Summer 2026 in Colchagua: the Cava Colchagua Guide you can’t miss

Summer has begun, and our country offers a wide range of options for both domestic and international tourists, making it one of the best in the world. This is how we’ve won international awards considered the “Oscars of tourism”, including: World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination (WTA 2025) for the seventh time, WTA South America Awards 2025, and the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 (World Economic Forum), which ranked Chile 2nd in Latin America and 31st worldwide in tourism development, to name just a few of the more than 30 tourism awards Chile has accumulated since 2015. And more recently, the Colchagua Valley is among the 20 destinations for 2026 published by the British network BBC. The publication highlights the valley not only for its international wine-making fame, but also for the richness of its geography that extends “from the snowy Andes along the Argentine border to the Pacific,” following the course of the Tinguiririca River.

Today on the Cava Colchagua Hotel Blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to choose the Colchagua Valley as your next destination. There are still almost two months of vacation left, so you can still pack your bags and experience wine tourism with the best in the country and the world.

1. Hotels with Vineyards in Chile’s Colchagua Valley: The Perfect Combination.

The BBC’s recognition of our valley, highlighting its world-class wine tourism and offering a rich combination of wine, culture, nature, and starry skies near Santiago, solidifies Chile’s place on the global tourism map. Furthermore, three wineries in the area are featured on “The World’s 50 Best Vineyards” list: Viña Vik, ranked number 1 and located 90 minutes from Hotel Cava Colchagua; Viña Montes, ranked 10th and located 15 minutes from Hotel Cava Colchagua; and Viña Viu Manent, ranked 40th and also just 15 minutes from the hotel.

The Colchagua Valley offers a wide variety of accommodation options near some of the world’s finest wineries. What makes one option different from another? The services you’ll find at your chosen hotel are few and far between, offering a complete experience right where you’re staying: accommodation, restaurant, spa, tour coordination, wine tastings, and vineyard views from your room—all in one place. And the only hotel in the Colchagua Valley that offers all of this, plus the chance to sleep inside a century-old wine barrel, is the Hotel Cava Colchagua in Santa Cruz—a truly immersive wine tourism experience! These are foudres (large wooden barrels) that once belonged to Don Raúl Ravanal and held over 45,000 liters of wine. The hotel is located just 2 km from the main square and features a vineyard, spa, swimming pool, restaurant, and over 5 hectares of parkland with a lagoon and river access.

2. Beyond wine, the Colchagua Valley offers a connection with nature, from the Andes Mountains to the sea.

With hundreds of vineyards in the area and more than 20 wineries open to the public for your vacation, the wine tourism options in the Colchagua Valley are vast. And even better if you can complement your 2026 vacation with outdoor activities like a day trip to the beach.

The coastal town of Pichilemu, just an hour and a half from Santa Cruz, offers a perfect day trip for surfing, boasting one of the best beaches in the world for this sport, as well as the typical Chilean coastal cuisine. Punta de Lobos, located in the same town, offers breathtaking views of cliffs and rocky ravines with natural bays that will leave you enchanted.

3. The Charm of the Signature Wineries of the Colchagua Valley.

The charm of the signature wineries in the Colchagua Valley lies in their ability to offer an intimate and deeply personalized experience, far removed from mass industrial production. In these projects, visitors have the privilege of discovering the “soul” of wine through the vision of its owners and winemakers, who meticulously attend to every detail from vine to bottle. An extraordinary example of this philosophy is Viña Ravanal, a true family treasure in Placilla, renowned for its century-old vineyards. Its vines, over a hundred years old, give life to robust and complex reds, such as its flagship MR line, allowing visitors to taste the liquid history of a terroir cultivated for generations using French techniques and a deep respect for the slow ripening of the grapes.

For those seeking a total immersion that combines wine with luxurious relaxation, Viña Cava Colchagua offers a unique concept: the opportunity to stay inside century-old 45,000-liter wine barrels, transformed into high-standard boutique rooms. This signature hotel and vineyard, located just minutes from Santa Cruz, allows guests to wake up surrounded by Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère vineyards, enjoying an environment that exudes tradition and sophistication. In this same vein of exclusivity and signature style, one should not miss projects like Viña Maquis, situated on a natural island between two rivers that impart exceptional freshness to its wines, or Viña Laura Hartwig, a limited-production boutique winery that captivates with its relaxed atmosphere and elegant, classic-style wines, ideal for those who value authenticity and personalized service on every tour.

4. Spas and Wellness Centers in the Colchagua Valley.

Well-being and total relaxation find their place in the array of spas and wellness centers in and around Santa Cruz, which now rival the best in the world. A highlight is the exclusive Icono Wine Spa at Cava Colchagua, where you can enjoy hot tubs (wooden tubs filled with warm water) nestled among the grapevines. These spaces offer a range of therapies, deep tissue massages, and personalized yoga classes overlooking the private lagoon of the Hotel Cava Colchagua, providing the perfect balance between physical activity and profound rest.

5. Rural Tourism in the Colchagua Valley.

Country life and Chilean traditions are kept alive through rural tourism experiences that go beyond the winery. Traditional wineries like Viu Manent maintain their iconic carriage rides, while Viña Casa Silva stands out for its connection to the world of polo and rodeo, allowing visitors to learn about Chilean horse breeding firsthand. For a different perspective, the Viña Santa Cruz cable car transports tourists to Cerro Chamán, where they can visit replicas of indigenous villages and enjoy nighttime astronomical tours, taking advantage of the area’s very low light pollution. When you stay at the Hotel Cava Colchagua in Santa Cruz, you’ll have a complete personalized booking guide from our team, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. We’ll take care of coordinating all your excursions and transfers.

6. Culture and History in the Colchagua Valley.

Finally, culture and history complete this guide. The Colchagua Museum in the city of Santa Cruz continues to amaze with its collections of carriages, pre-Columbian jewelry, and its pavilion dedicated to the rescue of the 33 miners, now featuring augmented reality technology. The Automobile Museum and the Wine Museum, located 20 kilometers from the Cava Colchagua Hotel, are excellent options for families, as is the Chilean Handicrafts Museum in Lolol, 30 minutes from Santa Cruz.

For a different experience, 151 kilometers from Santa Cruz lies Sewell, a former Chilean mining camp and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous as the birthplace of large-scale copper mining, it is known as the “City of Stairs” for its unique architecture adapted to the Andes Mountains, with no streets, only staircases and paths. Founded in 1905 for the workers of the El Teniente mine, it is now a tourist destination accessible through Turismo Cumbre Andina.

According to the Chile Travel platform, events like the 2026 Grape Harvest Festival (Fiesta de la Vendimia de Colchagua) which will be on March 6, 7 and 8, and the traditional food festivals in towns like Marchigüe and Pumanque are the perfect ending to an unforgettable summer. Planning ahead is essential to secure a spot in this valley, which is more than just a destination; it’s a lifestyle that celebrates the best of Chile.

Book today at the Cava Colchagua Hotel in Santa Cruz and come experience the best immersive wine tourism in Chile.

Book online: Click here
Phone: +56 9 8963 9862
Location: Barreales s/n, Santa Cruz, Chile.
Email: contacto@cavacolchagua.cl