Southern Chile Idyllic – Little South of Chile on a Round Trip with a Rental Car in 3 Weeks

Overview

Discover the idyllic landscape of central and southern Chile on a round trip in 3 weeks with a rental car. In the port city of Valparaíso, colorful hills, jolting elevators and outstanding street art are waiting for you. World-renowned surf spots and rural charm characterize Pichilemu. Countless rows of flowering vines stretch through the magnificent Valle de Colchagua. The countryside around Talca enchants with its large vineyards and wonderful hiking trails in unspoiled nature. Explore the concealed Rainbow Falls and travel back in time on a train ride on the Buscarril along the winding Maule River. At Pucón, you get impressed by pattering torrents, active volcanoes and the indigenous heritage of the Mapuche. Valdivia offers appealing river sites and traces of the history of German immigration. In the Lake Region around Puerto Varas, the view of cone-shaped volcanic peaks and picturesque waters overwhelms you. Admire stilt houses, wooden churches and mystical island culture on Chiloé. You visit the vibrant capital Santiago with its many faces, historical places and great city panoramas.

Highlights

Historic elevators and street art of Valparaíso

Excellent surf spots at Pichilemu

Prestigious wineries in the Colchagua Valley

Opulent forests and volcanic steam at Pucón

Beautiful Lago Llanquihue

Itinerary

Day 1-3: Valparaíso

After your arrival at Santiago, you drive to the coast with a rental car. Valparaíso is known for its colorful tin-clad houses, historic elevators and street art full of politics and irony. View the dazzling ocean in front of the broad mountain silhouette. Meander attentively through the winding sidewalks on the hills of this freedom-loving coastal metropolis. Go up the myriad, exhilaratingly designed stairways of the port city. And an entertaining cooking class gives you a taste of Chilean food culture.

Day 3-5: Pichilemu

Pichilemu combines seclusion with globality as a magnet for surfers from all over the world. Enjoy the inviting city core, amble along the beach and watch the water sports enthusiasts and the play of colors of the sunset behind the endless Pacific Ocean. Or try out riding the waves by yourself and get to the bottom of the fascination of surfing. It is an experience that may leave its mark on you.

Day 5-7: Valle de Colchagua

The Colchagua Valley in the heart of central Chile is home of prestigious wineries that produce highly regarded and award-winning wines and ship them from here to customers all over the globe. Embrace the tranquil and rural atmosphere and savor the traditional gastronomy. And during a tasting at a local winery, you get an interesting introduction to the elaboration of superb wines.

Day 7-10: Talca

Hilly, sprawling vineyards embed you on your route to Talca. Sink into the rural idyll and leisureliness of the small town. Discover the untouched mountain landscape in the surrounding countryside and hike to the remarkable Rainbow Waterfalls. And on a train ride with the Buscarril, you rumble at an unhurried pace along the north bank of the lovely Maule River to Constitución.

Day 10-14: Pucón

The southern Chile is nicknamed Chilean Switzerland due to its mountainous nature and European immigration history. However, with its endemic vegetation, indigenous culture and concentration of volcanoes, the beauty of the area around Pucón is very unique. You get an insight into the way of life of the Mapuche. And on an optional ascent of the active Villarrica Volcano, you experience firsthand one of the country's most imposing spectacles.

Day 14-16: Valdivia

Valdivia's history and culture are perceptibly influenced by the German immigrants who settled here, especially in the middle of the 19th century. Trace these impacts on a stroll through the city. Branching waterways furrow through the romantic province of Valdivia. And the scenic coastline with its fortifications shows you the dreaminess and resilience of this region simultaneously.

Day 16-19: Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas carries its own magic with its panorama of the sparkling Lago Llanquihue and the snowy volcanoes on the horizon, with German architecture and inviting cafes. The inexhaustible rapids of Río Petrohué break over the volcanic rocks and roar impetuously. With its cone shape and snow-capped dome, Volcán Osorno looks like something out of a picture book. And on the island of Chiloé, you discover colorful stilt houses, wooden churches and indigenous mythology.

Day 19-21: Santiago de Chile

Your tour by rental car ends. Back to central Chile, Santiago welcomes you. The striking contrast between life in the isolated peripheries of the country and the energetic bustle of the metropolis captures you. Here beats the heart of Chile. Glorious buildings and busy commerce on the streets, flourishing parks and modern high-rise complexes come together in Santiago. Here, Chile's past, present and future collide directly.

What our Travel Packages Include

Travel service:

Basic package Full package

Individual and professional advice about your journey
Tailor-made travel planning and organization

Accommodation:

Basic package Full package

20 nights in standard, comfort or premium accommodation
Double room usually with private bathroom and breakfast

Local transport:

Basic package Full package

1 national flight
2 transfer connections
Rental car (see below)

Rental car:

Basic package Full package

Rental car for 18 days (SUV)
Car type: Nissan Kicks or similar
Pick up: Santiago (Airport)
Drop off: Puerto Montt (Airport)
Kilometers: free
Border crossing: excl.
Insurance: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with basic protection against damage and theft without deductible (via refund)

Half and full day tours:

Basic package Full package

Cooking class in Valparaíso (shared)
City tour Valparaíso (private)
Wine tour in Valle de Colchagua (shared)
Hike to Rainbow Falls near Talca (shared)
Train ride along the Río Maule (shared)
Lagoons, forests and thermal baths near Pucón (shared)
Mapuche tour near Pucón (shared)
Hike in the Huerquehue National Park near Pucón (shared)
Waterfalls of Petrohué and Osorno Volcano (shared)
Tour Chiloé (shared)
City tour Santiago (private)

Our Prices for your Journey through Chile

Included:

Travel service
Accommodation
Local transport
Rental car

Excluded:

Arrival and departure, half and full day tours, entrance fees, travel insurance, short rides, meals not mentioned

Total price per person

(with 2 travelers):

From €2,710.00

Included:

Travel service
Accommodation
Local transport
Rental car
Half and full day tours

Excluded:

Arrival and departure, entrance fees, travel insurance, short rides, meals not mentioned

Total price per person

(with 2 travelers):

From €3,600.00

Add individual travel services to your journey. For example:

Intercontinental flights
Family motorhome
Free adjustment of destinations and order of your journey through Chile

Chile Central promotes sustainable and solidarity tourism. By booking your trip, you support CO₂ offset as well as a social project for disadvantaged children in Santiago.

Decided in advance? We offer attractive special rates for early bookers.