To start this awesome tour, our friendly driver will put you up from your hotel and we'll drive together downtown to the Mercado Central. This well-renowned market, popular with locals and tourists alike, supplies many Santiago homes and business with fresh fish all year round. We'll take a look around and then explore the market's nearby surroundings. Next to the market is Plaza de Armas, Santiago’s main square and Kilometer Zero, the point from which all distances in the country are measured. Famous architecture in the square includes the Metropolitan Cathedral and the central post office, originally built as a house for Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia. Close by stands the Justice Tribunal, in a neo-classical building housing the Supreme Court, ex-Congress and beautiful gardens.
After wandering through this area, we'll walk towards the Alameda, the main street of the city center, via busy pedestrian walkway Paseo Ahumada. This walkway is famous for its crowds, shops, and diversity of people. Once we reach the Alameda, we'll head a couple of blocks west toward La Moneda, the Presidential palace. This palace is a model of 18th-century colonial architecture and one of Santiago’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of Chile’s political past and its famously turbulent history.
Next, we'll climb Santa Lucía hill, where Santiago was founded in 1541 by Pedro Valdivia. From the top, there is a fantastic 360 panoramic view of Santiago city. Our tour finishes by visiting the bohemian Lastarria neighborhood, lined with cafés, restaurants, small theaters, bookstores and boutique shops. After a half day of city exploration, we'll head back to the hotel for a rest.
