 2003 |
| Vina del Mar | Yes | Gardens and Flower Clock |
| Renaca and Concon | Yes | Beach and Oceanic Rock |
| Casablanca wineries | Tasting stop only | Cool-climate white wines |
| La Sebastiana inside | Not listed | Entry CLP 11,000 |
| Isla Negra | No | About two hours from Santiago |
Based on the stops our listing names and on Chile Travel.12,8,13,2
The morning: Route 68 and the wine country
The road west leaves the city through farmland and low hills before it climbs over the coastal range. Further along lies the Casablanca Valley, whose town sits 80 km from Santiago, roughly an hour by road.7 The valley has a cool climate and is known for white wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay above all, with Pinot Noir among its reds.8
Our day halts on this road so you can try wine and olive oil as a free courtesy; the listing's highlights name the Curacavi Valley for this stop. It is short and informal, a chance to stretch your legs and taste a glass. Do not expect a cellar tour at this stop; those belong to the dedicated wine days that spend longer in Casablanca.
Carry a layer from the start. The valley is Mediterranean in climate, but Chile's tourism service advises bringing a jacket for the coastal breezes that pick up in the afternoon.9 Mornings on the coast are often grey and cool even in summer, then the sun breaks through by midday, so dressing in layers lets you stay comfortable from the first stop to the last.
Valparaiso: the port on the hills
Valparaiso was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, for its maze of hills and its historic centre.12 The date of its founding is uncertain, but Chile Travel places it around 1559, when the Spanish built the La Matriz Church.16 Its great age of wealth came in the 19th century, when ships rounding Cape Horn from the Atlantic had to stop here, and trade from half the world passed through.15
On a day tour the time in Valparaiso is usually spent on foot. Cerros Alegre and Concepcion are the classic pair, with cobbled lanes, painted houses and galleries.4 To climb from the flat lower town, the city has long relied on funiculars, in use since around 1883 and still running today; foreign visitors pay CLP 1,000 a ride.17,18
Down at sea level, Plaza Sotomayor is the old civic heart, and Muelle Prat, a 3-minute walk away, is where boats leave for rides around the bay.19 Whether your group rides a funicular or takes a boat depends on the guide and the timing on the day. If one of them matters to you, ask the guide early, while the plan for the afternoon is still open.
Your day
Is a guided coast day right for you
Your situation, and the way to see the coast that fits it.
If I have one free day in Santiago
The guided day
It covers Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and the coast in 10 hours with pickup.
If I want time inside the hills
Bus and a night
Buses take almost 2 hours and let you set your own pace.14
If Neruda is my reason to go
Check the stops
One day from Santiago names La Sebastiana among its stops.
If I care most about wine
A wine day
Casablanca is known for Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.8
If I want the beaches too
The guided day
Our day continues past Renaca to Concon.
Ways to do it
Choose your style of coast day
City pair
Valparaiso and Vina
Shared, with Renaca
- Length10 hours
- StopsValparaiso, Vina, Renaca
- GroupSmall groups
Independent
Bus on your own
From Alameda or Pajaritos
- RideAlmost 2 hours
- Coast northLocal buses
- GuideNone
Vina del Mar, the garden city next door
Vina del Mar sits just 10 kilometers from Valparaiso, yet it feels like another country.10 Where Valparaiso tumbles down its hills, Vina spreads along the sea with avenues, parks and beaches, and Chile Travel calls it the Garden City.5 The contrast is the reason a Valparaiso and Vina del Mar tour from Santiago works so well: the two halves of the day never feel like repetition.
The Flower Clock is the town's best-known picture, a working clock face planted with flowers that Vina acquired in 1962 for the FIFA World Cup.20 Along the shore, Wulff Castle, built in 1906, perches on the rocks with its towers facing the Pacific.21 Together with the Vergara Pier, these landmarks make up the heritage of the waterfront.22
Inland from the clock lies Quinta Vergara, a park with an open-air amphitheatre that hosts the Vina del Mar International Song Festival every February.23 Our day's listing highlights the parks and gardens of Vina, and the listing leaves lunch to you, so Vina is a natural place to stop and eat. Choose a place near the promenade and you can eat with a view of the ocean.
Stop by stop
How the coast day unfolds
First
Pickup in Santiago
Pickup is included; the listing gives details at booking.
On the road
Tasting stop
Free samples of local wine and olive oil before the coast.
On the coast
Valparaiso hills
Cobbled lanes and colourful houses on the hills.4
Next door
Vina del Mar
The Garden City, its Flower Clock and its promenade.5
Up the coast
Renaca and Concon
The beach resort, then the Oceanic Rock at Concon.6
At the end
Back to Santiago
The guided day lasts 10 hours in all.
