9 Best Sights in Rancagua, The Central Valley

A great counterpoint to the huge wine exporters is this small, biodynamic winery 34 km (21 miles) south of Rancagua. It's run by a lovely French-Chilean couple who were regional pioneers in aging wines in clay amphoras. Intimate tours end with a tasting in the subterranean wine cave. You can also sleep on-site at the small B&B (from US$80 per room) to wake up ensconced in the wild organically grown vines.

A block north of the plaza along Calle Estado is this 18th-century church that was declared a national monument for its beauty and significance in the city's fateful history. It was in this bell tower that O'Higgins waited in vain for reinforcements during the Battle of Independence. The somber, neoclassical twin spires are a fitting memorial.

High in the mountains north of Termas de Cauquenes, 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Rancagua, the El Teniente Mine is the world's largest subterranean copper mine, in operation since colonial times. In 1905 the city of Sewell, known as the "City of Stairs," was constructed at 2,130 meters (6,988 feet) above sea level to house miners. Abandoned in the early 1970s, Sewell was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006. Rancagua tour operator VTS offers guided tours of both the mine and the city every day (except Monday), with transport from Santiago or Rancagua.

This three-room museum re-creates a typical 18th-century home, complete with period furniture and religious artifacts. A small collection of 19th-century weaponry is the type that would have been used in the momentous Battle of Rancagua. Dioramas illustrate this dramatic moment in the country's quest for independence. The whitewashed colonial building is a few blocks south of Plaza de los Héroes.

Today's Rancagüinos enjoy relaxing in the city's central square, the Plaza de los Héroes. A statue of the valiant war hero and future first president Bernardo O'Higgins on horseback stands proudly in the center of the plaza. Although each side of the statue base contains one of his famous sayings, curiously enough, there is nothing to indicate to visitors and newcomers that it is a statue of O'Higgins.

Numerous short and moderate trails lead through thick forests of cypress trees at this 92,000-acre national reserve 50 km (31 miles) east of Rancagua. Some of the trails come to clearings where you are treated to spectacular views of the Andes above. CONAF, the national parks service, has an office here with informative displays and maps. Hiking, swimming, and horseback riding are all available, and you can camp overnight at well-run grounds. Just south of the park is the spot where a plane carrying Uruguayan university students crashed in 1972. The story of the group, some of whom survived three months in a harsh winter by resorting to cannibalism, was told in the book and film Alive.

On the southern banks of the Río Cachapoal about 34 km (21 miles) east of Rancagua, the Termas de Cauquenes spout mineral-rich water that has been revered for its medicinal properties since colonial days. The Spanish discovered the 48°C (118°F) springs in the late 1500s, and basic visitor facilities have existed since the 1700s. José de San Martín, who masterminded the defeat of Spanish forces in Chile, is said to have relaxed here before beginning his campaign. Naturalist Charles Darwin, who visited in 1834, wrote that the springs were situated in "a quiet, solitary spot, with a good deal of wild beauty." Nowadays though, the Gothic-style bathhouse and accommodation are a little run-down and the view is interrupted by pipelines and a road mainly used by trucks heading to the nearby mine. To reach the springs, take Ruta 29 from Rancagua to Coya and then head south for 5 km (3 miles).

One of Chile's most important wine exporters with bottles in 80 countries, Viña San Pedro makes its range of five fine wines (Altair, Cabo de Hornos, Sideral, Kankana del Elqui, and Tierras Moradas) at this striking gravity-flow facility 30 km (19 miles) south of Rancagua. Expect sweeping Andes views as you tour the property by foot or on a cycle through the vines. Both picnic lunches and full-on Chilean feasts are available with advanced reservation.

Off-the-beaten-path Viñedos Torreón de Paredes has the soul of a small winery with the ambition of its larger counterparts up and down the Central Valley. Named for the 300-year-old adobe tower at its heart, the winery’s tours take in the historic grounds and end with a tasting of either reserve or premium wines, most of which are made only for export.