Full Day Vina del Mar and Valparaiso
Cost: $45.00Tour Length: Full Day
Activity Level: Easy to Moderate
Includes:
- Regular Transportation
- Bilingual Guide
- Craft shops
Operates daily year round
Travel out of Santiago past the vineyards, farms, orchards and olive plantations of Curacavi and Casablanca valleys. At the coast, drive along the beaches of Las Salinas and Reñaca to Viña del Mar, a town Chileans refer to as “Ciudad Jardín” due to its parks, flower beds and gardens. The beach is the resort’s main draw, however, and visitors and locals alike make use of Costanera Avenue and the oceanfront promenade in the shadows of the imposing Casino Municipal. Follow España Avenue to neighboring Valparaíso, a port christened by the Spanish in 1536. Climb up, down and around these narrow twisty streets—the city is balanced on some 40 hills—and pause at the water front to watch the ships, boats and fishermen in the bay. The tour proceeds to the heart of the city, the Plaza Sotomayor, a pleasant sanctuary, opposite the Maritime Authority. Inside the plaza is the Monument a los Héroes de Iquique, a memorial for those killed during the War of the Pacific. Just beyond this is Muelle Prat, the pier complete with small crafts market. Lunch (not included) can be had at one of the many restaurants that border the beach; the perfect opportunity to sample the port’s famously fresh fish and seafood. For the afternoon, visit La Sebastiana, another of poet Pablo Neruda’s homes-turned-museums, ride one of the city’s many elevators, an effective mode of moving about this largely vertical port back at the turn of the century. Ascendor Artillería, built in 1898, is one of the oldest still in operation and offers a beautiful view of the ocean. Finally, enjoy a drive through the financial and commercial districts before setting out for Santiago through the Curacavi Valley where traditional Chilean sweets and snacks are for sale.
** $43 supplement for private tour
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