Beginner's Guide to Chile

Day Three: Santiago

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Day three can be spent enjoying the day in the Plaza de Armas, strolling through sites that were not seen on day one. You can head to the Central Market, which resides in a beautiful 19th-century wrought-iron building. Spend time exploring the colorful conglomeration of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and flowers. Next, travel to the old district on Bernardo O’Higgins Avenue where you are sure to esteem the grand houses on Republica Avenue. If you have time, stop in at a craft shop and experience the Chilean culture. In the afternoon, stroll along Parque Forestal, which heads to the Fine Arts Museum, and Bellavista, the artsy, bohemian hub of Santiago.

Finally, towards evening, you can make your way to Santa Lucia Hill, which, in 1541, was the location where the city of Santiago was established. Today it is a safe haven of fountains and gardens. Ascend San Cristobal Hill. Here, visitors will take in a remarkable panorama of the city of Santiago, situated comfortably in its mountain valley. Located at the top of its 1145-foot peak, the enormous 118-foot statue of the Virgin Mary protrudes. The statue can be seen at night from almost anywhere in the city as it is beautifully lit up by floodlights.

Day Four: Pelequen

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Day four will begin with a drive up to Vina La Rosa in Pelequen. Stop for lunch and visit the amazing Palmeria vineyard. Next, stop at Valle Arriba, Chile’s premier olive oil producer. Tour the facilities and taste a diversity of the oils that are grafted into the blend to create the finished product.

Day Five: Valparaso and Vina del Mar

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Day five will begin with a picturesque drive through the mountain ranges and flourishing farmlands recognized for their orchards and citrus groves. There is a scenic highway that winds to the coast through the valleys of Curacavi and Casablanca. Stop at the Veramonte Vineyard and enjoy wine tasting.

In the afternoon, arrive at Valparaíso, the most prestigious port city in Chile. The port welcomes ships from all over the world, as it is one of the most prominent in the entire Pacific Ocean. Valparaíso is built on 42 hills surrounding the bay of Valparaiso, which provide spectacular views and have been a source of inspiration to many artists over the years. If you have time, stroll through the scenic fishing coves or ride one of the old-fashioned elevators up to the hills of Valparaiso to observe the mansions dating from the last century. Afterwards, explore the new Parliament building, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Naval Academy, and take in some of the city’s steep winding streets decorated with small and colorful houses.

Next, carry on along the coast to classy Viña del Mar, also known as the Garden City. Viña del Mar has a population of 300,000 inhabitants and is the country’s primary beach resort. Here you will see the infamous flower clock, palm-lined avenues, the Fine Arts Museum, and the splendid Rioja Palace, constructed during Viña’s belle époque. Viña del Mar is found next to the Port of Valparaiso and offers a wonderful selection of hotels and a large diversity of restaurants. This will be a wonderful place to retire for the evening.

Day Six: Concha y Toro Vineyard

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Spend your last day in the world-renowned Concha y Toro Vineyard of Pirque, touring the park of the Don Melchor Concha y Toro Casona and tasting the wines. Found in the Maipo Valley, close to the city of Santiago, Concha y Toro Vineyard rests in one of Chile’s most significant wine producing regions.

The vineyard is the proud owner its own fields of splendid grapes, which includes Pinot, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Take a tour of the production plant and cellars. Stroll through the ancient park and explore the Pirque Casona, dwelling place of the Concha y Toro family. It was at this home, over one hundred years ago, where Chile’s largest winery was established. If you take a tour, one of the highlights of the tour includes the ancient wine cellar where founder Don Melchor Concha y Toro secured his finest wines. Here you will be told the “Casillero del Diablo Legend”, an account that has made Chilean wine famous across the world.

Enjoy wine tasting with the chance to buy fine wines at reasonable prices. The tour winds through the Maipo Valley with its beautiful countryside and charming villages nestled in the wine-producing regions. If you have extra time, you can visit other vineyards in the area open to visitors such as Santa Carolina and Santa Rita.

At the end of the day, head back to Santiago. Stroll through the numerous villages throughout the countryside and bask in the peace of their serenity.

Day 7: Maipo Valley

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On day five, head west of Santiago to Casablanca Valley. Visit Villard Estates, which is possessed by French owners and is one of the initial Casablanca projects. Although this is one of the smallest properties in the valley, it is one of the best.

Return to Santiago by late afternoon. Spend your last evening in Santiago, dining at Caramano, one of the best restaurants to experience true, authentic Chilean food. Tourists rarely frequent this restaurant; so guests will enjoy the true cultural feel of the dining experience.

