Introduction
Central Chile is the political and commercial heart of the country, its energies focused on Chile's two biggest cities, Santiago and Valparaiso. The nation's capital is Santiago, with its gleaming tower blocks, chic boutiques and grand plazas. Chile's second city, Valparaiso, on the other hand, is characterised by its brightly painted, hotchpotch buildings - which have given the city UNESCO World Heritage status. The contrast between the cities is striking, but they're both well worth including in a tailor-made Central Chile tour.
After spending a few days in Santiago and Valparaiso, the Central Valley's other attractions are waiting to be discovered. From Valparaiso can be explored the dramatic Pacific coastline, while Santiago is just a few hours away from Chile's best ski resorts - the steep Andean slopes also popular with hikers in the summer months.
Another highlight of Central Chile is trying some of the region's world-class wine. The Maipo Valley is considered by many wine experts to be Chile's best wine-producing area and a number of wineries are easily accessible from Santiago. They're a great place to relax after the bustle of the capital, with snow-capped Andean peaks forming a magical backdrop as you sip a glass or two of Chile's finest drop.
