Día de los Patrimonios: Your Golden Ticket to Santiago’s Quirky Side
This weekend, May 24–25, Santiago is throwing open its doors — and we mean all of them — for Día de los Patrimonios, aka Cultural Heritage Weekend. It’s not just a “day,” it’s a full-on country-wide celebration of everything weird, wonderful, and culturally significant. If you’ll be in Chile, this is your chance to explore like a local… with serious behind-the-scenes access.
And while we can’t show you photos (it hasn’t happened yet!), we can help you plan one of the most unexpected weekends you’ll have in Santiago. Got pics afterwards? Send them our way!
So, what is it exactly?
Inspired by UNESCO’s definition of “heritage,” this weekend highlights everything from museums and historical buildings to folkloric traditions, random pop-up tours, and deeply local storytelling. With over 3,600 activities across Chile (yes, really), there’s something for everyone — including stuff you’ll never see again. Here is the complete list of things to do these days
We’ve grouped the chaos into 4 categories to help you choose your adventure:
1. The Expected Stuff
Think museums, galleries, and theatres. These are the usual suspects — great, but also likely to be packed. Our tip? Skip the lines and try something a bit more offbeat this weekend (you’ve got 364 other days for the rest!).
2. Rarely Open Gems
These are places you can only access this weekend — private mansions, historic parks, and government buildings usually closed to the public. Case in point: Palacio Cousiño, a fancy mansion with an equally fancy park and even a hidden theatre. It usually runs on appointments, but this weekend? Wide open.
3. One-Time Only Experiences
Pop-ups, tributes, local markets, themed walking tours — blink and you’ll miss them. We love:
- Gabriela Mistral Tribute at BancoEstado: See inside a massive modernist building while celebrating Chile’s first Nobel laureate for literature. Not just a poet — Mistral was a teacher, education reformer, and a total powerhouse.
- LGBTQI+ & Women’s Heritage Cycling Tour: Skip the bus tours and hit the streets on two wheels. This ride offers a different view of the city — through the lens of marginalized communities. Culture with a twist!
4. The Wild Card Zone
Our personal favorite: the wonderfully weird. Like the Duende Walking Tour. Yes, duendes — Chile’s mischievous, creepy folkloric creatures who steal your stuff, mess with your life, and then maybe give it back. Think less “cute elf” and more “gremlin with issues.” This tour will take you to haunted corners and mythical tales — if you dare.
A Few Notes Before You Head Out:
- Don’t expect English: These events are made by locals, for locals. But it’s a great chance to practice Spanish and make a new friend who can help translate.
- We’re not organizing these: Chile Off Track just loves sharing local gems.
- Tell us everything: Tried something cool? Loved a random tour? Send us your stories and photos!
Now go explore — Santiago won’t show you this side of itself any other time of the year.
By Fran A.