Final Thoughts

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A week in Santiago is sure to leave a lasting impression upon its guests. This capital city of Chile is bursting with historic landmarks as well as beautiful images of nature. The itinerary above takes guests through Santiago, Pelequen, Valparaso and Viña del Mar, Concha y Toro Vineyard and the Maipo Valley. You will not want to soon leave this wonderful city.

Resources

http://www.iexplore.com/eintmap/Chile/46641

http://www.chile-tours.com/santiagoex.htm

http://www.avalon-tours.com/chile.html

http://www.culturaltours.co.uk/latin-america/chile-itinerary.php

http://sunsite.dcc.uchile.cl/chile/turismo/santiago.html

http://www.conchaytoro.com/visit/f_tours.html

Santiago - A One to Three-Day Itinerary Overview

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The city of Santiago is the capital of the country of Chile. Today the country remains a modern metropolis and a beautiful tribute to South America. Santiago de Chile inhabits possibly the most amazing setting of any world capital. Surrounded by the full might of the Andean Mountain Range, the mountains can be viewed from nearly anywhere in the city. The Pacific Ocean is only a hundred kilometers away from the city while the Andean Mountain Range is simply 40 kilometers away.

If you are debating on whether or not to vacation at this lovely city, consider it no further. Santiago offers an abundance of activities and attractions to make your vacation an enjoyable experience. Below is an itinerary for spending one to three days in Santiago.

Day One: City Tour of Santiago

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Begin day one by visiting the various neighborhoods of Santiago. Then travel to the historical center, where you will view the architecture of the most traditional sites in Santiago. The first traditional site you can stop at is the Santa Lucia hill, the location where the conqueror Pedro De Valdivia established Santiago. At the top of the hill, visitors will observe a panoramic view of the city, while basking in the hill’s vegetation and the architecture of Hidalgo’s Castle.

Next, visit the stunning New York Street, the Government Palace, the Stock Exchange, and the primary historical buildings such as the Court House and the former Congress.

Spend the afternoon in the Plaza de Armas. This is the place to go if you want to experience the culture of Santiago. Here, in the center of municipal life, Santiaguinos saturate the square to meet up with friends on the benches, hang around and view street performers, and investigate the exhibits of landscape and portrait art. This is a great place to sit back and people watch as you take in the culture.

Finally, end the day exploring the Postal Service Building, the Cathedral, and the National Historical Museum. The Cathedral de Santiago is located to the west of Plaza De Armas. This striking and substantial cathedral possesses a stunning interior with an inspiring collection of ecclesiastical art. The National Historical Museum boasts a surprisingly touching display of Allende’s broken glasses. This Museum displays Spanish-only, text-heavy exhibits of agricultural, political, and economic change in Chilean society.

Day Two: Central Market, Museo De Bellas Artes and Museo De Arte Contemporaneo, Bellavista, Metropolitan Park, Cerro San Cristobal, Café Melba

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Begin day two by exploring the dynamic environment of the Central Market. After shopping in this colorful array of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, travel to the Museo De Bellas Artes and Museo De Arte Contemporaneo, taking note of their magnificent architecture. The museums are both housed in a spectacular Neoclassical monument, constructed in 1910 to honor Chile’s first centenary. Together they form the largest concentration of collected art in the entire country of Chile. The Museo De Bellas Artes exhibits classic and contemporary art by both Chilean and international artists. The Museo De Arte Contemporaneo stands somewhat in the shadow of its counterpart museum, but does provide striking rotating exhibits.

Next, travel through the Bellavista neighborhood, which is renowned for its nightlife and good restaurants. After this, leave Santiago’s downtown area to visit the Metropolitan Park. This is a wonderful place to go if you want to escape Santiago’s infamous smog. This park, bursting with green, provides over seven square kilometers of steep hills and picturesque views of the city of Santiago below. The best time to go to the park is after the city has experienced a heavy rain; often, you will be able to view the Andes Mountain range in the backdrop. The primary entrance to the park is found at the base of Pío Nono, and accommodates the starting point of a cable railway, which escorts people to the top of Cerro San Cristobal. From here, 250m above the neighboring urban surroundings ride the cable car to survey the beauty of the panoramic views with the botanical gardens and enormous swimming pools. At the highest point, look for an enormous statue, 35m high, of Virgin Mary and the immaculate conception. This statue was built in Paris and set up in 1908 and can be seen from practically any location in the city, particularly when it is lit up at night.

