Top Things to do in Santa Cruz
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10 Things to Do in Santa Cruz That You Shouldn't Miss
Wine lovers: whether you’re a die-hard oenophile or just a general grape enthusiast, you’ll be thrilled by the vineyards and cellars of Santa Cruz. This Chilean city makes a great base for exploring the Colchagua Valley, a wine region that’s loved for its full-bodied reds. Before you embark upon a day of tastings, be sure to explore Santa Cruz’s charming colonial architecture and cultural museums.
Restaurants in Santa Cruz
1. MontGras
Overall Ratings
5 based on 460 reviews
MontGras is one of Chile's most important wine producers. Located in the heart of the Colchagua Valley, our Visitor's Centre is open year round to receive tourists from all over the world who are interested in learning more about wine, our traditions and our history. Enjoy hands on activities that include harvesting and making your own wine, as well as horse back rides and treks in our Ninquen Mountain Vineyard. Tours available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. We look forward to receiving you!
Reviewed By Corocoray
We visited Mont Gras while volunteering in Santa Cruz, Nicholas was such a great guide, full of energy and fun. The area is really beautiful and we were shown in detail how to tell the difference between the different vines and wine leaves. He takes...MoreThank you very much for sharing your experience in MontGras, we'll get your nice comments to Nicolás! Cheers!
2. Colchagua Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Michèle L - Quebec City, Canada
You need a full day to visit and discover the museum This museum is full of artefacts, of jewelery , of history The story of the miners who were inside the earth for son many days is moving The trip of Darwin... So much
3. Clos Apalta Lapostolle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 637 reviews
Reviewed By Marc G - Kusnacht, Switzerland
After having stayed at Awasi Atacama and Casa Higueras in Valparaiso (both outstanding hotels indeed) Lapostolle was in a difficult position: Is it going to meet with the high standards set by the aforementioned places?
Lapostolle does! The 4 spacious and modern villas which are in perfect condition are beautifully located in the hills. With views to dream about.
Very friendly staff, great service and excellent food... and another GM who knows his business. Compliments.
PS: Don't miss to visit the wine producing facilities including the wine cellar. Just breathtaking.
A small Hotel which is not cheap but nevertheless highly recommended!
4. Laura Hartwig Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 202 reviews
This charming boutique winery, located in the heart of Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, is one of the most traditional wineries in Chile, surrounded by extraordinary beautiful landscapes. As well as its acclaimed wines,its kindness, its hospitality and personal treatment will make you feel like if you were at home.
Reviewed By ollywomble - London
This is a short walk out of town and we enjoyed a pleasant wine tasting overlooking the vineyards. Very good value too! And friendly
5. Viu Manent Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 884 reviews
Viu Manent is a model for wine tourism in Chile. Explore the vineyards in a horse-drawn carriage, visit the cellars, and learn the history of a three-generation family winery. Internationally renowned for the quality of its wines, Viu Manent is particularly famous for its malbec. There are 4 tours per day year round and include a tasting, a tour of the visitor’s center, and shops.
Reviewed By StevenSue - Rye, NY
The Viu Manent tour gave a very nice view of their extensive facility. It felt like a view behind the scenes. And the horse drawn trip through part of the vineyard was a very nice touch. Don’t miss lunch here if you do a tour....MoreDear Steven, Thank you very mucho for your kind comments. It was a pleasure to have you with us and we will be waiting for you on your next trip to Chile. Best regards.
6. Montes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 510 reviews
Reviewed By fizzy1991 - Nashville, Tennessee
Their best wines were VERY expensive. The tasting room near the cellar is exceptional with recorded monks chanting 24/7. Interesting concept. Lovely person helping do the tasting. Went "next door" for lunch with was very good.
7. Estampa Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
A stunning winery in Chile's wonderful Colchagua Valley where the country´s best red wines can be found. When you visit you do a tasting, take one of the available tours (Estampa and LaCruz), or for the adventurous a chance to make your own wine on site (tour Make your own Wine) ! Interactive, Personalised tours guaranteed. From November to March, we open the "Atardecer en Estampa" season when every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 7 to 11 pm you can enjoy music, a nice "tapas" menu and a very informal atmosphere.
Reviewed By Sean B
My wife and I randomly decided to stop into Estampa to taste. Unsure whether we needed a reservation, we were pleasantly surprised when when we were greeted by Philippe at the door and were welcomed to complete as much tasting as we liked! Fortunately, we were the only ones there on a brisk Saturday morning in September which allowed us to kick back and relax while we leisurely tasted. The largest positive about the experience was the ability to interact with Philippe. He was extremely knowledgeable about all of the Estampa wines and was extremely outgoing as a whole!
I would definitely recommend Estampa!! Great people, great wine, and an incredibly beautiful winery!
8. Vina Santa Cruz
Overall Ratings
4 based on 509 reviews
Experience the soul of our wines, with an amazing view of the valley and vineyards, the cable car ride to the villages of some of the original peoples of Chile. Discover how they lived in harmony with nature and the environment. What were their rituals, beliefs, and especially their guides: Machi and Chaman, inspiring the soul of our wines. In the evening enjoy the stars of the valley from a unique place in the astronomical Observatory of Chaman hill and learn the relationship of the universe with the humanity of our ancestors to this day.
Reviewed By Caroline G - Jaco, Costa Rica
The whole vina is located very beautifully and apart from the heat we enjoyed walking around the different "campos" that are all decorated with withe flowers. We took a Bodga-Tour that includes a degustation of three wines. The wine was nothing special and unfortunately the tour had very sexist comments about the production of wine (i.e. grapes have to be handpicked by women because of their small hands, men do not see enough colors to make out the differences etc.) which only reinforce this prejudices in visitors. We and anyone taking that tour would appreciate it to leave this unnecessary part out and just focus on how grapes are turned into wine.
9. Neyen Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By fizzy1991 - Nashville, Tennessee
We did a vertical tasting with some excellent wines. Sofia was very knowledgeable and sweet too. The wine tasting room is set up beautifully and very serene. Specialize in making a blend of carmenere and cabernet that is excellent but pricey, around $65 a bottle.
10. Museo El Huique
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By Terry C - North Carolina
the tour guide made this run down hacienda come to life. very knowledgeable about its history, able to answer all questions easily. with more investment, this could be a valuable addition to the colchagua valley tourist itinerary. the chapel is extraordinary for a rural area, but also needs maintenance. although not an easily accessible rural location, it was once the ancestral home of a former president of Chile at the turn of the 20th century.
visits need to be scheduled, to ensure the gates are open and a tour guide available.
