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Santiago Runners Discover 23km Car-Free Routes and Andes Views
Santiago's best running climbs Cerro San Cristóbal to a summit statue overlooking the Andes, loops the flamingo-populated lagoons of Parque Bicentenario, and takes over more than 23 kilometres of car-free avenues every Sunday on the CicloRecreoVía.
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Santiago combines a genuine hill climb with Andes views, several flat downtown parks, and a weekly tradition of closing major roads to traffic, giving runners real variety across the city. Here are the best running routes in Santiago for 2026.
Cerro San Cristóbal
The Sendero Zorro Vidal trail up Cerro San Cristóbal, inside Parque Metropolitano, runs 3.5 kilometres round trip with about 230 metres of elevation gain on a paved road and dirt-gravel mix, pedestrian only. It climbs to Santiago's second-highest point, 300 metres above the city, with panoramic Andes views from the summit, where a large statue of the Virgin Mary stands. A funicular and cable car run parallel for non-runners, and the base of the hill includes a zoo, Japanese garden and two lakes.
Parque Bicentenario
In Vitacura, Parque Bicentenario offers flexible loops from 1 to 8 kilometres, with a full perimeter of roughly 3 to 4 kilometres on mixed dirt, paved and brick paths. It is known for its lagoons, resident flamingos and open mountain views, and is popular with Vitacura and Las Condes locals for easy runs.
Parque Forestal and the Mapocho Corridor
Parque Forestal, a long linear downtown park along the Mapocho River, offers 1.5 to 8 kilometres or more of compacted dirt path with concrete sidewalks, busy with foot traffic and good for tempo work. The wider Mapocho River corridor extends this into a 4 to 10 kilometre or longer out-and-back or point-to-point run linking several parks toward Las Condes.
Parque Araucano
In the Las Condes business district, Parque Araucano offers 2 to 5 kilometres or more of dirt and brick paths through wide plazas and open lawns, popular with the surrounding office crowd.
The Sunday CicloRecreoVía
Every Sunday from 9am to 2pm, more than 23 kilometres of Santiago's main avenues close entirely to traffic under the CicloRecreoVía program, turning the paved roads over to runners and cyclists for the morning, a genuinely notable local institution and a good option for a long weekend run.
Running the Santiago Marathon Route
The Maratón de Santiago, Chile's flagship marathon at 42.2 kilometres, runs along the Alameda past La Moneda and Plaza de Armas and through Parque O'Higgins, with Cerro San Cristóbal visible for much of the course, tying the city's biggest running event to the everyday routes above.
Practical Guide to Running in Santiago
Parque Bicentenario and Parque Araucano are the most reliable choices for a flat, easy run; Cerro San Cristóbal is worth the climb for anyone wanting genuine elevation and the best views in the city.