Spend the evening dining at Café Melba. The restaurant has an excellent reputation as being a great place for the weary traveler to come and dine. Café Melba heads the scene in casual and comfortable dining. The menu offers a wide range of options as it changes with the season. Those looking for a filling and delicious dinner can find respite at Café Melba in its warm yet elegant environment.

Day Three: Valparaíso

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Rise up early the final day of your vacation to journey 75 miles through the picturesque valleys of Casablanca and Curacavi. Enjoy the delightful scenery along the way. By noon reach your destination at the port of Valparaiso, a tourist attraction that cannot be overlooked by those traveling to Santiago. This city was confirmed a world heritage because of its breathtaking architecture of the surrounding 44 hills, and their characteristic elevators, 15 of which still work.

Begin by stopping first at the National Congress. Next, travel up the Bellavista hill in order to observe “La Sebastiana”, a gorgeous home that belonged to the poet Pablo Neruda. If visitors want to, they can explore this beautiful residence.

After a while, travel to the Sotomayor Square, to view the Building of the National Navy and the Monument for the Heroes of the Pacific War. For an awe-inspiring view of the port, climb up the Concepcion hill and walk along the Gervasoni and Atkinson Walks.

Make sure you head towards the Immigrations Building and hop on the Artilleria Elevator to visit the renowned 21 de Mayo observatory. Every year hundreds of tourists meet to view the spectacular fireworks that the port sets off in order to welcome in the New Year.

Spend the later part of the day in Viña del Mar, also called the City of Gardens. Explore the Flower Clock, the Viña del Mar Casino (if you have time), and the Fonck Museum, recognized for its Easter Island collection. Spend time relaxing on Reñaca Beach, as Viña del Mar is the country’s primary beach resort, before heading back to Santiago. Spend the evening dining in one of a large diversity of restaurants. This will be a wonderful place to spend your last evening before leaving Santiago.

Final Thoughts

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The capital city of Chile, Santiago, is a wonderful place to take a much-needed vacation. There is so much to enjoy and appreciate about this wonderful city. Begin day one, by embarking on a city tour of Santiago. Visit such famous landmarks as Santa Lucia hill, New York Street, the Government Palace, the Cathedral de Santiago, and the Plaza de Armas. On day two, escape from Santiago’s infamous smog and spend the time in Metropolitan Park. At night dine at the recognized Café Melba whose menu offers a wide range of options as it changes with the season. Spend your last day taking a trip to Valparaiso, a tourist attraction that cannot be skipped by those traveling to Santiago. With its breathtaking architecture of the surrounding 44 hills, it is not hard to know why Valparaiso is the most prestigious port city in Chile. Spend the rest of the day in Viña del Mar, the beautiful City of Gardens. This three-day vacation in the city of Santiago is sure to leave a lasting impression upon its visitors.

Resources

http://sunsite.dcc.uchile.cl/chile/turismo/santiago.html

http://www.iexplore.com/cityguides/Chile/Santiago/Overview

http://www.chile-travel.com/chileabout/index.html

Jacob, Stefan. Let’s Go Chile, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2003

http://www.sallys-place.com/food/dining_directory/south_america/santiago.htm

Chile Vacations - A Week Long Itinerary

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Chile Major Cities and Regions

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Chile: The People and Culture

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Chile: Activities and Attractions

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Beginner's Guide to Chile

Day Three: Santiago

Day Four: Pelequen

Day Five: Valparaso and Vina del Mar

Day Six: Concha y Toro Vineyard

Day 7: Maipo Valley

Final Thoughts

Santiago - A One to Three-Day Itinerary Overview

Day One: City Tour of Santiago

Day Two: Central Market, Museo De Bellas Artes and Museo De Arte Contemporaneo, Bellavista, Metropolitan Park, Cerro San Cristobal, Café Melba

Day Three: Valparaíso

Final Thoughts

Chile Vacations - A Week Long Itinerary

Chile Vacations - A Week Long Itinerary Overview

Patagonia, Chile

Day One: Punta Arenas

Day Two: Puerto Natales

Chile Major Cities and Regions

Chile: Major Cities and Regions Overview

Major Cities and Regions

Ancud

Arica

Chile: The People and Culture

Chile: The People and Culture Overview

The People of Chile

The Culture of Chile

Art and Literature

Dance

Chile: Activities and Attractions

Chile: Activities and Attractions Overview

Attractions in Chile

Activities in Chile

Final Thoughts