Valparaiso

Valparaiso (Valparaíso) is a city of around 300,000 on the Pacific coast of the central region of Chile. It is located approximately 120km west of the capital, Santiago de Chile. The city is widely known for its bohemian culture, brightly colored houses, and beautiful seaside views.

Culture and History

• The principle activities are Charge by ships, petroleum refining and tourism.

• Valparaiso was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.

• Visiting Valparaiso has less to do with touring specific sites, and is more about roaming the chaotic, hilly streets, and taking in the views and ambiance.

Travel to Valparaíso, visa requirements

Flights to Valparaíso, airtickets

Valparaiso does not have its own airport. The closest airport with commercial service is Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, some 2 hours away, which offers extensive domestic and international service.

To to get to Valparaíso from Santiago's airport, you will catch a Tur-bus airport shuttle outside of the airport terminal. This will drop you off at "Pajaritos," a bus/subway station on the outskirts of Santiago. From here, buses leave frequently for Valparaiso and other destinations; you may also take the subway into downtown Santiago. It is generally not necessary to have a bus ticket before arriving at Pajaritos.

By train

There is a metro/train that runs between Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, as well as other surrounding communities. It is new, clean, fast, and relatively inexpensive.

By car

While Valparaiso itself can be a bit of a difficult city in which to drive, the area's highway system is generally of good quality. Note that there are often tolls on highways.

Buses to Valparaíso

You can easily get to Valparaiso by bus from Santiago. The trip takes around two hours and you have a wide choice of bus companies and departure times. Buses from a wide variety of other destinations within Chile also have scheduled service to Valparaiso, in addition to service to the Argentine city of Mendoza. The bus terminal is located close to the National Congress building.

Approximate bus travel times to/from Valparaiso:

• 2 hours: Santiago de Chile
• 6 hours: La Serena
• 7 hours: Mendoza, Argentina

By boat

Many cruise ships dock in Valparaiso, which is home to a very active port.

Get around

From Valparaiso, you can reach downtown Viña del Mar in about thirty minutes with the local buses, which are numerous and inexpensive. Note that buses that service the city and surrounding areas (such as Viña del Mar) are referred to as micros, while long-distance buses are called buses.

Taxis (called "colectivos") run on fixed routes, and are a very common mode of transport between (and inside of) Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, and other surrounding areas. The cost of the trip, while more expensive than the bus or metro, depends upon the distance being travelled.

There is also a recently-completed subway/train system that runs along the coast, starting along Valparaiso's coast and heading to Viña del Mar and other, more rural locales. It provides fast access to major places of interest, and is only slightly more expensive than taking public buses.

Taxis which run on fixed routes (called "colectivos") are common; less common and more expensive are taxis which do custom rides. These type of taxis often congregate in the area around the Plaza Anibal Pinto.

A unique method of transportation in Valparaiso are the ascensores, cable cars that go up and down the steep hills leading away from the ocean (similar to the inclines in Pittsburgh). (See photo near the top of this page.) They are for the most part old and creaky, but generally reliable. The fare is slightly higher going up than down, and they often gorgeous views of the cityscape, port, and Pacific Ocean.

Valparaíso attractions and sightseeing

• Cerros Alegre and Concepción
• Plaza Echaurren – Serrano Street
• Cerro Cordillera
• Banking area - Prat Street
• La Matriz Church and surroundings
• Ascensores (inclines)
• La Sebastiana, one of three homes of poet Pablo Neruda
• Ex Cárcel, a former jail turned cultural center and concert venue

City tours

Going to Valparaiso and not going on the ascensores (inclines) is like going to Venice and not taking a ride on a Gondola, only that the ascensores cost as little as 300 Chilean Pesos (around 60 US cents). They are also of practical use as they help many local people get to the higher parts of town, saving them from having to walk otherwise long and steep pedestrian routes.

Learn

The universities of Valparaiso are:

• 'University Federico Santamaria' [1]
• 'University of Valparaiso' [2]
• 'University of Playa Ancha' [3]
• 'Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso'[4]

Many international students study at the Catholic University and the University of Valparaiso.

Work

Given the high levels of poverty and inequality in Chile, it is not advisable for citizens of wealthy nations to seek work in the country - with the exception of jobs teaching English.

