Reñaca is Viña del Mar's busiest beach: a beach divided into five sectors, with terraced buildings climbing the hill, Avenida Borgoño lined with restaurants and bars, and the Concón dunes ten minutes away. That is how Chile Travel, the official tourism promotion site, describes it. It belongs to the municipality of Viña del Mar, had 23,987 inhabitants in the 2017 census and has been one of the country's most popular summer destinations since the mid-1960s (Wikipedia).
This guide covers Reñaca's beaches, the Concón dunes, what to do, how to get there and the weather, with information checked on 7 November 2026. Prices and schedules change from season to season: confirm them before you travel.
View the data as a table
| beach sectors | 5 |
| minutes to the Concón dunes | 10 |
| hectares of Gómez Carreño park | 536 |
| pesos, Santiago-Viña del Mar bus | $5,150 |
Reñaca beaches by sector
The beach is organised into numbered sectors, from south to north, each with its own atmosphere:
| Sector | Atmosphere | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sectors 1 and 2 | Quieter and family-friendly | Families with children |
| Sectors 3 and 4 | A mix of tourists and surfers | Surfing, bodyboarding and walks |
| Sector 5 | The liveliest in summer and the most exclusive | Young people and beach life |
Sources: JetSMART (March 2026), Chile Travel and Wikipedia. Reñaca has strong surf: in fact, until the 1960s it was little visited because of its waves. Only swim in front of the lifeguard towers and follow the flags.
Things to do in Reñaca
- Walk along Avenida Borgoño, which runs by the sea between Reñaca and Concón, with restaurants, cafés, ice-cream shops and terraces for sunset. At night there are venues with live music and DJs (Chile Travel).
- Surf and bodyboard in the central sectors, where the waves are bigger. To choose a beach for your level, see our guide to surfing in Chile.
- Walk in Gómez Carreño Natural Park, an urban wetland with free entry about 20 minutes from the beach, with an easy trail (Chile Travel). Wikipedia gives it 536 hectares of coastal forest.
- Eat fish and seafood: fried conger eel, crab chupe and seafood empanadas are the dishes recommended by Chile Travel.
- Watch the New Year's fireworks, launched over the bay and drawing thousands of people to the Viña del Mar coast.
The Concón dunes, 10 minutes from the beach
The Punta de Concón dune field lies on the coastal road between Reñaca and Concón, on a marine terrace 30 metres above the sea, and was shaped in the Quaternary by wind erosion. It was declared a Nature Sanctuary on 5 August 1993; the following year the protected area was reduced to make way for real estate projects, and in 2006, thanks to a community campaign, 21.8 hectares were added, according to the National Monuments Council record. Besides coastal vegetation, shell middens of archaeological value are preserved along the edge.
From the top you can see the whole bay, and it is one of the best sunset spots on the central coast. People sandboard here, but as it is a sanctuary, use the designated access points, do not take sand and leave no rubbish.
The beaches of Concón, further along the coast
Following the coastal road north past the dunes, you reach Concón, the neighbouring municipality, with quieter beaches than Reñaca and a long line of fish and seafood restaurants:
| Concón beach | What it is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Amarilla | One of the best known, with light sand and relatively calm water | Families |
| Playa Negra | Dark sand and a quieter atmosphere | Relaxing and walking by the sea |
| Playa La Boca | Where the Aconcagua River meets the Pacific | Surfing and birdwatching |
Source: JetSMART (March 2026), which highlights ceviche, grilled reineta fish, mariscal and seafood empanadas in Concón.
From country estate to beach resort: the history
Reñaca began as a subdivision on land of the Viña del Mar estate and took more than half a century to become the mass beach resort it is today. These are the milestones recorded by Wikipedia, plus those of the dune sanctuary:
- 1905Montemar real estate companyFounded to develop the beach on land of the Viña del Mar estate.
- 1912Subdivision planNext to the Reñaca estuary.
- 1940First buildingsMostly second homes for Santiago families.
- 1965Chile's top summer destinationUntil then its strong waves kept visitors away.
- 1993Nature SanctuaryThe Concón dunes are protected (5 August).
