We have taken the best parts of our Morning and Afternoon tours, mixed them round and shaken it up. Here is your ultimate city bike tour to discover the whole of Santiago in just one fun-packed day. Forget about trying to organize your daily itinerary because we got you covered! On this adventure ride you will uncover the culture behind the boho streets of Barrio Bellavista, soon followed by the taste and colours of Santiago’s renowned food markets (all 3 of them). We will take you to our favourite lunch spot for a leisurely feast filled with Chilean cuisine (and maybe a sneaky wine). Then, once your food is fully digested, we will hit the attractions that earn Santiago a spot in the history and travel books. Here we will discuss important recent history about the Pinochet regime outside La Moneda and still have time to see the main sites downtown and enjoy the parklife. Our tours are designed to be a cultural cruise that won’t overbear you with information, dates and irrelevant facts. You will not leave this tour with a headache, only a deep understanding of the city and the motivation to get out there and discover more for yourself.
Why take THIS tour, Why THIS tour with La Bicicleta Verde? This is one of our newest tours and we truly believe in it’s purpose and future success. This is a different way to see Santiago than watching from the inside of a bus. We get deep into the nitty gritty and won’t miss a spot. You will see and understand more about the city in a day than you could in a week elsewhere.
Who should NOT take this tour? We made a list of 7 people who are not welcome. #1 says: “People who want everything organised perfectly from day one to the final departure.” This tour visit markets and other public places, which means it can be chaotic. We bike through a capital city of 6 million people and traffic can slow us down. Expect the unexpected.’
Check out our sustainability policy here.
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Timings9:30am-6pm
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Price$162USD (Ask for a discount with groups over 4)
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AvailabilitySubject to availability, must book 24 hours in advance and await confirmation.
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Start/FinishLa Bicicleta Verde Base, Loreto 6
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Distance15 km
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DifficultyModerate. Be confident on the streets with your bike.
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ChildrenAvailable for children ages 2 and up
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Group sizeNever more than 6 travelers without a 2nd guide
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What to BringOnly yourself and comfy clothes, no spandex required!
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InclusionsWater, helmet, sunscreen, bilingual guide and your green machine (bike)
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Not includedInsurance
Barrio Bellavista
9:30am: We head to bohemian and graffiti-filled Barrio Bellavista. Weaving between cobbled streets and colorful murals. We make a pit stop at the house of famous Chilean poet and cultural icon, Pablo Neruda. There will be time to stop and enjoy the old-school architecture and appreciate your favorite street art.
Patronato
10am: Next stop Patronato… Santiago’s Middle Eastern, Korean and Peruvian district. You’ll discover how these immigrants have integrated into Chilean culture and why they settled here during the days of the Ottoman empire, Korean War and the economic downfall of our northern neighbors.
Mercado Central
10:30am: Zoom zoom zooooom... Along the north side of the Mapocho river to La Vega Central, Santiago’s largest fruit, vegetable and everything in-between market. Here you’ll park your noble steed and discover the market by foot, allowing more room to weave through the aisles of stalls! We maneuver south over the river about 2 blocks to fish around in the Mercado Central, Santiago's largest seafood market in the downtown area. Bring your camera because La Bicicleta Verde has been visiting both of these markets since 2008, so locals are happy to take pictures with us... and you.
Plaza de Armas
11:30am: Stroll into the center to see Santiago’s most renowned buildings standing over the Plaza de Armas. Witness with your own eyes the effects of Chile’s seismic history before we go to the Museum of Fine Arts…. Whether you're a Santiago rookie or traveled veteran, our goal is not to overwhelm you with dozens of dates and easily forgotten info. We offer up famous sites with fascinating stories where education meets entertainment.
Lunch Time
12:45am We take a break for lunch and let you guys do your thing! We recommend our favourite restaurants around the office so you can eat some well earned Chilean cuisine before beginning the tour again.
Providencia
2:30pm We casually cruise through the parks to the Providencia neighborhood. No need to take down your kick stand as Balmaceda and Bustamante parks are smooth riding. Our wheels pause for some discussions of the surrounding area and to enjoy some green life. By this point, the tour group should have a friendly dog that attaches itself to the tour as lovely guardian. PS: You’ll find out just why you see SO MANY people kissing and hugging in Santiago parks.
Gabriela Mistral Cultural Centre
3:30pm Time to work up some sweat and head into the city roads, cycling through cobbled streets and smooth cycle paths. You’ll understand why Santiago’s voted South America’s most ‘cycle friendly city.’ We will visit Plaza Italia and the new Gabriela Mistral Cultural (GAM) centre. The rad-looking GAM centre sits in the hip Lastarria/Santa Lucia Neighborhood. GAM’s astounding architectural design is worth lots of pics. The neighborhood has funky bars to come back and visit as well.
Presidential Palace
4:30pm Together we will see the Presidential Palace and discuss the 1973 military coup. Our guide will take you straight to the heart of Chilean civil society. They will discuss the history, architecture, and fascinating but sad stories. Fatema Mernissi was talking about this tour when she stated that “travel is about learning, about crossing boundaries and mastering the fear of strangers, about making the effort to understand other cultures and thereby empowering yourself.”
Back To The Bike Base
5:15pm We will then head back to the bike base together. You can exchange pics, fill up your water bottle, and make use of our free wifi. Your green guru will hang around to chill and help with any questions you still have. We are here to the end to draw on your maps about places to go and help with other tour bookings... ride-on!! Not 100% sure you want to take a tour with us, see what other people are saying about us on tripadvisor.
