3 Days in Viña del Mar: An Active Traveler’s Guide + 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!
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Logistics
Map of route (Map data © Google).
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 above)
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.
Looking for housing on Airbnb? Check out 5 Airbnb tips I’ve learned from 100+ stays (that people often miss) →
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 (crossbody or sling > backpack here; I use and love the ultra-lightweight and packable Osprey Ultralight Collapsible Stuff Waist Pack (*))
Optional: hat, electrolytes
Want the full one-bag-only breakdown? → My complete one-bag packing list
Water
Tap water in Chile is potable. This means you can safely drink it. However, the water in Viña is hard (high in minerals) and chlorine-treated, so you might not like the taste. If that’s the case, you can generally get large-sized bottles of water in groceries or convenience stores.
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Itinerary Overview
See below 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
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
Day 1: Coastal landmarks walk + sunset
👉 This is a summary — for the full Day 1 itinerary (route + map + timing) → Read the deep-dive →
Total walking: ~3.2 miles / 5.1 km, mostly flat.
Why this day is special: It’s the easiest way to hit Viña’s most iconic coastal landmarks in one scenic loop, with a sunset finish on the beach.
Best photo move: Do Reloj de Flores (Flower Clock) in the afternoon for brighter sunlight + saturated colors.
Flower clock and surrounding park.
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
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
👉 This is a summary — Run: full running route (route + map + tips) → Read the deep dive → • Museums: details included here (no separate deep-dive).
Total: ~5 miles / 8 km, very flat
Why this day is special: It’s a balanced day with ocean air in the morning, culture in the afternoon, and an easy take-your-pick evening.
Beach path for the run.
Morning: Beach run
Route: Muelle Vergara ⇄ Playa Los Marinos along the beach park
Distance: ~2.5 miles / 4 km round trip
Tip: Go early to avoid crowds and get a smoother, uninterrupted run.
Lunch: Chilean empanadas
Empanada Santa Carmela (5 Nte. 349, Viña del Mar)
Order: empanada de pino for the classic Chilean flavor
Note: This spot stood out — honestly better than most I’ve had in Santiago.
Afternoon: Museums
What: A compact archaeology and natural history museum with a Moai statue out front.
Hours: Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00 / Mon 10:00–14:00 & 15:00–18:00 / Sun 10:00–14:00 (early close)
Ticket: Adults: 4,500 CLP (~$5 USD) / Kids under 14: 1,000 CLP (~$1.10 USD)
Tour type: Self-guided
Personal note: I didn’t go inside on my visit, but the Moai is still worth a quick stop. The museum is highly rated and a great 1-hour visit to learn about Chilean prehistory.
What: An elegant early-1900s mansion-turned-museum where you can wander historic interiors and decorative details.
Hours: Tue–Sun 10:30–17:30 (closed Mondays)
Ticket: Free
Tour type: Self-guided
Personal note: I did go inside for this one, and I didn’t expect to like it so much. The focus of the museum is the preserved interior decor, rather than information, though there are placards throughout to give you a bit of history of the place and the family that owned it. It was very empty the Tuesday afternoon I visited, so I was able to quietly immerse in the beautiful decor.
Evening: Choose one (mall or park)
These are both big and in opposite directions, so I’d pick one. If you really want both: do the park before sunset, then rideshare to Mall Marina for dinner/shopping.
Option 1: Mall Marina
Huge shopping center with multiple buildings and food courts—most major brands.
Tip: Check store hours before you go.
Option 2: Quinta Vergara Park
Big park with gardens and the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater, which hosts the Viña del Mar International Song Festival every year.
Interior at Museo Palacio Rioja.
Day 3: Concón Dunes + Reñaca Beach + coastal cliffside walk
👉 This is a summary — for the full Day 3 itinerary (route + map + timing) → Read the deep-dive →
Total: ~4.8 miles / 8.8 km, gentle rolling elevations (soft sand + wind at the dunes adds effort).
Why this day is special: It’s a “wild-coast” day with huge dune views, cliffside scenery, a beach-town lunch stop, and the option for an ocean-view walk all the way back to Viña.
Concón Dunes.
Breakfast + pack for the day
Eat well, pack water, sun protection, and a wind layer.
Morning: Transit to Concón Dunes
Take a bus or rideshare to Dunas de Concón.
Late morning: Explore Concón Dunes
Take your time and enjoy the views.
Stick to established paths to protect the dunes.
Midday: Cliffside walk toward Reñaca
Scenic neighborhood walk with gentle ups/downs on the way to Reñaca.
Lunch + afternoon: Reñaca
Beach town energy: cafes for a long lunch, then beach time and exploring.
Late afternoon return: Walk coastal path back to Viña
Recommended: walk the coastal path back for ocean views. If you’re tired, bus/ride-share back.
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Have a question about this or planning something similar?
Shoot me a message or leave a comment below — I read everything, and I’m always happy to help if I can!