Renaca, Concon and the Oceanic Rock
North of Vina the coast road runs past Renaca, which Chile Travel calls the most emblematic beach resort of Vina del Mar, with golden sand that suits surfing and bodyboarding, and plenty of room on the sand for an easy stroll.6 Above the beach, the Cochoa viewpoint gives a wide view over the bay, and sea lions can often be seen on the rocks below.24
Our day continues to Concon and the Oceanic Rock, both named in its highlights. This is the wildest part of the day, a short stretch of open coast where the waves hit dark rock and sea birds wheel overhead. On a clear day the views along this shore are wide and open, so keep your camera ready and a jacket within reach, because the wind off the sea can be cold.
Respect the sea on this part of the coast. Chile Travel tells visitors to keep away from the shoreline whenever there is a tidal surge alert.25 Rocks near the water can be slippery, and waves on this coast arrive with force. Stay behind the barriers, keep children close, and take your photos from the paths rather than from the wet ledges.
Video
Things to do on a day trip to Valparaiso from Santiago
Jason and Melissa Travel on YouTube · Video data is requested only when you tap play.
The port reached its heyday in the 19 th century, when it became an obligatory stop for boats coming crossing Cape Horn from the Atlantic Ocean, helping it develop a strong presence in international trade.
Day checklist
Ready for a long day on the coast
Wear3
- Layers for a cool morning and a windy afternoon
- Shoes with grip for steep cobbled streets
- Sunscreen and sunglasses for the beaches
Carry3
- Small peso notes for funiculars
- Water for the walk in the hills
- Your booking and pickup details
Plan2
- A full day away from Santiago
- A second day for museums or Isla Negra
Squeezed in, and left for another visit
A single day covers the outside of everything and the inside of very little. You will walk a hill or two in Valparaiso, see the waterfront of Vina, and stop on the coast to the north. You will not have time for a long museum visit, a sit-down tasting at a winery and an evening in the hills all at once.
Pablo Neruda's house museum, La Sebastiana, is a good example. The poet bought it in 1959, and general admission costs CLP 11,000; seeing it properly takes time a busy day tour rarely leaves.13 One listing from Santiago does name La Sebastiana among its stops, so check each listing's stops if the house is on your list.
Isla Negra, Neruda's seaside home further south, is a separate outing, which by car from the capital takes approximately two hours according to Chile Travel.2 The home museum there is where the poet lived with Matilde Urrutia, and both are buried facing the Pacific.26 Combine it with Valparaiso only on a second day, or on a private tour that builds its own route.
A guided day or the bus on your own
You can make the trip by public transport. Coaches depart the capital throughout the day, from terminals such as Alameda or Pajaritos, and reach Valparaiso in almost 2 hours.14 For Vina del Mar the tourism service gives 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus.27 Use official services at bus terminals and airports, as Chile Travel advises.28
Going alone gives you freedom in Valparaiso but costs time on the coast. Reaching Renaca and Concon means local buses or taxis; Renaca alone is 8 km from the Vina bus terminal, about 15 minutes by taxi.11 Stringing the whole loop together on public transport can be done, though the waiting eats into every stop.
The guided day removes those links from your to-do list. Pickup is included, the guide handles the route, and the coast to the north comes with the ticket. If this is your first trip west and you can spare a single day, that makes the tour the stronger pick; for a second visit, or if you want to linger in the hills, the bus and a night on the coast win.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
How far is the drive from Santiago to the coast?
How long is the day tour?
10 hours.
Our guided day lasts 10 hours, with pickup in Santiago included in the price.
Which places does the day visit?
The coast from Valparaiso to Concon.
The listing names Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Renaca, Concon, the Oceanic Rock and a tasting stop.
Is there a wine stop on the way?
Yes, a short tasting.
Sampling wine and olive oil at no charge is part of the morning; for this stop the highlights name the Curacavi Valley.
Can I visit La Sebastiana on the day?
Rarely inside the day.
Check the listing stops: one Santiago day names La Sebastiana; entry costs CLP 11,000.13
Is the bus a good alternative?
What should I wear?
Layers and walking shoes.
Chile Travel advises a jacket for the afternoon coastal breeze in the wine valley.9
Sources
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Valparaiso ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Isla Negra ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Valparaiso ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Vina del Mar and Renaca ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Renaca ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Casablanca Valley ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Casablanca Valley ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Casablanca Valley ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Landing in Valparaiso: World Heritage and culture ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Renaca ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Landing in Valparaiso: World Heritage and culture ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Valparaiso ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Landing in Valparaiso: World Heritage and culture ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Landing in Valparaiso: World Heritage and culture ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Landing in Valparaiso: World Heritage and culture ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Beaches of Vina del Mar ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · What to Do in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: 7 Must-Sees ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Renaca ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Beaches of Vina del Mar ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Isla Negra ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · Vina del Mar and Renaca ↩
- Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service (chile.travel) · How to get around Chile ↩
Also worth reading