Santiago

Santiago sits in a valley ringed by the Andes, close enough that the mountains are visible from the city centre on a clear day and skiing is possible within an hour’s drive in winter. The capital has developed a serious food and wine scene in recent years, with the Maipo and Casablanca valleys both close enough for an easy day trip. Most Chile itineraries use Santiago as a bookend rather than a focus, though its museums and neighbourhoods reward a day or two of their own.