Private Tour
Zapallar : nature, sea and local flavours
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Embark on an immersive experience through one of the most exclusive and charming destinations on the Central Coast of Chile.
We begin our journey from Santiago to Zapallar, an architectural and natural treasure. The adventure begins with a low difficulty trekking to Cerro La Cruz, Sanctuary of Nature with breathtaking views and unique biodiversity. From its viewpoint you can see Cachagua Island and its marine fauna, including Humboldt penguins in season.
Weather permitting, we will board a local boat alongside a fisherman with decades of experience, living a vibrant journey between authentic tales and the thrill of sailing the Pacific Ocean.
After sailing, our guide will invite you to enjoy a patty of fresh produce, paired with a selected Chilean wine. The day culminates with a walk to the beaches of Las Cujas or Cachagua, where nature and coastal architecture create an unforgettable landscape.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Zapallar
Just 1 hour and a half from Santiago, 80km north of Valparaíso, Zapallar ("place of pumpkins" in Mapudungun) will captivate you with its beautiful landscapes and you can understand why in the 60's it captivated a host of European architects who left its legacy in what are currently the houses of the sector. Just meters from the white sand beach and crystal clear waters, classic Italian and German architecture will transport you to a dream place.
Isla Cachagua
397/5000 Once in the cove, the starting point of the boat ride, a fisherman from the area with more than 10 years of experience will take you to visit the Isla Cachagua Natural Monument, a place for the preservation of the emblematic Humboldt penguin and home of a diverse flora and fauna (heron cuca, swan, duck yeco, garuma, pitotoy, etc). This tour lasts approximately 1 hour.
What‘s Included
Online assistant during the experience
Local guide
Transport Insurance
Tasting of local empanada and Chilean wine
Book restaurant Chiringuito (subject to availability)
Navigation to Penguin Island (subject to weather conditions)
Private Transport
Lunch
Tip
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Zapallar and Cachagua Island Experience
Pickup included
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Exceptional tour seeing an incredible penquin colony! Tour guide was a wealth of knowledge.
Rose F,,Dec 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful experience with Nature. The guide was very knowledegable about all things in Chile. We enjoyed seeing all the plants in bloom. We enjoyed our conversation along the way. The countryside was very interesting. The boat ride out to the island preserve to see the penguins was a short, very safe experience. The penguin colony was unbelievably awesome. As an extra bonus, we also saw porpoise, otter, huge jellyfish in the water. There are a lot of birds in the area as well. The seafood lunch after the tour was some of the best seafood I have ever tasted. The seafood is caught the same day you eat it! I highly recommend this tour.
Zapallar with kids
213nataliemr,,Dec 27, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Zapallar island is beautiful and we had a lovely day visiting this spot and seeing the stunning houses built into the cliff side and of course, the main attraction, 3% of the worlds’ penguin population that inhabit a rock on this island. I was nervous about the boat ride out because I tend to get seasick but Esteban, our guide, reassured me that the water shouldn’t be rough because he had checked the weather report and we were in the clear. He was right! Although it was a bit of a windy ride, it wasn’t too choppy and I was completely fine. It was only about 30 mins each way. It was amazing to see so many penguins together in their natural habitat and we enjoyed a seafood lunch (freshly caught from the ocean) right after. We also appreciated Esteban’s extensive knowledge of the sea creatures and flowers inhabiting the island and his passion about all the living things in the area. He’s also a great photographer and was happy to take lots of photos of our family.
Quite an adventure with beautiful surroundings.
Mary A,,Nov 25, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an incredible tour. The views are amazing. The boat is a bit scary, but the tour guide, driver, and fisherman driving the boat were wonderful. Daniel is a very responsive and knowledgeable guide. Boris is an excellent driver. The pace of the tour was perfect for us.
Wonderful experience
360mariamagdalenam,,Feb 17, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was very loving and friendly. Answering all the questions my kids asked him. They looked for crabs on the beach, rods and the Perfect boat. Just that day the sea was a bit rough and they adapted Perfect to my husband and my children. The very nice experience! Besides I stayed at the beach with my youngest daughter and they very kind accompanied me, brought me chairs to The beach, blankets and food! Real luxury. He marked the driver very attentive and prudent. Helping me with my needs. The place is Lovely, lovely. We will definitely rehire them!
Zapellar
M8704QXcolleenm,,Dec 12, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic experience! We saw hundreds of penguins. The boat ride to penguin island on a fisherman’s skiff was exciting and was an adventure in itself. Not for the faint of heart, but characteristic of a ride on the Pacific. We loved it!. Esteban was amazing, wonderful stories and effortlessly tailored the day to our interests, to include a long hike along the rocky Pacific coast.
Fantastic
F5634VGelenav,,May 12, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I felt very comfortable with the Guide and Driver, plus the boat driver knew everything about Zapallar
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