11 Best Sights in Side Trips from Santiago, Chile

Chilean winemaker Alvaro Espinoza and his wife, Marina Ashton, harvested their first organically grown grapes from biodynamically managed vines in their own front yard in 1998 and Chile's first ultrapremium "garage wine" was born. They've grown since then and have more land higher in the mountains but still produce just 25,000 bottles (each numbered by hand) of their red-blend Antiyal. Tours are personalized, with emphasis on environmentally friendly and biodynamic winegrowing. Llamas, alpacas, geese, and the family dog wander the vineyards. Visits should be arranged at least 24 hours in advance. Antiyal has also opened a small B&B on-site. Contact them through the winery to arrange a stay.

Chile's largest producer is consistently good in every price range, from inexpensive table wine to some of Chile's finest—and priciest—labels. Melchor de Concha y Toro, who once served as Chile's minister of finance, built the casona, or manor house, in 1875. He was among the first to import French vines, making this a cutting-edge winery since its foundation in 1883. The typical hour-long tour includes a stroll through the century-old gardens and vineyards, a look at the modern facilities, and a visit to the Casillero del Diablo, the famed cellar where Don Melchor kept his finest stock. There is a sound-and-light show in the dark here that appeals to lovers of kitsch. Tastings of three wines are included. Reserve a few days ahead for weekdays or a week ahead for popular weekend hours. Close to Puente Alto metro, the vineyard is easily reached by private or colectivo from the end of the line, though the complimentary wine glass is unlikely to survive the way home.

Chile's third-largest winery, on a sprawling estate with an impressive museum, dates to 1880, when everything from vines to winemakers was brought from France. The Pompeiian-style manor now houses the pricey 16-room Casa Real Hotel, owned by, but operated separately from, the winery. The house, its neogothic chapel, and the park that surrounds them are strictly off-limits to all but the hotel's guests, though on tours you get a good peek. The on-site Andean Museum, with its small collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and textiles, is open to the public free of charge and highly recommended. Winery tours take you down into the musty fan vault cellars, now national monuments, which were built by French engineers in 1875 using a limestone-and-egg-white stone masonry technique called cal y canto. Stop in for a lunch at Doña Paula for a formal meal, or stick to the snack bar for lighter fare. There are nine tours to choose from, including winemaker, picnic, bike, and Carménère. You must reserve a week ahead for tours.

These hot springs high in the mountains at 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level are a series of natural pools down which water drops, cooling gradually. The road is rough and often impassable in winter and there is little infrastructure, but the view and clear skies are spectacular, including from the astronomical observatory located here. Rustic lodging and camping is available. Do not confuse these rustic springs with Termas de Colina, which are similarly named but located north of the city.

Two pools in the tiny village of Baños Morales, where the Morales and Volcán rivers meet, are pleasantly warm, not hot, and rich in iodine and other minerals. You can hike from this area as well. Be warned that surprise winter storms can trap you here. The village has some rustic lodging, but many people prefer to come for the day.

This small tourist complex in the shadow of the mountains has a swimming pool and picnic area for short stays, as well as lodgings for longer sojourns. This is also a great base for exploring the Cajón. Accommodations come in several forms, including campsites, lodge suites, and freestanding cabins with rustic wood furniture. From here, multiday horseback-riding trips, guided hikes, and rafting excursions are available, as is transportation from Santiago.

Take a pottery-making course at this workshop, run by local artisans especially for visitors. Suitable for both children ages five and up and adults, the two-hour course starts with a video in English, followed by instruction in the use of a pottery wheel, and winds up with an insight into the techniques used by the area's indigenous peoples.

These slopes were discovered by engineers building the now-defunct railroad that linked Chile to Argentina. After the railroad was inaugurated in 1910, skiing aficionados headed here despite the fact that there were no facilities. Hotel Portillo, the only accommodation in the area, opened its doors in 1949, making Portillo the country's first ski resort, and went on to host the World Ski Championships in 1966. Today, for beginners through to experts it has 35 runs—the longest of these, Juncalillo, stretches 3.2 km (2 miles)—and 14 lifts. The most famous run is the very steep Roca Jack, used for training by Olympic ski teams. Day visitors can dine in the auto-servicio (cafeteria-style) restaurant, at Tío Bob's restaurant, in the main dining room (most formal option), or at the Ski Box for on-slope snacks. Equipment rentals are available for around 25,000 pesos per day.

The Alemán Lo Valdés Mountain Center, built in 1932, provides basic, well-priced lodgings and organizes activities such as trekking and horseback riding in the mountains. It is open year-round and has a restaurant that also serves day visitors until 8 pm; meals won't cost more than 9,500 pesos. If you'd prefer to do your own hike, the center can give you a map and instructions.

The De Martino family has been making wine in Isla de Maipo since 1934 and were the first in Chile to bottle Carménère, now Chile's signature grape. The winery is a strong proponent of organic viticulture. Its winemaking team has done groundbreaking work in seeking out the country's finest terroirs. Tours and tastings are run at a variety of price points and interest levels, and there's an elegant lunch for a minimum of seven people and buffet for less. Several vegetarian entreé options are available alongside meat and seafood.

Don Francisco Undurraga Vicuña founded this traditional winery in 1885 in the town of Talagante, 34 km (21 miles) southwest of Santiago. Today you can tour the gardens—designed by George Dubois, who planned Santiago's Parque Forestal—or take a look at the facilities and enjoy a tasting. Reserve ahead for a spot on a tour in English or Spanish. Viña Undurraga is along the way to Pomaire, so you might visit both in the same day. Private tours for a minimum of two participants begin weekdays at noon and must be reserved two days in advance at a cost of 28,000 pesos per person.