Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

Old meets new in the Plaza de Armas

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There has never been a better time to honeymoon in Chile! This South American nation just celebrated 200 years of independence in September, and spirits are soaring thanks to the successful (and emotional!) rescue of 33 miners who had been trapped underground for 69 days. I was able to visit recently and got a taste (literally) of the vibrant attractions in and around the capital. Here are three reasons to book a flight to Santiago.

Intriguing city sights. Specializing in food-and-wine excursions, Enotour offers a half-day city tour led by an English-speaking guide. Wander through the Plaza de Armas (the city’s central square that dates to 1541) and snap photos of its many landmarks: the Historical Museum, the Metropolitan Cathedral and a statue of Pedro de Valdivia, founder of Santiago. The tour also takes you past the Government Palace and into the city’s liveliest barrios.

Made-in-Chile handicrafts. Don’t miss a visit to the Los Dominicos Arts & Crafts market, located in the courtyard of a former monastery. Here, dozens of local artisans sell their works, including alpaca-wool shawls, hand-painted pottery, lapis jewelry, copper goods, woodcarvings and more. Clean, calm and largely untouristed, it even hosts cultural events; on the day we visited, a troupe of traditional cueca dancers was performing.

The cutting-edge culinary scene. In a country that’s the fifth-largest exporter of wines in the world, you better believe its capital offers delish cuisine to match! At hipster hub Liguria, dine on tapas like sautéed stone crab, baked cheese dip and garlic chicken — perfect for sharing. Cozy Tiramisu transports you straight to Italy and serves some of the best pizza you’ve ever had. And for a hands-on dining experience, sign up for a cooking class at the ultra-modern Wain wine shop. In its state-of-the-art third-floor kitchen, we cooked up mouthwatering conger-eel chowder, a favorite of famous Chilean wordsmith Pablo Neruda (he even wrote a love poem about the dish; check it out here).

Home base Book a mod room at the circa-1927 Aubrey, Santiago’s first true boutique stay, located in the heart of the boho Bellavista neighborhood. Fifteen rooms — set in the former mansion of late politician Domingo Durán Morales — each boast a unique layout, but all come with creature comforts like free Wi-Fi, LCD TVs, Hansgrohe showers and feather beds. Also onsite: a heated outdoor spa pool, plus Pasta e Vino restaurant, acclaimed for its handmade pastas and one of the hardest-to-get reservations in town.

Check back soon for more on Chile: easy, fun day trips from the capital, from wine tasting and downhill skiing to the country's hottest coastal getaways!