Santiago Historical Tours: Top 5 Picks for the Curious Traveler

So, when people think of South America, their minds often, that is, if you like, jump straight to the usual suspects – Rio’s beaches, Machu Picchu’s mountains, maybe even the Galapagos Islands. But Chile’s capital, Santiago, that just has this history almost etched into every single brick. It’s a vibrant city that really has tons of stories, secrets even, just lurking around corners. We’re going to chat about five of the coolest tours around that will, you know, take you back in time. We are, in some respects, swapping that regular touristy snapshot for something with much more character and charm.

1. Santiago City Walking Tour: A First Look

This walking tour, too it’s almost always a fantastic start. First timers always get a solid grasp of the city’s vibe, you know. It generally starts in the Plaza de Armas, Santiago’s main square that, to be honest, has witnessed absolutely everything that’s gone down. You know, right outside the Metropolitan Cathedral, the tour guides often chat away, telling stories about, that is, the city’s beginnings right up to modern-day events. Walking through those streets, they sort of point out little architectural things which reflect different periods – this neoclassical building there, or that art deco beauty here. It becomes more than just looking at sites – suddenly you get an intimate connection with the city’s heart, if you like, very fast.

Also, the guides have a tendency to steer away, or just skip past those super obvious attractions, showing off some very, very special spots that, too it’s almost always not mentioned in travel blogs or standard guidebooks. In some respects, expect to discover some local shops filled with traditional Chilean crafts or cozy cafés where those friendly locals usually hang out. People get recommendations about great places they ought to go back to and eat during the tour.

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2. The Presidential Footsteps: La Moneda Palace Tour

Now, if you want to experience that vibe, you just have to book a trip to Palacio de La Moneda. But, you need to book beforehand! What this does, very is that, in some respects, it gets people deep inside Chile’s political soul. The place itself very boasts this grand neoclassical look that usually dominates the city’s heart, or center. You know what happened inside those walls on September 11, 1973, or the day of the military coup? I would argue that tour guides provide details with an objectivity and tactfulness you ought to be interested in if you enjoy these types of trips. A lot of people have found this tour, that just really lets you experience parts of Chile’s recent past on quite a personal level, insightful in how you interpret those politics.

Beyond the history though, it really offers very up opportunities for that amateur photographer in you too. People find the courtyards remarkably peaceful or quiet that they could not skip seeing again. Then too there’s the changing-of-the-guard ceremony in this space. Many visitors make sure they witness it and that, arguably, provides plenty of photo taking opportunities. Arguably, keep the camera charged.

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3. Bohemian Vibes: A Walk Through Barrio Lastarria

When talking about Barrio Lastarria, that always has this cool almost ‘Paris meets Santiago’ sort of feeling. This area’s stuffed to the brim with cute cafés, lots of boutiques, and even these little art galleries almost everywhere you look. That really delivers a very welcome, or refreshing break if you need time away, that from the main downtown streets.

Also, lots of these guided tours take you on walks where you get to know all the history from old colonial times down to, basically, its role as one of those key cultural hubs that, usually, gives those artsy vibes off to the streets even now. Basically, there’s something almost poetic about the whole vibe that comes alive especially once the sun begins to drop lower, yet those local buskers or musicians start coming out ready to share their tunes right out on that plaza near the Fine Arts Museum. This barrio tour isn’t, basically, a history geek experience – what happens almost allows you to touch upon modern Santiago life via art too, I mean, this isn’t only a regular walk.

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4. Pablo Neruda’s Santiago: La Chascona

So, there is just a lot that connects Chile, Pablo Neruda and poetry; Neruda, a very big poetic character if you like, there is that unique story right by that interesting home he called ‘La Chascona’. Usually, it offers a more personal peep show from what it looked like through his eyes. Visiting Neruda’s former house in Santiago can provide one of those special windows to know what mattered a lot to that special icon, because this person decorated it according to their special touch.

Guides provide insight into his passion, how he wrote and just really expressed a very big love regarding his muse. Arguably, those tours highlight just all sorts about the symbolism included, and it explains everything he used inside ‘La Chascona’s’ walls. Also, its close situation right in Barrio Bellavista creates a, I would argue, really cultural combination for tourists searching for an overall complete experience, like visiting bohemian attractions during visits around historic locations too.

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5. Beyond the City: Maipo Valley Wine Tour

Okay, a vineyard adventure sounds great doesn’t it? To be honest, a journey from central Santiago towards Maipo valley becomes more of those perfect cultural escapes compared to staying exclusively near big concrete blocks all day long. As I was saying, wine here shows the dedication Chile places upon producing great agriculture given specific terroirs or farming practices found round these sides here. To be honest, several sites usually hold multiple varieties available allowing visits inside manufacturing grounds, just from cultivating stages to bottling times!

Now picture relaxing amid rolling landscapes together sipping superb Carménère. A lot that relates very well amongst tours gives insight for beginners getting, arguably, a very first flavor while educating advanced lovers, and I mean educating about Chilean vintage variations. Those experiences make fantastic detours mixing both, usually that, appreciation with Chile’s national drink plus landscape admiration too I would suggest to try.

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Discover Santiago’s true colors one neighborhood at time!

1. Plaza de Armas.
2. Barrio Lastarria artistic inspiration
3. Vineyards close from this center in central Maipo.