fussn

Hi Guys,
I'm traveling to Santiago for a wedding next week - there for six nights - got some open slots in my itinerary and looking for some tips and or suggestions.
Day 1:Arrive SCL am 4/6 - check in do walking tour and soak up Santiago;
Day 2: 4/7 - Uncorked wine tour to Colchagua (choosing Colchagua over Casablanca - good choice);
Day 3: 4/8 - Lunch and Rehearsal at Vina Errazuriz - evening Fri - out on Santiago;
Day 4: 4/9 - Wedding reception - Botanico Centro de Eventos - 6:30 pm - so looking for something to do Saturday late am/mid day - thinking of taking a van up into the Cordillera (Valle Nevado) - can I do this R/T in like 6 hours or cutting it too close. And where do I catch a van for like $25 each way?
Day 5: 4/10 - recover from Wedding but looking for something to do - afternoon - or maybe just hang in Santiago and watch the Masters;
Day 6: 4/11 - flight home to DFW leaves at 10:00 pm so def need help - need to fill up this day - thinking maybe Valpariso for a day? What's the best way to get there and back - not really a public bus guy - how do I catch a reasonable van/driver? And what time do I need to be on the road to get back to SCL with plenty of time to spare - to avoid any panic?
Appreciate the dial-in folks. First time to S. America - fast one.

Huentetu

Day 1: The walking tour is a good idea. But where are you staying?
Day 2: 4/7 - Uncorked and Colchagua are both good choices. Colchagua has already had its harvest festival and Casablanca has theirs on the 9/10 of April in case you are interested.
Day 3: 4/8 - Lunch and Rehearsal at Vina Errazuriz - evening Fri - out on Santiago;
Day 4: 4/9 - The ski vans don't operate outside ski season. There are tours up to Valle Nevado. Turistik is probably the cheapest and I believe Turistour does tours there off season as well. Hotel might help with that.
Day 5: 4/10 - You might go up by metro to Los Dominicos craft village. You might link up with other wedding guests for that. It is a calm walk around and a couple of places to get a beer.
Day 6: 4/11 - I never recommend a visit out of town on the day you need to catch an international flight. An accident on the highway, a forest fire near the road…anything can take a couple of hours out of your plans. Maybe do this on the Valle Nevado day instead. The bus is very easy and cheap. There are also day tours to there but less fun. Leo Cuzmar is a very recommended guide/driver. I'll see if I can find a contact.

Huentetu

Found it:
Leo Cuzmar. He can be reached at [email protected].

fussn

Hi Huentetu - thanks so much for the reply.
-We are staying at Hotel Atton Vitacura - Wed- Sat and then the W on Sun.
-On Valle Nevado - yeah just want to get a close up on the Andes - I'll check with hotel or maybe your guide/driver Leo?
- Los Dominicos - indeed sounds cool.
- Point noted on last day (To Valparaiso). (Maybe suck it up and go day after wedding (Sun). If you can share Leo's information - much appreciated. But the Bus sounds fine too. Question - can you do Valpar - in a day - back and forth - fun? Or, do you really need to spend an evening?

Huentetu

I posted Leo's contact just above your reply.

You can do Valparaiso in a day. If you do it alone, try to do the afternoon walking tour:
http://www.tours4tips.com/en/
Most good restaurants are on Cerro Alegre. You can take a taxi from the bus station if on your own.

The Atton Vitacura is off the metro access so you will have to taxi to a metro station or taxi into town. Their Atton El Bosque (not the Las Condes one) is better placed but the Vitacura one is a very nice hotel. The W is well placed for metro and restaurants, as well as having the killer Osaka restaurant of its own..

Dianedancer

We just stayed at the Hotel Atton Vitacura. It's not in an easy to get around area. However there are restaurants nearby. We took a cab to go to another neighborhood (barrio) and then back. We had no choice (we were with a tour).

Did really like the Bellavista barrio.