4 Best Sights in Curico, The Central Valley

This 10,000-acre national reserve, 70 km (43 miles) southeast of Curicó, is famous for the unusual "Seven Teacups," a series of pools created by waterfalls along the Río Claro (although it is more accurately five teacups since the 2010 earthquake displaced two). The falls are a short hike from the park entrance, where you'll find a CONAF station. Farther along the trail are two other impressive cascades: the Salto Velo de la Novia (Bridal Veil Falls) and Salto de la Leona (Lioness Falls). Black woodpeckers, hawks, and eagles are common throughout the park, and condors nest in the highest areas. If you're lucky, you might glimpse the scarce loro tricahue, an endangered species that is Chile's largest and most colorful parrot. Camping is permitted in the park, which is snowed over in winter. October–March is the best time to visit.

The lovely Plaza de Armas has a pretty fountain ringed by statues of dancing nymphs. Nearby is an elaborate bandstand constructed in New Orleans in 1904.

The local Ruta del Vino office provides basic information and a variety of tours that range from simple half-day visits to a single winery to combination packages that include hiking, biking, and rafting. It is a useful place to visit as Curicó Valley vineyards are not as focused on tourism as other regions. English-speaking guides are available.

Curicó's star winery is owned by the Spanish wine mogul Miguel Torres, who hasn't spared a peso in building this large facility just south of town (and immediately off the Pan-American Highway). There are tastings that pair wine with either chocolate or cheese, plus a handful of unique tours---from a classic winery tour to a bike tour to one with a sparkling wine focus---and in each you'll get a glimpse into the pioneering nature of Torres, who was the first in Chile to use a stainless-steel tank (now de rigueur). He also brought another tradition from his native Iberia: the annual Wine Harvest Festival that takes place in Curicó's main plaza.

Be sure to visit the restaurant, definitely one of the finest in the area.