3 Days in Viña del Mar: An Active Traveler’s Itinerary
Viña del Mar, about 1.5-2 hours from Santiago, is one of Chile’s premier coastal resort cities, with its beaches, ocean views, and a laid-back resort feel.
But it’s also an underrated spot for active travelers. The city has solid sidewalks, a long beachfront park and boardwalk that’s ideal for running, and coastal paths that connect many of the biggest landmarks. I found it to be the kind of place where you can rack up steps (or miles) and still feel like you’re sightseeing the whole time.
Below is travel logistics for Viña and a 3-day itinerary I built and followed during my trip – follow it to efficiently hit the highlights of the area, soak up the beautiful ocean views, all the while getting your movement in!
Logistics
Transit (Santiago ⇄ Viña del Mar)
The easiest way to get to Viña del Mar from Santiago is a direct coach bus. Routes run frequently, and typical travel time lands around ~1h 35m to ~1h 55m depending on the terminal and traffic. Tickets range from 4,000-8,000 CLP (~$4.5-7.5 USD). Check here for routes and prices.
Quick tips:
You’ll usually depart from major Santiago bus terminals (like Terminal San Borja / Pajaritos) and arrive at the Viña del Mar bus terminal.
My preferred route is the FlixBus from Pajaritos station: The coach buses are really comfortable with assigned seats and air conditioning, and the Pajaritos station is easily reachable on the Santiago metro (Line 1).
If you’re traveling on a weekend or holiday, assume it might take longer.
Where to stay
Recommended: Near Playa Acapulco (map below)
For the most central, walkable experience. Easy access to landmarks, the beach, restaurants, and shopping.
Alternative: Near Playa Caleta Abarca (across the estuary)
There’s a cluster of hotels over here, but getting into the main central area means walking uphill and (in places) alongside a busier car road.
General map of the center areas of Viña del Mar and some routes of this itinerary. The beach park path is where the Day 2 running path is and also leads to Concón Dunes and Reñaca.
Walkability
Very walkable overall. Central Viña has broad sidewalks, a calm atmosphere, easy beach access, and most “classic sights” are close to each other.
One note: between the Playa Acapulco area and the Flower Clock, there’s a stretch near Avenida Marina with heavier traffic. The sidewalk is wide and we still felt safe, but it’s worth staying aware.
Safety
Overall, we felt Viña was safe in the main tourist areas. Playa Acapulco is full of resort condos, and throughout the day and night there are people out and about, but the vibe felt calm rather than chaotic.
That said, popular landmarks can attract crowds and peddlers, so keep your belongings close and stay aware (the usual travel basics).
What to pack (active traveler edition)
Comfortable (athletic) clothing and sneakers (walking and running, museum-friendly)
Light layer (ocean windchill can sneak up on you)
Sunglasses + sunscreen
Water bottle
Small day bag you can keep in front in crowds
Optional: hat, electrolytes
[Want the full carry-on-only breakdown? My complete one-bag packing list →]
If you only have 1 day
Pick one of these depending on how “active” you want to go:
Option A: City highlights (no logistics stress, less mileage)
Coastal landmarks walk + viewpoints + sunset at Playa Acapulco
Add the beach run route in the morning if you want
Option B: Concón Dunes + Reñaca (a bit more logistics, more mileage)
Concón dunes + cliffside walk to Reñaca
Bus/ride-share one of the ways to keep it manageable
Itinerary
See down in this post for details of each day!
Day 1: Coastal landmarks walk + sunset
Day 2: Flat beach run + museums + one evening pick
Day 3: Concón Dunes + Reñaca Beach + coastal cliffside walk
Use these maps to get oriented to the routes of each day:
Day 1: Coastal landmarks walk + sunset
Total walking: ~3.2 miles / 5.1 km, mostly flat
Best photo move: Do Reloj de Flores with brighter sunlight (saturated colors)
View from Mirador Playa de los Artistas. You can see Concón Dunes and Reñaca in the background.
Early afternoon: Arrive + check-in
If you're staying near the Playa Acapulco area, the start of the loop walk is a quick walk away.
