Beaches near Santiago: 7 getaways for this summer

From Santiago there are beaches for every taste less than three hours away: small fishing coves, family resorts and wide beaches for long walks. Here are seven options for a beach day, from the central coast to the northern coast of the Valparaíso Region. Travel times are approximate and depend heavily on traffic.

Central coast

• Quintay (about 1 h 30): a quiet fishing cove with an old whaling station that operated until the 1960s and a large beach surrounded by forest. Perfect for a seafood lunch by the sea. See tour.
• Algarrobo (about 1 h 45): calmer beaches that work well with kids, and offshore the Pájaros Niños islet, where seabirds nest. See tour.
• Isla Negra, El Quisco (about 1 h 45): besides the beach, this is where Pablo Neruda's house museum stands, facing the rocks and the open sea. See tour.
• Cartagena (about 1 h 30): one of central Chile's most traditional seaside towns, with its beach and terraces on the hill. The poet Vicente Huidobro is buried here. See tour.

Northern coast

• Maitencillo (about 2 h): long beaches, good waves for surfing and, on windy days, paragliders over the cliffs. See tour.
• Cachagua (about 2 h 15): right off its beach is the Isla Cachagua Natural Monument, home to Humboldt penguins you can spot from the shore with binoculars. See tour.
• Papudo (about 2 h 30): an open, peaceful bay with a promenade for walking and beaches that are less crowded than on the central coast. See tour.

For more options, you can also look at El Tabo and Santo Domingo.

Tips for your beach day

• The Pacific in Chile is cold because of the Humboldt Current: ease into the water.
• Only swim at beaches approved for bathing and follow the flags. Lifeguards work mainly during the summer season.
• Wear sunscreen even when it is cloudy: UV radiation on the coast is high.
• Leave early and consider heading back before sunset on long weekends, when highways get congested.

Go with Paseito

With a private transfer you travel straight from your door, without changing buses or looking for parking on the coast, and the price is per trip, not per person, which works well for families and groups of friends. Choose your beach from the list of tours.