Give your clients a spectacular holiday in Santiago with these quirky and unusual travel experiences. And get them to the Chilean capital with Qantas.
Santiago, the Chilean capital, isn’t just museums, cathedrals and lively nightlife.
It’s also a city full of the unusual – whether that be unique places to stay, quirky dining options or just weird tours and attractions.
Getting there is the easy part, thanks to the Qantas.
Qantas operates B747 aircraft to Santiago fitted with A380 interiors, including the award-winning fully-flat Skybed in Business, an exclusive Premium Economy cabin, and spacious and comfortable seats in Economy.
But deciding on what to do once there? Well, that’s another thing.
Thankfully, we’ve made this easier for you, and compiled a list of recommendations on the more unusual experiences to be had in Santiago. Are you ready?
Stay at the Magica Lodge
Sure, it’s not technically in Santiago, but the Magica Lodge is so different, and so charming, that’s it’s worth taking the 7-hour drive to the southern Andes to experience a few days here.
Looking like it’s been taken straight out of the movie Avatar, the Magica Lodge is an extraordinary hotel hidden away in the centre of a 300,000-acre private nature reserve.
The hotel resembles a volcano – spewing water instead of lava – and is covered in lush vegetation, so green that you can actually feel your lungs getting healthier.
You may want to extend that few days to a few weeks…
Dine a La Jardin
Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.410555795663918.120551.377653588954139&type=3
Looks can be deceiving, and no where is this more true than in the case of La Jardin.
Looking very much like a scrap yard overrun by the jungle, La Jardin (the garden) is actually a superb cafe/restaurant nestled in the Barrio Italia district, and is based on the concept of reutilising waste and materials from the big smoke.
The place is pretty much built and decorated with reusable items – from old bicycles, to vintage clothes, to copper pots and pans – and offers diners a unique spot in which to grab a bite to eat away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Don’t leave without trying the ginger lemonade.
Go on a tour of Santiago’s subway art
Not all art is housed within galleries.
Some of it is housed deep underground, in cavernous train platforms – like in Santiago’s Metro network.
The metro system in Santiago is one of the most extensive systems in South America, and it holds beautiful expressions of Chilean culture in nearly every corner – from murals to sculptures to paintings.
Check out the artwork at the Universidad de Chile Station, for example, which is home to a huge mural depicting the history of the country created by Mario Toral. A free art tour with your train ticket? Yes please…
Go wine tasting at Viña Aquitania
Perched at the foot of the stunning Andes, with a gorgeous back-drop of snow-capped mountains, Viña Aquitania is undoubtedly Santiago’s most interesting winery.
It was started by two French men back in 1990 who settled in Chile after discovering the country could provide the high quality terrain – and the unique surroundings – for an original, top shelf winery.
Visitors to the winery have the opportunity to observe the entire process of wine production here, where modern equipment is used and bottles are still labeled manually.
Pay your respects at the General Cemetery
We don’t usually recommend visiting a cemetery on a holidays – it’s a but macabre don’t you think? – but the General Cemetery in Santiago is a little different. It’s been named one of the World’s Most Scenic Cemeteries and we can attest to that.
Spread out over 210 acres, this lavish and expansive cemetery is full to the brim with peaceful gardens and an abundance of colorful, sweet smelling flowers.
It’s also the resting place – it is a cemetery after all – of many influential and historical figures from Chile’s rich history, including all but two of the deceased Presidents of Chile.
So, what are you waiting for?
Visit Qantas.com and book your clients on the Flying Kangaroo today, and help them see a different side of Santiago.
What are your recommendations on things to do and see in Santiago? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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