Viña del Mar and Valparaíso showcase two very different sides of Chile: one, a hip cosmopolitan resort town and the other, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its street art, funiculars and colorful houses. Who's ready to join us as we embark on an unforgettable day trip around these unique and beautiful places?
Let's start our tour by driving from Santiago to the coast, passing through the central wine-producing valley of Casablanca. This picturesque valley is famous for the orchards, citrus groves, grape plantations and a lovely mountain backdrop. After passing through, soon the ocean will come into view as we arrive in Valparaíso.
Valpo, as it’s fondly known by locals, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's easy to see why. Spread out over more than 40 coastal hills, Valpo is a maze of unique architecture and vibrant houses, creating one of the world’s most eclectic, unique and colorful cities. Narrow, winding streets snake through the hills, connected by hidden staircases and ancient elevators which are still in use.
We'll climb up Cerro Florida and arrive at Pablo Neruda’s house "La Sebastiana."* This house, just like his other home in Santiago, contains interesting artifacts and furniture in their original state. The house overlooks the bay, offering a stunning view of the Pacific - the same view which Neruda enjoyed every New Year’s Eve when he looked out at the fireworks. After the museum, we'll have a chance to wander around Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre to see Valparaíso's unique building style, marveling at the steep winding streets that are lined with small and brightly-painted houses, stores, cafes and local restaurants. It's also the best place to see and soak up the city's prolific and diverse street art. The views of the port are spectacular from up in the hills, and the ocean horizon evokes the kind of enchantment usually reserved for on-screen magic. Soon after, we'll make our way back down the hill using one of the iconic funicular elevators. At the bottom of the elevator it’s just a short walk to the main square “Sotomayor,” which houses the monument honoring heroes of the Pacific War and the National Navy headquarters. It is close to the historical port neighborhood as well.
After finishing this portion of the tour, we’ll head over to the neighboring coastal city of Viña del Mar, offering a more fashionable, beach vibe. On the way we will stop for lunch at a seaside restaurant. We'll then admire the famous city “flower clock” and visit the city’s main square with the amphitheater that hosts the famous Viña del Mar International song festival every summer. The tour ends with the return journey to Santiago and a chance to reflect on the day's colorful sights and poetry.
* Please note La Sebastiana is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Private departures are available every day on request. If the tour departs on Mondays or Tuesdays there will be a slight change in the itinerary as Pablo Neruda’s house-museum is closed those days.
The trip starts at your hotel in Santiago at 9 AM and finishes back at your hotel at approximately 6 PM.
This trip requires travelers to be able to walk on city streets for a couple of hours. Some streets are steep, but we will walk at a relaxed pace with as many stops as necessary.
We use comfortable cars or minivans that normally seat 8 to 14 people.
Valparaíso has a long, dry summer season between October and April, and cold rainy winters between June and August. In winter, the average temperature is 11.4ºC (52F). In summer, the average temperature is about 17ºC (62ºF). The temperature on the coast is lower in summer than in Santiago, but warmer in winter.
You need to bring your personal belongings and a good camera!
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Updated October 4th, 2022
Dear Traveler,
We are very happy to announce that there are currently no travel restrictions in Chile.
Together with the above mentioned, it is mandatory to comply with the following requirements:
In case you have any questions, we will be happy to help you!
Best,
The Team at Cascada Expediciones & EcoCamp Patagonia