Afternoon: Coastal landmarks loop
Start: Plaza Playa Acapulco → enter Av. Perú
Stop 1: Casino exterior (quick photo stop)
Stop 2: Castillo Wulff (photo stop)
Stop 3: Reloj de Flores / Flower Clock (10–15 min)
Stop 4: Playa Caleta Abarca (15–30 min)
Stop 5: Mirador Playa de los Artistas (viewpoint)
End: Double back → Playa Acapulco (great for golden hour / sunset)
Evening: Sunset at Playa Acapulco
Grab a drink or dinner at Tierra del Fuego – Chilean restaurant with a terrace overlooking the ocean.
Day 2: Flat beach run + museums + one evening pick
Total: ~5 miles / 8 km, very flat
Morning: Beach run
Route: Muelle Vergara ⇄ Playa Los Marinos along the beach park
Distance: ~2.5 miles / 4 km round trip
Tip: Go early if you want to avoid crowds and have more uninterrupted running.
Beach run path.
Lunch: Chilean empanadas
Recommended: Empanada Santa Carmela
I’m calling this little place out because their empanada stood out – honestly better than most I’ve had in Santiago. Order the empanada de pino for the classic Chilean flavor.
Location: 5 Nte. 349, Viña del Mar.
Afternoon: Museums
What: A compact archaeology and natural history museum with a Moai statue out front.
Hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays 10:00 to 18:00 / Mondays 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 18:00 / Sundays 10:00 to 14:00 [note the early closing time]
Ticket: Adults 4.500 CLP ($5 USD) / Kids under 14 1.000 CLP ($1.10 USD).
Tour type: Self-guided
Personal notes: I didn’t go inside on my visit, but the Moai out front is still worth a quick stop. However, the museum is highly rated and overall a great place to spend an hour to learn about Chilean prehistory.
What: An elegant early-1900s mansion-turned-museum where you can wander historic interiors and decorative details.
Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays 10:30 to 17:30 [Closed Mondays]
Ticket: Free
Tour type: Self-guided
Personal notes: I did go inside for this one, and it’s a nice change of pace from the beach—more “slow stroll through beautiful rooms” than a long, information-heavy museum.
Evening: Mall or Park
Option 1: Mall Marina
Huge shopping center with multiple buildings and food courts. Pretty much has all the brands you can think of.
Check store hours before you go.
Option 2: Quinta Vergara Park
Big park with a garden and the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater, which hosts the Viña del Mar International Song Festival every year.
Day 3: Concón Dunes + Reñaca Beach + coastal cliffside walk
Total: ~4.8 miles / 8.8 km, gentle rolling elevations
Concón Dunes.
Early morning: Eat well for a long day on your feet!
Breakfast
Eat well for a long day on your feet!
Pack for the day
Wear: Comfortable active clothes, sneakers with some tread or grip (for the soft sand of the dunes)
Bring: Wind layer, sunglasses, sunscreen, water
Optional: Electrolytes + a snack (you’ll be out longer than you think)
Morning: Transit to Concón Dunes
Option 1: Bus (cheaper, slightly more logistics)
Buses commonly listed: 307 / 605 / 609
Get off near Av. Reñaca – Blanca Estela (dine are directly next to the stop)
Cost: roughly $1–2 USD / ~1000–2000 CLP (varies)
Option 2: Ride-share (easiest)
Set your destination to “Dunas de Concón”
From Playa Acapulco, Uber is often around ~8000–9000 CLP (~$10 USD) depending on demand
Late morning: Explore Concón Dunes
Take your time and enjoy the views – expect wind and soft sand.
Note: This area (Campo Dunar de la Punta de Concón) is a Nature Sanctuary, so stay on respectful paths and avoid trampling vegetation.
Midday: Cliffside walk toward Reñaca
Walk the neighborhoods and viewpoints toward Reñaca (gentle ups/downs).
Ballpark: ~1.5 miles / 2.5 km (about 45–60 minutes, depending on stops)
Lunch + afternoon: Reñaca
Reñaca is a beach town with lots of cafes – perfect for a long lunch, then beach time and exploring.
Reñaca beach boardwalk.
Late afternoon return: Walk coastal path back to Viña
Best views (recommended): walk the coastal path back toward central Viña (ocean the whole way).
If you’re tired: take a bus/ride-share back from Reñaca and save your legs.
Coastal cliffside walk from Reñaca back to central Viña.
Got a layover through Panama City? Check out my Panama City layover itinerary!
Going around South America? Check out my Lima overview guide and itineraries for days in Miraflores, Barranco, and the Historic Center!
