Traveling to Chile with children

If you are going to stay on the coast then you are a bit limited to what is available in the area, beaches off-season and small towns. It would not be practical to visit the places around Santiago if you are staying on the coast. You would spend a lot of time driving.

I was worried that this may not be the best location as I started to do some research (we are going w/ others and this was their suggestion). We prefer not to stay in Santiago. Can you recommend somewhere just outside Santiago that would be more convenient to the sites? And where would you recommend that we go?

I really wish that we had more than a week for this trip as there looks to be so many interesting places to visit-- unfortunately they all look to be pretty far from each other.

We welcome all suggestions and at this point we can still make changes to our plans.

Thanks so much.
Jeanne

You need to pin down what you want to do (lots of info on this site) and then decide where you want to stay. Maybe you just want to relax and eat lots of nice seafood. In that case, you could stay on the coast and do day trips to Olmue (La Campana park for a picnic and horses for the two eldest), Valparaíso, built all over the hills above the harbor and cool old funicular cars to take you up and down, walks by the sea.
If, on the other hand, you are thinking of museums, vineyards or getting up close to the Andes, then Santiago would suit. There is a great zoo on the Cerro San Cristobal, right in the city (also has a funicular!) or you can take the train to Buin and visit the Buin Zoo.
It really is a choice: city or coast. With a week you do not want to be traveling around. Cabins are the best bet near the coast and some are very nice indeed. Apart-hotels are the way to go in the city.
Jeanne, are you from the US? Do you know about the reciprocity fee? Just asking.

yes, I am from the US and read that there is a $132 reciprocity fee per person-- yikes! Do you know if this can be paid w/ a credit card? Do I have the amount correct?

I am interested in going to the Andes as well. Is this easy to do from Santiago? Where would you recommend that we go? We love to hike and to do other outdoor activities.

As I read more about Chile, I am disappointed that we don't have a month or more to spend there. One week is too short!
Thanks so much!

The fee is US$131 pp, good for the life of the passport. You can pay by credit card.
What about this: you spend the first night in Santiago and the following day, don't rent a car yet. Use that day to go up Cerro San Cristobal for the view (and/or zoo), maybe spend a couple of hours at one of the two swimming pools up there if it is too hot to sightsee (abt US$9 for the day, lockers and clean changing rooms), visit the neighbourhood of Bellavista at the bottom of the hill for an early meal if necessary. Maybe do some leisurely sightseeing. The following day, go either 1) up to the Cajón del Maipo. Stay a night or two to do some outdoor activities.
http://www.cascada.net/index_ing/index
You could do it as a day trip, but it would be tiring. It takes an hour to an hour and a half to drive there depending on how high up the valley you go. You could then stay in Santiago or 2)now head for the coast. Base yourselves in somewhere like Reñaca, just beyond Viña del Mar, where you will have cabins and use that as a base to explore the coast north, and Olmue. A metrotrain runs between the center of Viña and Valparaíso if you want to go and explore it.
From the coast to the airport will be about 2 hours drive.
That may be too much moving around for you with a small toddler. If so, you will have to choose.
I think car seats for kids are obligatory until age 3 (check) but you might want to bring a booster seat with you.

Thanks for your suggestions!

We are now thinking about tweeking our plans a bit... we are thinking of spending 3 days in La Serena and area and then the remaining 3 days in Zapailler. Any suggestions of things to do and see? Any great restaurants in these towns? Suggestions for places to stay in both towns?
Thanks.

Zapallar: Hotel Isla Seca is nice..There may be one other hotel in this town, not sure. Zapallar is mainly large vacation homes and estates. Our favorite meal in three weeks in South America was in Zapallar at El Chiringuito, a casual seafood restaurant on the water.Order the machas parmesana, razor clams bakes with parmesan.
South of Zapallar is another beach town, Mantencillo(sp?) which looked like it had more places to stay.
Zapallar reminded us of a miniature Santa Barbara, toney, pretty landscape, nice beaches.

Has anyone heard of a hotel called Hotel Elqui Domus-- it is an astronomical hotel and looks like a very interesting place to stay! Would love to know if anyone has stayed here and what they thought.

