Excursions are a great way to practice your Spanish outside of class while getting to know the country and culture around you. Two afternoons a week, you and your classmates will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Santiago with a Bridge Spanish teacher as your guide. Excursions are included in the cost of all programs; however, students are expected to pay for their own public transportation costs and entrance fees (if applicable).

Some of the excursions we offer are described below. We invite you to participate in as many as possible to truly make the most of your time in Chile!

Viña Concha y Toro Chile is famous worldwide for its wine production. This popular excursion takes you to the vineyard Concha y Toro, where you will be given a guided tour of the winery in Spanish. There are many fine wines to be tasted and bottles are sold at much lower prices than can be found outside the winery.

Viña Cousiño-Macul Founded in 1856, Viña Cousiño-Macul is the only winery established in the 19th century that is still in the hands of its founding family. The winery prides itself on supervising the growth and production of all the components that go into its world-class wines. You can take a tour of their vineyards and wine cellars as well as try a couple of glasses of their fine wine.

Mercado Central Mercado Central is an experience of all five senses. Housed in a 19th-century wrought iron building, this large market actually consists of many smaller markets, including a fish market, meat market, vegetable market, and flower market, as well as hundreds of individual booths selling anything from traditional handicrafts to soccer jerseys. There is also an entire section of Mercado Central devoted to small restaurants serving just about any kind of seafood you can imagine—and even some you can’t!

Cerro San Cristobal The best views of picturesque Santiago can be seen from the Metropolitan Park at the top of Cerro San Cristóbal. An 860-meter hill overlooking the city, San Cristóbal marks the highest point in Santiago. A teleférico (gondola) will take you halfway up the hill where you can visit a wine museum and restaurant, or walk among the palm trees and lawns with excellent vistas. To complete the experience, you will take the teleférico to the top where you’ll be treated to a magnificent view of Santiago stretching out between the Andes to the east and the coastal mountain range to the west. To return, you’ll take the funicular down to the bohemian barrio of Bellavista, famous for its hip nightclubs and excellent restaurants.

La Chascona Visit the house of Pablo Neruda, Chile´s most famous poet and winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Literature. The eclectic structure, designed by the poet himself for his third wife, is now open to the public as a museum. Commonly known as "La Chascona" ("The Lady with Disheveled Hair"), the house is located in Bellavista, a funky Santiago neighborhood at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal.

Museo de Bellas Artes Explore the oldest art museum in South America on this fascinating outing. Founded in 1880, Santiago’s Museum of Fine Arts now resides in a stately French neo-classical building constructed in 1910. The museum houses masterpieces from Chile´s colonial period as well as modern works done by national and foreign artists. After visiting the museum’s treasures, you can stop for coffee and dessert and then take a stroll through nearby Parque Forestal, one of Santiago´s most famous parks.

Museo Histórico Nacional This excursion takes you to the National History Museum located in Santiago’s bustling central plaza, Plaza de Armas. The museum houses an exhibit showing the diverse periods of Chilean history from its discovery until 1973. After touring the museum, you can take a short walk through the Plaza de Armas and visit Santiago´s gorgreous cathedral, historic central post office, and shops on Paseo Ahumada, a pedestrian street in the downtown area.

Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda This newly constructed cultural center is located next to the presidential palace, La Moneda, underneath the recently remodeled Plaza Constitución. The center is home to a variety of rotating cultural exhibits on such topics as Chilean film and Mexican art. After visiting the center, you'll take a stroll into the central garden of the presidential palace and take in the impressive architecture of this very historic building, site of the 1973 coup engineered by former general Agusto Pinochet.

Museo de Arte Precolombino Get a glimpse into Latin America’s ancient past with a trip to the Pre-Colombian Art Museum. The small but fascinating museum houses one of Santiago´s most interesting collections, including ceramics, textiles, paintings, and sculptures from a wide range of Pre-Colombian cultures. Located in the city’s main business district close to the Plaza de Armas, the museum is also home to a library, lovely courtyards, and a small café.

Pueblito de Artesanos Los Dominicos Housed on the site of an old ranch, this market is hosted by a group of artisans offering a wide range of quality crafts and gifts. There are restaurants and shops where you can try homemade cakes and excellent peach empanadas. You will also be able to visit the beautiful old Dominican church built on the site.