- 2006More dunes protected21.8 hectares are added to the sanctuary after a community campaign.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1905 | The Montemar real estate company is founded to develop the beach |
| 1912 | The subdivision plan is presented for the flat land next to the Reñaca estuary |
| 1940 | The first buildings appear on the coastal road, mostly second homes for Santiago residents |
| 1965 | Reñaca becomes the country's top summer destination |
| 1993 | The Concón dunes are declared a Nature Sanctuary |
| 2006 | 21.8 hectares are added to the protected dune area |
A day between Viña del Mar and Concón: a possible plan
| Time | Plan | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Beach in Reñaca (sectors 1 or 2 with children) | Arrive early in summer: parking fills up |
| Midday | Fish and seafood lunch on Avenida Borgoño or in Concón | Seafront terraces have queues at weekends |
| Afternoon | Gómez Carreño park or central Viña del Mar | The park is free and shady |
| Sunset | Concón dunes | Bring a jacket: the wind gets cold quickly at sunset |
Plan by Viajando Chile based on the itinerary suggested by JetSMART. If you have more days, add things to do in Viña del Mar and Valparaíso in one day.
Weather and when to visit the Viña del Mar coast
The Chilean Meteorological Office station at Viña del Mar (Torquemada), a few kilometres from Reñaca, recorded a mean temperature of 17.1 °C in January and 10.4 °C in July between 2016 and 2025. In summer the coast is about 5 degrees cooler than Santiago, and the Pacific is cold all year because of the Humboldt Current.
View the data as a table
| Highest maximum of the month | Mean temperature | Lowest minimum of the month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30.2 °C | 17.1 °C | 9.0 °C |
| Feb | 30.6 °C | 16.9 °C | 9.2 °C |
| Mar | 28.5 °C | 15.8 °C | 8.4 °C |
| Apr | 25.8 °C | 13.9 °C | 6.6 °C |
| May | 26.1 °C | 12.6 °C | 4.7 °C |
| Jun | 22.6 °C | 11.0 °C | 2.9 °C |
| Jul | 23.1 °C | 10.4 °C | 2.8 °C |
| Aug | 24.8 °C | 11.1 °C | 3.0 °C |
| Sep | 25.0 °C | 11.9 °C | 4.2 °C |
| Oct | 27.7 °C | 13.0 °C | 4.6 °C |
| Nov | 31.7 °C | 14.9 °C | 6.3 °C |
| Dec | 30.9 °C | 16.1 °C | 8.1 °C |
| Season | What Reñaca is like |
|---|---|
| December to February | High season, crowded beaches and nightlife on Avenida Borgoño |
| March and April | Mild days, calmer sea and fewer people |
| May to August | Rain and swells; a good time to watch the waves from the waterfront |
| September to November | Spring with cloudy mornings; long weekends are busy |
How to get to Reñaca
| From | How | Time and price |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago, by bus | Bus from Terminal Alameda to Viña del Mar (Turbus, Cóndor, Pullman) | 1 h 31 min to 2 h; from CLP 5,150 |
| Santiago, by car | Route 68 motorway, the most direct road, then the coastal road north | Depends on traffic; in summer, leave early |
| Viña del Mar | Local bus, taxi or car along Avenida Borgoño | A few minutes |
| Mendoza (Argentina) | Los Libertadores pass and Route 60 | Depending on the pass status |
Sources: Kupos (Santiago-Viña del Mar buses, price checked on 7 November 2026), Chile Travel and JetSMART. If you prefer an organised trip from Santiago, we compare day trips in our guide to the Valparaíso and Viña del Mar day trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reñaca part of Viña del Mar or Concón?
Reñaca belongs to the municipality of Viña del Mar. Concón is the neighbouring municipality to the north, where most of the dunes are.
Which Reñaca sector is best for children?
Sectors 1 and 2, the quietest and most family-friendly. Sector 5 is the liveliest.
Is entry to the Concón dunes free?
Yes, access is free through the designated entrances from the coastal road. It is a Nature Sanctuary: do not take sand or leave rubbish.
How long is the bus from Santiago to Reñaca?
The bus to Viña del Mar takes between 1.5 and 2 hours; from Viña to Reñaca it is a few minutes by local bus or taxi.
