The Central Valley
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Central Valley - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Museo de Colchagua
One of the best museums in Chile, this attractive, colonial-style, 20th-century building houses exhibitions on the history of the region. It's the largest private natural-history...
One of the best museums in Chile, this attractive, colonial-style, 20th-century building houses exhibitions on the history of the region. It's the largest private natural-history collection in the country and second only in size to Santiago's Museo Nacional de Historia Natural. Exhibits include pre-Columbian mummies, extinct insects set in amber viewed through special lenses, the world's largest collection of silver work by the indigenous Mapuche, and the only known original copy of Chile's proclamation of independence. A few early vehicles and wine-making implements surround the building. The museum is the creation of Santa Cruz native and wealthy businessman Carlos Cardoen. His foundation, Fundación Cardoen, runs three additional museums in greater Santa Cruz, which are dedicated to wine, antique cars, and indigenous arts and crafts. Purchase a Route of the Museums pass if you want to visit two or more.
Av. Errázuriz 145, Santa Cruz, O'Higgins, 3130000, Chile72-282–1050Sight Details
Rate Includes: 7000 pesos -
2. Viña Gillmore
The Gillmores, who own this winery, were instrumental in creating the VIGNO label, a type of appellation of origin for Maule Valley Carignan whereby wines...
The Gillmores, who own this winery, were instrumental in creating the VIGNO label, a type of appellation of origin for Maule Valley Carignan whereby wines must be made from at least 65% old-vine, dry-farmed grapes. This experimental vineyard has also raised the profile of Chile's long neglected País grape, which was previously used only for bulk wines. Try both, as well as the lush red blends, on a tour or tasting. In addition to making fine red wines, the Gillmores have created a fun place to stop and spend a couple of hours or stay on for a night or two. Take the Pan-American Highway to the "Camino a Constitución" turnoff, south of San Javier. Head west over the Loncomilla River and through the rolling hills of the Coastal Mountains for 20 km (13 miles); Viña Gillmore is on the right.
San Javier, Maule, 3660000, Chile9-9645–0851Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours from 6000 pesos, Reservations recommended -
3. Viña MontGras
Despite dripping with charm and class, MontGras is one of the friendliest and most approachable vineyards in the valley, with excellent English-language tours of the...
Despite dripping with charm and class, MontGras is one of the friendliest and most approachable vineyards in the valley, with excellent English-language tours of the property as well as the option to just taste wines by the glass. Creative tour options include a blind tasting, an open-air barbecue, or a “Winemaker for the Day” class where you can create your own blend. If your visit coincides with harvest (February-April), you can also do a “My Harvest” tour to pick grapes and then foot-tread them in a traditional way.
Camino Isla de Yáquil s/n, Santa Cruz, O'Higgins, Chile72-282–2845Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours from 18000 pesos, Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations recommended -
4. Viña Tipaume
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...
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.
Cerrillo Bajo s/n, Rancagua, O'Higgins, Chile9-6208–8347Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours US$45, Reservations required -
5. Bouchon Family Wines
Bouchon Family Wines' historic Mingre Estate, about 10 minutes west of Viña Gillmore on the road to Constitución, is a wild and atmospheric setting for...
Bouchon Family Wines' historic Mingre Estate, about 10 minutes west of Viña Gillmore on the road to Constitución, is a wild and atmospheric setting for an afternoon of wine tasting. Tours start in the wine cellar and barrel room, and end in tastings of three wines, including two unique interpretations of the rustic and long maligned grape País (one of which is made from extremely old vines). The attached Casa Bouchon hotel is one of the region's most luxurious stays.
Km 30, Camino a Constitución, San Javier, Maule, Chile9-7477–4879Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours from 15000 pesos, Reservations essential -
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6. Casa Silva
The Silva family is a true wine dynasty of Chile, and the family vineyard, just five minutes off the Pan-American Highway, is one of the...
The Silva family is a true wine dynasty of Chile, and the family vineyard, just five minutes off the Pan-American Highway, is one of the most convenient in the area to visit. The atmospheric wine cellar is one of the oldest in Colchagua, and the colonial architecture has been tastefully refurbished throughout the winery and production rooms, where a tour shows you the main facilities as well as the family's collection of classic cars. Finish up with a tasting in the modern wine shop, or cycle, drive, or walk through the vineyards to the excellent restaurant overlooking the polo fields.
Hijuela Norte, San Fernando, O'Higgins, 3070000, Chile72-271–6519Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours from 16000 pesos -
7. Cerro la Virgen
You can make out the city's orderly design from this hill that affords a panoramic view of Talca and the vineyards in the distance....
You can make out the city's orderly design from this hill that affords a panoramic view of Talca and the vineyards in the distance.
Talca, Maule, 3460000, Chile -
8. Iglesia de la Merced
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...
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.
At Cuevas and Estado, Rancagua, O'Higgins, 2820000, Chile -
9. Iglesia Parroquial
Facing the central square is this imposing, fortress-like, white stucco structure. Originally built in 1817, the church has had numerous refurbishments following major earthquakes....
Facing the central square is this imposing, fortress-like, white stucco structure. Originally built in 1817, the church has had numerous refurbishments following major earthquakes.
