Santiago Private Tours are the easiest way to really understand the city without wasting time figuring everything out yourself.
Santiago can feel big and a bit overwhelming at first. One moment you are walking past historic buildings, the next you are surrounded by modern towers with the Andes rising behind them. Doing it on your own is possible, but you miss context, stories, and the small details that actually make the city click.
This is my personal take on the best private tours in Santiago for 2026.
After spending time in the city, I realized how much difference the right guide makes. Not just someone who points things out, but someone who explains how Santiago works, where locals actually go, and why certain places matter. Some days you want views, other days food, and sometimes you just want to walk and talk like a local.
That is exactly why I put this list together. These tours are flexible, personal, and designed to help you experience Santiago in a way that feels natural, not rushed or scripted.
All the private tours:
If you want to see one of Chile’s most iconic cities without stress, rigid schedules, or crowded buses, this private Valparaiso tour is a very solid choice.
Valparaiso is colorful, chaotic, artistic, and layered with history. Doing it with a private guide changes the entire experience. Instead of just seeing the city, you actually understand it.
Consistently top rated, flexible, and led by guides who clearly love what they do. If you want one unforgettable day outside Santiago in 2026, this tour is an excellent choice.
Book the private Valparaíso tour here
This tour is all about perspective. Both literally and figuratively.
San Cristobal Hill sits right in the middle of Santiago and gives you one of the clearest understandings of how the city is laid out, from the historic center to the Andes in the distance. Instead of visiting it in a fragmented way, this experience connects everything into one smooth route.
Santiago is a big city, and it can feel overwhelming at street level. Going up San Cristobal changes that instantly.
By combining a guided walk, a historic funicular, and the cable car, you see how nature, neighborhoods, and urban life blend together. Starting in Bellavista also adds context, since it is one of the city’s most creative and bohemian areas.
This tour works especially well early in a trip, as it helps you mentally map Santiago before exploring deeper.
The entire experience takes about two and a half hours, making it easy to combine with lunch, museums, or other city plans.
This tour is ideal if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It delivers one of the best overviews of Santiago in a short, well structured experience. Simple, efficient, and very rewarding for first time visitors.
Book the Private Walking tour here
This is one of those experiences that instantly feels different from a standard city tour.
I personally love horseback riding, and exploring the Andes foothills on horseback is a completely different way to experience Chile. You are not looking at the landscape from a van window or a viewpoint. You are moving through it, slowly, quietly, and fully present.
Just thirty minutes outside Santiago, the city noise disappears and the Andes take over.
The Andes are always visible from Santiago, but most travelers only see them from afar. This tour brings you right into the foothills and lets you experience them in a traditional and grounded way.
Horseback riding has deep roots in Chilean rural culture, and this experience connects you to that history. Riding through native forests, open valleys, and mountain trails gives you access to places that are simply not reachable by car.
It is calm, immersive, and surprisingly powerful.
The horses are well trained, and the guides adapt the ride to your experience level, whether it is your first time or you are already comfortable on horseback.
This tour is perfect if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It offers a rare perspective on the Andes that most visitors never experience. If you want to connect with Chile’s landscape in a deeper, more authentic way, this half day horseback ride is hard to beat.
Book the Horseback Riding tour here
Food is one of the fastest ways to understand a city, and Santiago is no exception.
This tour focuses on everyday Chilean food rather than fine dining or tourist menus. You visit local markets, small eateries, and places where santiaguinos actually eat. It is social, relaxed, and full of flavor.
Chilean food is often underestimated. On your own, it is easy to miss the best local spots or feel unsure about what to order.
This tour removes that barrier. A local guide explains what you are eating, why it matters, and how it fits into daily life in Santiago. From market stalls to traditional dishes, everything comes with context.
Because the tour is relatively short, it fits perfectly into a city day without feeling heavy or rushed.
The focus is on authentic flavors, not fancy presentation. Expect generous tastings and honest food.
This tour is ideal if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It offers a simple and authentic way to connect with Santiago through its food. If you want to eat well, learn something new, and avoid tourist traps, this tour delivers exactly that.
Book the Food Tasting tour here
If you want a clear, well rounded introduction to Santiago, this private city tour does exactly that.
Instead of focusing on one theme or neighborhood, it connects the main highlights into one smooth route. History, modern Santiago, viewpoints, and local neighborhoods all come together in a way that actually makes sense.
Santiago is a city of contrasts. Colonial buildings sit next to modern towers, and quiet neighborhoods exist just minutes from busy avenues.
This tour helps you understand those layers. With a private guide, you get context while moving efficiently through the city. You are not just stopping for photos, but learning how Santiago developed and how people live here today.
Because it is private, the itinerary can be adapted to your interests, whether that is history, architecture, viewpoints, or everyday city life.
The four hour duration makes this a great option if you want a deep introduction without committing an entire day.
This tour is ideal if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It is one of the easiest ways to truly get to know Santiago. Balanced, informative, and flexible, this private city tour works especially well early in your trip.
Book the Private City tour here
This tour is about slowing down and seeing Santiago at street level.
Instead of covering long distances by car, you explore the city on foot with a local guide who knows how daily life actually works here. It feels less like a tour and more like being shown around by someone who lives in the city.
Walking changes how you experience Santiago. You notice small details, local routines, street life, and the contrasts between old and new architecture.
Because it is a private tour, the route is flexible. The guide adjusts the walk based on your interests, whether that is history, politics, architecture, or simply understanding how Santiago functions day to day.
This is the kind of experience that fills in the gaps after you have seen the main highlights.
The focus is not on rushing from place to place, but on understanding the city from the inside.
This tour is ideal if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It offers the most human perspective of Santiago. If you want to understand the city the way locals experience it, this walking tour is the perfect way to end your list of private tours.
Book the Private walking tour here
This tour is a good, all in one option if you want to see Santiago from multiple angles in a single half day.
It combines the historic heart of the city with modern Santiago and finishes high above the skyline. You move efficiently, but without feeling rushed.
What makes this tour stand out is the balance. You do not only walk through history, and you do not only chase viewpoints. You get both.
Starting in the historic center gives context to how Santiago began. Moving toward higher viewpoints and the cable car shows how the city expanded and how geography shapes daily life here. Seeing Santiago from above really ties everything together.
Because it is a private tour, the route can be adjusted based on what interests you most.
With a duration of around four and a half hours, this tour fits nicely into a single morning or afternoon.
This tour is ideal if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It brings together Santiago’s past, present, and geography in one smooth route. If you want a complete city overview without committing to a full day, this tour is a very solid choice.
Book the Private historic center and high altitude tour here
This is one of the best value private tours in Santiago.
If you want a personal, flexible experience without the higher price tag of premium private tours, this option stands out. It focuses on connection, conversation, and everyday city life rather than a fixed sightseeing checklist.
What makes this tour appealing is its simplicity. You meet a local guide and explore Santiago on foot, shaping the route around your interests.
Because the tour is available in both English and Spanish, it works especially well for international travelers and Spanish speakers who want a more natural, conversational experience.
You are not following a strict itinerary. Instead, the guide adapts to what you want to see, whether that is history, hidden corners, food spots, or daily life.
The duration can vary between two and six hours, making it easy to fit into almost any travel plan.
This tour is ideal if you:
Why it belongs in this list:
It offers one of the most affordable ways to experience Santiago with a local guide. Flexible, personal, and easy to customize, this tour is a great alternative for travelers who value connection over complexity.
Book the Private walking tour with a local here
