Duration
3 hrs
Group Size
1-10
Language
English · Español · Português
Difficulty
Easy
Meeting Point
Plaza de la Constitución
There's a morning in Santiago when trumpets ring out and the guard changes at La Moneda Palace in full ceremony - and we'll be standing right there. From the palace we wander into Plaza de Armas and the Metropolitan Cathedral, slip into hidden gems like Casa Colorada, and climb Cerro Santa Lucía for a sweeping goodbye over the rooftops. Three hours of history on foot, in a small group with a local guide, in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Every two days, Carabineros march from Plaza de la Ciudadanía to Plaza de la Constitución and hand over the watch in a ceremony held since 1851. You follow the parade to the palace, where Chile has governed since 1846, bombed during the 1973 coup and reopened in 1981.
Finished in 1618, San Francisco is the oldest building in Chile with a known construction date, the one church left standing after the great earthquake of 1647. Behind it winds Barrio Paris-Londres, a cobbled pocket of 1920s Europe.
Inside rests the Cristo de Mayo, the crucifix at the heart of Santiago's oldest legend, alongside the tomb of La Quintrala, remembered as one of colonial Chile's most feared figures.
Built in the 1770s for Mateo de Toro y Zambrano, this is the house from which he led the town council of September 18, 1810, the meeting that set Chile on the road to independence.
Pedro de Valdivia drew this square at the center of his 1541 grid. A few blocks out, the old National Congress and the Mercado Central still anchor the streets around it.
Joaquín Toesca, the architect who shaped La Moneda, gave this cathedral its neoclassical face beginning in 1780. It is the fifth church raised on the same ground.
The city reclaimed this land from the Mapocho in the 1890s and laid out a French-style park. At its center stands the 1910 Museo de Bellas Artes, the oldest art museum in South America.
The walk ends at the base of the hill where Santiago was founded in 1541, looking up at the stone terraces and ramparts that climb toward the city's birthplace.
You'll get the exact meeting point — with a map pin and a photo — in your confirmation email right after booking.
The ceremony takes place every other day, and we time the tour around it. On rare occasions the government can cancel it without notice, and these changes aren't announced to agencies in advance, so we only find out on arrival. If it's called off the day you visit, the rest of the tour runs as planned.
Santiago has over 300 sunny days a year, so rain is rare. We run tours in light rain, so bring an umbrella just in case. If the weather makes it unsafe, we'll reschedule or refund you.
Our guides host in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Let us know your preference when you book.
Yes — cancel free up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.
"Rodrigo is an excellent guide, good communicator and very knowledgeable. Fluent in English and keeps the group engaged. I would recommend this tour for anyone visiting Santiago."
Peter
"Nacha was our guide and she was awesome! It was super easy to find the pickup spot and the whole experience is very smooth! It's small group (my group has less than 10 people). Highly recommend for solos! Nacha is super patient and gave us a lot of helpful information along the way, including local food / fruits, neighborhoods, and history."
kathyshen98
"Esteban's tour vastly exceeded our expectations. Having lived in Santiago all his life, he seems to have absorbed every aspect and nuance of the city and its culture. His knowledge is extraordinary, and he can make any subject interesting."
Sam
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