universitylad

Hi Fodorites:
I'll be in Chile for about ten days in March and could use some help firming up itinerary plans. We are two middle aged men who like museums, great food, wine, wine tours, great scenery, light hiking but nothing too strenuous. We are not too keen on renting a car to drive long distances and had considered seeing some wineries via day trips. Do you think the itineary below includes too much time in Santiago? Too much time in the Pucon area? Should we try to fit in another area of the country? We did Cama buses in Argentina from Buenos Aires to Mendoza and thought they worked out well.

Day 1:Wed:
Arrive Santiago at 7AM from the US.
Check into Hotel and explore Santiago a bit

Day 2:Thursday:
Day trip with wine excusion to Colchagua valley. Return to Santiago for dinner

Day 3: Friday
Day trip to Valparaiso or Vina del Mar. Return to Santiago for the evening.

Day 4: Saturday:
Explore Santiago then take overnight bus to Pucon.

Day 5: Sunday:
Arrive Pucon. Explore. Maybe hot springs.

Day 6: Monday:
Pucon area: Volcano Park

Day 7: Tuesday:
Pucon area: National Park Huerquehue hiking. Take night bus back to Santiago

Day 8: Wednesday:
Arrive back in Santiago. Explore Santiago

Day 9: Thursday:
Wine Tour: Day trip to ACONCAGUA VALLEY for wine excursion. Return to Santiago for Dinner evening.

Day 10. Friday: Santiago: Last Day;
Explore Santiago and head to airpot late afternoon for 7 PM flight to US.

Huentetu

I think you have too much exploring Santiago. Let's see.

Day 1:Wed:
Arrive Santiago at 7AM from the US.
Check into Hotel and explore Santiago a bit
(Do the free walking tour in the pm (3) and get to see what you might want to go back to during other days in Santiago)

Day 2:Thursday:
Day trip with wine excusion to Colchagua valley. Return to Santiago for dinner
(That is a long day, about 2.5 hrs there and the same back.)

Day 3: Friday
Day trip to Valparaiso or Vina del Mar. Return to Santiago for the evening.
(Definitely Valparaíso and spend a night if you can.)

Day 4: Saturday:
Explore Santiago then take overnight bus to Pucon(If you overnight in Valpo you can lunch there and then bus back to get your overnight bus. There are buses which go from Viña or Valpo to Pucón but they either go through Santiago anyway or are usually not the best service.)

Day 5: Sunday:
Arrive Pucon. Explore. Maybe hot springs.
(Definitely hot springs. Get your lodging to book the transfer to Huife, abt 25 mins from Pucón. They have a restaurant and a snack bar. If the weather is bad it is still lovely to soak in the hot pools. If you arrive very early and want breakfast, the one on the bus isn't any good, head over to école and get some good coffee and breakfast. Portions are very large. Sharing might be the thing.)

Day 6: Monday:
Pucon area: Volcano Park
(Thinking of climbing the volcano? It is more strenuous than they tell you.)

Day 7: Tuesday:
Pucon area: National Park Huerquehue hiking. Take night bus back to Santiago.
(Buy a collapsible hiking pole. You will thank me.)

Day 8: Wednesday:
Arrive back in Santiago. Explore Santiago
(OK, here is where you go back to the museums etc you saw the first day.)

Day 9: Thursday:
Wine Tour: Day trip to ACONCAGUA VALLEY for wine excursion. Return to Santiago for Dinner evening.
(Fine)

Day 10. Friday: Santiago: Last Day;
Explore Santiago and head to airpot late afternoon for 7 PM flight to US.
(Take line 1 of the metro and go to Los Dominicos craft village. Last stop on the line. Entrance next to the copper domed church. Go and have a nice early lunch somewhere and off to the airport).

GillsinEurope

Huentetu - Any way I can private message you? I don't want to steal universitylad's thread, but I'd love to pick your brain regarding living in Chile. Like universitylad, we're also planning a trip in March and want to see the best of what we can in the little time that we have. I'd really appreciate some insight! Thanks! Sorry to intrude universitylad. When in March are you going? We're the 10th-19th from SFO.

Huentetu

If it is about living in Chile, try www.allchile.net. I don't think there is any PM function on Fodor's.

universitylad

Gills: We are there the March 21-April 1.

GillsinEurope

How about an email address Huentetu? I promise not to harass you. I think your input on other members' threads are very helpful and I'd love to get some of your insight on what neighborhoods to visit in Santiago and where in the Lake district we should focus our energies. I'll check out allchile.net too. Thanks!

Huentetu

universitylad, any thoughts on my suggestions?

Gills, I don't give out my email. Sorry. Post questions and I am glad to answer them if I can.

GillsinEurope

Fair enough. We have nine days in Chile and are trying to decide between what universitylad is doing (Pucon area) or Puerto Montt lake area. We're also wanting to do an overnight in La Serena to star gaze and probably an overnight in Valpo. Why don't I direct you to my thread so I don't impose anymore on poor universitylad. Sorry again universitylad.

My thread: http://tinyurl.com/6u4ya6v

crellston

I really wish we had had the benefit of Huentetu's advice before we travelled in Chile - we missed so much! Here is a link to our blog with some photos of Valparaiso and Pucon (we loved both places:
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...ai/1/tpod.html
Entries 65 -69 cover Chile

GillsinEurope

Huentetu - Been looking at allchile.net for a couple hours now. Good info. Thanks!