Field Trips for Santiago, Chile
We highly recommend students participate in the following organized field trips, which are included in your program fees. Some trips may be mandatory for specific classes and will be led by the Resident Director, instructors, or International Office staff.
Please note that destinations may only be available during certain terms and are subject to change at the discretion of the Resident Director or on-site staff.
The following are possible field trip destinations, with further details provided upon arrival.
Ocoa Valley
This trip to the first national park of the central region of Chile features an attractive valley in the coastal mountain range. Ocoa has great biodiversity and was the source of much of Charles Darwin’s research work in South America. The trip includes a 12 km hike in the Palmar de Ocoa, the most important palm tree reserve in the country and we finish the trip with empanadas, a traditional meal from South America.
Pomaire and Isla Negra
Pomaire represents an urban and cultural synthesis of ancient indigenous communities from Chile’s central zone and the influence of the Spanish conquest. It is also one of the country’s most important craft centers for pottery. You can purchase the signature red clay pieces inexpensively for souvenirs and try your hand at the potter’s wheel. Isla Negra is only the name of a coastal town -not an island- where Pablo Neruda lived and where he spent his last days. The house itself is a whole museum of all Neruda’s collections and the visit itself is a mixed of poetry, memories, views of the ocean and local history.
San José de Maipo
San José is a small and beautiful town in the valley with the same name and it is in the pre-Andean region only 60 minutes away from Santiago. The trip gives all its visitors a fascinating view of the life up in the mountains, with nature all around. Apart from handcrafts and local food, the trip includes a hike by the river, surrounded by the Andes, a visit to San José town, and group rafting in the San José river, as well as a traditional Chilean meal.
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar
Valparaíso is considered one of Latin America’s most original cities, with a colorful, bohemian vibe and breathtaking architecture left from European immigration in the 19th century. Visit the lovely gardens, parks, cliffs, and beaches of the coastal city of Viña del Mar, which lies about an hour and a half from Santiago, making it a longtime popular weekend and getaway destination.