8 day road trip Santiago to Puerto Montt/advice

Hi,

I will have 8 days to do a road trip from Santiago to Puerto Montt, first question, easiest place to pick up rental car for leaving Santiago headed to Southern Wine Valley. Any must see stops, favorite places to hike, sigh see, lakes, coast etc? this will be in mid November. We are 30's somethings, active, enjoy photography, hiking, sports,adventure, good food and wine. Looking for any advice as I have limited time to come up with a good plan! Thanks!

Easiest place or least expensive or? If flying in the airport is the easiest.

But sometimes more expensive. By the way, if planning a one way drop off have you checked the cost? t os considerable.
Where exactly do you mean when you say the Southern Wine Valley. There is a large concentration of vineyards to the south of Santiago around Santa Cruz and around Curico. Only 2.5 hours drive S of Santiago.

Places worth seeing
Valparaiso
Casablanca Valley on the way to Valpo
Las Siete Tazas national park
Santa Cruz incl museum
Vineyards around Curico
Pichilemu if into surfing
Lago Vichuquen and the town of Vichuquen
Pucon for lake, hikes, thermal springs. volcano climb if permited(prob not due to eruptions)
Valdivia
Puerto Varas

and more.....

First thing to do: check the weather forecast. The lake district, from Temuco Southwards, is the most attractive area but it is rainy. If they forecast constant bad weather, then stay in the Northern half till Chillan where the weather is way better.
Second: the Panamerican highway is not interesting. For nice places, you have to detour either to Andean valleys or possibly towards the coast.

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