Shopping, Valparaíso souvenirs

Valparaiso, to its charm, is not a city of malls and department stores. While several large grocery stores are present, most other shopping is done in smaller, non-chain stores tucked in along crowded city streets, or with street vendors; larger chain stores (and more upscale goods) are more commonly found in nearby Viña del Mar.

Good restaurants and cheap meals

The most traditional food in Valparaiso is the Chorrillana, a heaping mound of french fries topped with steak, cheese, and eggs. You can eat this in the traditional restaurant J Cruz. Fresh seafood is readily available in many small restaurants around the city, especially around the muelle (wharf) areas, and is considered a must for any seafood lover. Neighboring Viña del Mar features a much larger (and more expensive) variety of international cuisines, including Thai, Mexican, and Argentine.

Bakeries are located on nearly every block, and produce quite delicious breads that can be had warm and right out of the oven at almost any time throughout the day. They are best enjoyed smothered with palta, which are grown en masse in Chile (palta is the Chilean word for avocado, known in most other Spanish-speaking countries as aguacate). In addition to the many types of bread, another widely available snack to keep you settled as you walk the streets are empanadas, a flaky pastry, almost like a croissant, filled with meat or cheese.

Budget

Mid-range

Le Filou Montpellier Almte Montt 382. Great French-run restaurant in Cerro Concepciòn.

Epif Calle Dr. Grossi 268, Cerro Alegre. Tastey vegetarian food and drinks at reasonable prices. Cozy cafe environment with great music and service.

Splurge

Valparaíso nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

On weekends, the time to go out for a drink (Chilean people call it "salir de carrete") starts no earlier than midnight, though somewhat earlier during the week. The pubs and clubs close at 5 AM on weekends, and 4 AM on weekdays.

Drinking alcohol in the streets is not allowed and 18 years is the minimum age for drinking alcohol, though enforcement of these rules is somewhat lax. If you are under 18, you may not be allowed entry into some pubs.

Chile is a major wine-producing country, and bottles of fairly tasty wines can be had for slightly more than $1USD.

Nightlife

• La Torre - offers inexpensive drinks, and is frequented by university students
• Balmaceda
• Barcelona
• La Piedra Feliz - a more expensive and touristy club that often features salsa dancing, mosty for the older crowds
• Club El Cielo
• Club Stockolmo
• Club El Huevo - one of the largest dance clubs in Valparaiso
• Bar El Playa
• Mascara - caters to an artsy and gay/lesbian crowd

Many clubs and bars are also found in Viña del Mar. Public transportation and taxis continue to run throughout the night, making it entirely feasible to have accommodations in one city while going out for the night in the other.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

Budget

• Residencial el YoYo, Subida Ecuador 355, 032-591087 (elyoyo3555@hotmail.com). Fun Backpackers hostel with Kitchen, Free Internet and lots of good tourist information. Dorm rooms cost 5000 pesos and private rooms start at 6000 pesos per person. Spanish lessons and tours to the area's known and unknown attractions are available.
• Hostal Pilcomayo, Pilcomayo #491 (Cerro Concepción), 032-251075 (hostalpilcomayo@hotmail.com). Basic rooms, very friendly atmosphere. The large living rooms makes it a good meeting place. Free internet.
• Casa Adventura [5] Pasaje Gàlvez 11 (Cerro Concepción), (56)(32) 755 963. Dorm room 6000 per person. Double room 7000 per person. Good breakfast, decent rooms, friendly helpful staff, good place to meet people.

Mid-range

Splurge

Contact

Stay safe

In the context of Chile being a relatively safe country, Valparaiso is amongst its more dangerous locales, like many harbour cities around the world. Violent crime is not excessive, but normal precautionary measures should be taken. The port area (called "Puerto") is generally considered to be dangerous at night.

Cope

Get out

• Viña del Mar - The beachtown Viña del Mar is only twenty minutes by train from Valparaíso, and slightly longer by bus.

Featured articles
China travel tips: Language / pensions culture in Barcelona / cheap youth hostels singapore / hotels and hostels in Trastevere in Rome / Major Morocco tourist attractions / South Africa political attractions / Vancouver visitors guide, culture & youth hostels / Las Vegas hotels, top casinos, tours and shows . .