We own a condo just to the North of La Serena (7km). We have driven by the hotel ElquiDomos, but have never stopped in to look at it. I can tell you that it is in an interesting area. The drive up the Elqui Valley is very nice. Be sure to stop at Vicuna along the way. On the main square (Plaza de Armas) are some excellent artisan shops. You can pick up some excellent work at 1/3 to 1/2 the price in the States. Pisco Elqui is another nice town to visit. Past Pisco Elqui, but before the hotel is a vineyard called Cave de Valle that you can tour. It is owned by a retired Chilean couple from Santiago. She speaks good English as she worked in Vancouver, B.C. for a while. She will tour you around. It is quite nice, and excellent wine is produced there. There are excellent restaurants in the area. The dirt road that is mentioned by the hotel has recently been upgraded. When we were last there (April), it was still under construction, but I am sure they are finished now. I can send you pictures of the area if you want. I can tell you much more about La Serena and Coquimbo if you decide to go. We own at a development called La Serena Golf. It is on the ocean, and has a very nice golf course. This website has units for rent here if you are interested. http://www.laserenaproperties.com/
We are from New york state, and do not live here year round, and will not be there in November, so we cannot assist you in person while you are in the area. If you need more info, my email address is richardlaakso@hotmail.com

Thank you for your response. I have sent an email to the hotel but have not heard back from them. But it sounds like they are still in business?

Are there any specific restaurants that you would recommend?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g664072-d1065193-r37713765-Hotel_Astronomico_Elqui_Domos-Pisco_Elqui.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

Did you check out these reviews on Trip Advisor?

Yes, I do. One is called El Cielo. Literal translation is the heaven, It is a small restaurant, but very good. When it was recommended to us by the winemaker I told you about she called it "a little bit of heaven". From your motel, you would turn right and proceed say 10 km up the road. I do not remember exactly. You will want to drive up this road anyhow. There are some signs for the restaurant. It will be on your left. Keep on driving, because our first time we thought we must have passed it, but we kept on going and came upon it. Say halfway to the restaurant is an artisan collective, and it is worth stopping at. We have also been told that just beyond this restaurant is another resort and nice restaurant, but we have not been to it. We tried the last time we were there, but the road construction had traffic stopped, and after 1/2 hour of waiting we turned around. I am sure they opened it up just as soon as we turned around. However, we found another very nice restaurant back much closer to your motel. I cannot remember the name of it. The food is excellent, and you can sit outside or inside. Most people sit outside, and the overflow crowd sits inside. I can send you some pictures of it, and if you show one to the hotel they will know right away what the name is and where it is. We have eaten at it twice, and both times it filed up with people.

I forgot to add that the restaurant has a beautiful view of the valley and mountains.

thanks again!!

Oh boy! Chile ... my native land.
I have lived in NY for 30+ years now, but I was born and raised in Santiago (Stgo).
I have many family members there so I go about twice a year.

It warms my heart to know people in the US are actually interested in visiting and learning about that far away, skinny stretch of land.

It is beautiful! I know, I'm a little biased, but if you have ever driven up the California coast, LA to San Fran = the central coast of Chile.

I was in Serena a few years ago, in February (chilean summer) and it was delightful. But I don't know enough about the area to recommend anything. Family took care of having a place to stay (apt) and restaurants were plentiful and pretty good, but it was the height of the season so many of them might not be operational in November. We did play golf in the course by the ocean and it was amazing.

Sorry for the long post ... If you want to stay away from Stgo, Serena is a very nice, relaxing, laid back place.

Do remember that November is the equivalent of May (weatherwise in the north eastern US). Late spring, not quite summer yet, but temperatures can reach 80s in the daytime. Cool nights - bring sweats and/or sweaters. Ocean water will be freezing cold. Opt for heated swimming pools if you can.

Hope you and your family have a fabulous time - even with that awfully long flight!

Sorry, I didn't see your question before.

Yes, you can go to ski resorts from Stgo.
You can schedule a day trip from Stgo to Portillo (about 2 hrs one way) or Farellones, Valle Nevado, Colorado (1 hr or less, one way) from Stgo). But you will see no snow in November.

Thanks for the tips.

Just a short note. If you go to La Serena or Zapallar, it will be cool, but mild along the coast (warmer in La Serena), but the Elqui valley will most likely be sunny and in the 80's, perhaps low 90's. There is a big difference between the coast and the interior. Just as it is along the California coastline.