South America : Chile : Biobío : Concepción

Concepción

Table of Contents:
Culture and History / Travel to Concepción, visa requirements Flights to Concepción, airtickets By car Buses to Concepción By train / Get around / Concepción attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, Concepción souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Concepción nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Stay safe / Respect / Get out

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Concepción

Concepción [1] is the second largest city of Chile with a population of over 900,000 as of 2002. It is located on the coast of the Biobio Region.

Culture and History

Concepción was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Bío-Bío River, at the site which is today known as Penco. At that time it was given the name Concepción del Nuevo Extremo.

More than once the city has been destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis. One in 1570, another on the 25 of May, 1751, at which point it was decided to move Concepción further from the sea to its present location in the Mocha Valley.

Today Concepción is the second largest city of the country. The Universidad de Concepción, founded in 1919, and with its main campus in the city became the first private university in Chile. The neighbouring harbour of Talcahuano holds the largest naval base in the country.

Travel to Concepción, visa requirements

Flights to Concepción, airtickets

You can fly via "Lan Chile", from Santiago

By car

The famous "Carretera Panamericana", also called "Ruta 5 Sur", there is a very good route from Santiago, meeting international standards for the most part. Drive south from Santiago to near Chillan city (approx 5 hours), then take the "Ruta del Itata" to west for about an hour.

Buses to Concepción

By train

From Santiago de Chile you can take a train (EFE), at about 10:00 pm and arrive at Concepción at 08:00 am, everyday, but there is only one train per day. Daytime trips are possible, but the train goes to Chillan City and then you take a bus (included) to Concepción. The trip begins in "Estacion Central", located in "Alameda street" (La Alameda) you can arrive by car, bus or metro (subway) in the "Estacion Central" station.

Get around

Concepción attractions and sightseeing

Universidad de Concepción, (Univeristy of Concepción). A beautiful university with big gardens.
Museo Hualpén, (Hualpén museum). A beautiful old house that was converted to a museum holding the pieces of Mr.Pedro del Rio Zañartu, a world traveller.
Old mining operations. 40 km south of Concepción is an old mining town or Lota that offers tours of an old coke mine.
Chivilingo. Near Lota is the Chile´s first electric plant, today a beautiful museum and picnic area.

City tours

Shopping, Concepción souvenirs

Good restaurants and cheap meals

You can eat a lot of different types of sandwiches in "La Fuente Alemana", located in O´Higgins street near the cathedral, and other in Caupolican street in front of the central Market (Mercado Central).

Concepción nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

Hotel "El Araucano" a very comfortable hotel, located front central place.(Plaza de armas)

Stay safe

The city is generally safe, however :

- Be aware of pickpockets and avoid wearing expensive-looking jewelry or watches, even during the day.

- Do not visit Talcahuano 's seaport, Hualpencillo or near areas in the night, especially on weekends.

Respect

- Population is very tolerant and friendly.

- As the rest of country, this city has largely conservative Catholic and protestant population but Freemasonry has here, an important influence in culture, education and business.

- Very strong social movements and political activity, sometimes heavily polarizated, be careful while discussing such matters.

Get out

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Concepci%C3%B3n"

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