Chile

A stray street dog curls up asleep against the concrete base of the Baquedano metro station while exhaust fumes hang thick in the crisp morning air of the Andes valley. You step around the sleeping animal, clutching your transit card, knowing that within an hour the city limits will give way to jagged mountain switchbacks or ocean winds. Santiago sits in a geographic sweet spot where leaving the capital requires very little effort, provided you pick the right route out of the valley. Best Budget Day Trips # When your wallet needs protection but your adventurous spirit demands a change of scenery, the Farellones Park Tour and Andes Trip for $35 USD delivers an immediate dose of high-altitude drama. The journey begins with a stop at an equipment rental store, where those who need it can rent snow clothes, boots, gloves, or other gear before ascending the winding mountain roads. It suits travelers on a strict budget who want to see the Andes up close without paying resort-level prices, though you should remember to pack motion sickness pills for the dozens of tight hairpin turns on the way up. Alternatively, if the ocean calls louder than the peaks, the Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Classic Guided Tour Heritage Wealth for $37 USD swaps the valley for the coast. This full-day outing combines the best of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar with carefully chosen stops along the Pacific shore, making it the superior choice over higher-priced coastal options if you simply want a straightforward, affordable orientation to the coastal cities. For this trip, bring a windproof jacket because the ocean breeze off the Pacific cuts right through normal sweaters even on sunny afternoons.