Plaza de Armas 306, Santa Cruz, O'Higgins, 3130000, Chile -
10. Mina El Teniente and Sewell
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...
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.
Millán 1020, Rancagua, O'Higgins, 2820000, Chile72-295–2692-VTSSight Details
Rate Includes: From 44000 pesos -
11. Museo Colonial de Vichuquén
Ceramics, stone tools, and other artifacts collected from pre-Columbian peoples are on display at this small outpost from Fundación Cardoen, which operates four other museums...
Ceramics, stone tools, and other artifacts collected from pre-Columbian peoples are on display at this small outpost from Fundación Cardoen, which operates four other museums near Santa Cruz.
Vichuquén, Maule, 3420000, Chile9-8292–8991Sight Details
Rate Includes: 2000 pesos -
12. Museo Regional de 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...
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.
Estado 685, Rancagua, O'Higgins, 2820000, Chile72-222–1524Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
13. Museo San José del Carmen de El Huique
Here you can look into the lifestyle of Chile's 19th-century rich and famous. Construction began on the current house in 1829 and was completed with...
Here you can look into the lifestyle of Chile's 19th-century rich and famous. Construction began on the current house in 1829 and was completed with the inauguration of the chapel in 1852. The Errázuriz family, who can trace the 2,600-acre estate back through family lines to 1756, donated it to the Chilean Army in 1975. It was reopened as a museum in the 1990s and is now the only remaining preserved, intact estate of its kind in Chile open to the public. Inside, sumptuous suites are filled with opal glass, lead crystal, bone china, antique furniture, and family portraits evoking Chile's aristocratic past. Servants' quarters are also part of the tour, as are the kitchens and 16 working patios, each dedicated to a specific household chore, such as laundry, butchering, or cheese-making. Guides are knowledgeable and have tales to tell, as many grew up hearing family stories about working at the estate. The tour ends with a visit to the chapel, which has Venetian blown-glass balustrades around the altar and the choir loft. Visits are by prior reservation only, and English-speaking guides are available with sufficient notice.
Santa Cruz, O'Higgins, 3130000, Chile9-9733–1105-cell phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: 3000 pesos -
14. Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja
This hikers' paradise, a few hours' drive southeast of Concepción, converts to a maze of ski runs in winter. Part of the Sendero de Chile,...
This hikers' paradise, a few hours' drive southeast of Concepción, converts to a maze of ski runs in winter. Part of the Sendero de Chile, or Chilean Trail, there are several routes for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, some of which have gentler grades for people with mobility problems. Most impressive is the 36-km (22-mile) trail that rings Laguna del Laja, the country's largest natural reservoir. It crosses dozens of wooden footbridges before arriving at a valley carpeted with hardened lava—a sign of the last eruption of the now-dormant Antuco Volcano. About four dozen different species of birds can be spotted in the park, including the condor and black-headed Andean gull. Predators like the Andean fox and the puma prowl the perimeter. The ski runs are open during snow season: June through September. To get to Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja, take Ruta 5 south to Los Angeles, then Route Q45 east toward Antuco. Some parts are unpaved, so take care in adverse weather conditions.
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15. Parque Nacional Radal Siete Tazas
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...
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.
Curicó, Maule, 3380000, Chile75-222–4461-CONAFSight Details
Rate Includes: 6200 pesos -
16. Plaza de Armas
In the center of the palm-lined Plaza de Armas is a colonial-style bell tower with a carillon that chimes every 15 minutes. Inside the tower...
In the center of the palm-lined Plaza de Armas is a colonial-style bell tower with a carillon that chimes every 15 minutes. Inside the tower is a tourism kiosk with information leaflets.
Plaza de Armas, Santa Cruz, O'Higgins, 3130000, Chile -
17. Plaza de Armas
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...
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.
Plaza de Armas, Curicó, Maule, 3340000, Chile -
18. 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...
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.
Plaza de los Heroes, Rancagua, O'Higgins, 2820000, Chile -
19. Ramal Talca-Constitución
There may be no better way to get to know the Central Valley than by taking a ride on one of Chile's few remaining narrow-gauge...
There may be no better way to get to know the Central Valley than by taking a ride on one of Chile's few remaining narrow-gauge buscarril lines, which runs from Talca to the wine region of Gonzalez Bastias and on to the coastal port of Constitución. It departs from Talca's Estación de Tren three times daily. A good option is to stop at the Estación González Bastías and visit Gonzalez Bastias winery to get a tasting and traditional campestre (countryside) lunch. You can then continue to Constitución or return to Talca.
11 Oriente 1000, Talca, Maule, 3460000, ChileSight Details
Rate Includes: 10000 pesos return -
20. Reserva Nacional Altos de Lircay
With long trails that cut through native oak forests and overlook canyons, mountain lakes, and volcanic cones, the Reserva Nacional Altos de Lircay is, unsurprisingly,...
With long trails that cut through native oak forests and overlook canyons, mountain lakes, and volcanic cones, the Reserva Nacional Altos de Lircay is, unsurprisingly, quite popular with hikers. To reach the CONAF–administered park, head 66km (41 miles) east of Talca on paved roads that turn to gravel for the final 20km (12 miles). The resort town of Vilches near the park entrance has restaurants and cabins for those who don't want to camp. The park is snowed over--and largely inaccessible--July through September.
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