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Valparaiso

Experiential journeys will make you a storyteller
About Valparaiso

Poetic, syncopated, colourful and dilapidated, Valparaíso in many ways is a beautiful mess. This hard working port town is best described by Pablo Neruda who drew inspiration from this town. In his words, he said: 'Valparaíso, how absurd you are…you haven't combed your hair, you've never had time to get dressed, life has always surprised you.'

However, it wasn’t Neruda alone who was feel for the unexpected charms of Valparaíso. Painters, would be philosophers and poets have long been drawn to this unusual city of Chile. In addition to the ever shifting port population of prostitutes, sailors and dockworkers, they’ve endowed gloriously spontaneous and gritty Valparaíso with a skittish air of ‘anything goes.’ Inclusion to this, the scenic faded beauty of the chaotic hills, a meander of crooked, steep alleys, streets and stairways stacked high with crumbling mansions, justifying well why some visitors chose to spend more time here than in Santiago. Collaborative efforts have been made to come up with top tier hotels and restaurants to the city and to ensure that the prime tourist zones are safe in this notoriously unsafe port city. Together, all this ensure that the midnight lights majorly the nightlife scene of the city is brighter than ever. 

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Valparaiso FAQ's

Travel Advice

·         Do not get involved in fights or brawls with anyone.

·         Do respect the local cultures and traditions.

·         Do not get indulged in drugs of any form.

·         Make sure you do not travel alone in the night.

·         Girls please ensure that you do not get over friendly with someone you barely know.

·         Do not eat street food without checking the quality.

·         Make sure you drink only bottled mineral water.

·         Check for the seal before you buy a water bottle.

·         Do not buy a bottle from the brand you do not know.

·         Before going to a restaurant, make sure you research well about the applicable dress code and dress accordingly.

·         Learn a few words from the local language of the region. It can be a good way to communicate with the locals and understand the local traditions and cultures.

·         Always book a hotel in an area that is centrally located.

·         Avoid staying in any shady area.

·         Keep the vendors at bay.

·         Do not entertain the touts.

·         Do not entertain the beggars.

·         Always carry with you at least one proof of your identity at all times.

·         Do not leave your passport in the hotel room.



Drinking Law

The legal age for drinking in Valparaíso is 18 years. 

Our Recommendations: What you can’t afford to miss?

Cerro Bellavista

Cerro Bellavista is a residential and artistic hill situated at the central sector of the chain of Cerros in Buenos Aires. The hill comprises of an open air museum of Valparaiso, which has 20 different murals spread across various streets. Holy Spirit elevator is a historical monument situated on this residential hill. You can also find a Carmen church and Mauri theatre here. La Sebastiana is one of three houses owned by famous poet Pablo Neruda that is built up on Cerro Bellavista. Other places of attraction on Cerro Bellavista are Organological Museum and Cristo Redentor.


La Sebastiana

Situated on the Cerro Florida, La Sebastiana is one of the three houses owned by world famous poet Pablo Neruda. The house has become a popular sightseeing destination for tourists as well as locals due to its wonderful structure and a magnificent view of Harbor bay. The house has now been turned into a museum which is operated and managed by Neruda foundation. It was reopened on January 5, 2012. Some of the interesting things you will find in this house are a portrait of his beloved Lord Cochrane, collections of dishes with hot air balloons, many maps, marine old stained glass among other interesting items.


Holy Spirit elevator

Holy Spirit elevator is one of the sixteen lifts you can use to travel in Valparaiso city. The lift first started functioning on 13th September 1911 before being ceased to function on August 2010. This iconic lift was declared as a National Monument of Chile on 1st September 1988. Holy Spirit elevator connects Plan of Valparaiso with Bella Vista Hills. Open air museum also falls on its way to Bellavista hills. On 1st September 2010, the lift was forced to shut down due to economic and operational problems. However, with the help of Chilean government, the lift was reopened to the public in June 2014.


Open air museum of Valparaiso

The open air museum of Valparaiso was inaugurated in 1992 which was attended by some world famous artists such as Roberto Matta and Mario Carreno. The museum is situated on the slopes of Cerro Bellavista and consists of 20 different types of murals. The easiest way to access this beautifully organized museum is to take an elevator tour. Some of the artists that contributed to this museum with its beautiful murals are Mario Carreno, Gracia Barrios, Eduardo Perez, Rodolfo Opazo among others. Tourists from all over the world come to explore this beautiful artistic open air museum.


Cultural park of Valparaiso

Formerly known as ex-prison, Cultural park of Valparaiso is a well-organized complex you will find in Cerro jail of Valparaiso. The jail turned cultural park covers a huge area of 10,000 sq. km. and is known to organize various cultural activities of its own. The architectural design of the park was done by Chilean architects' office HLPS. The park consists of a transmission building that contains 2 music rooms, 2 dance hall, 2 theatre rooms, 2 painting rooms among other cultural related rooms. Five leveled broadcasting building enables a tourist to get a beautiful view of the bay of Valparaiso. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Valparaiso which shouldn't be missed at any cost.


Baburizza Palace

Built in 1916 by two great Italian architects Arnaldo Barison and Renato Zanelli Schiavon, Baburizza palace is situated in Cerro Alegre region of Valparaiso city. The palace got its name from a Croatian businessman Pascual Baburizza. The architectural design of the house is inspired by typical buildings found in some countries like Europe, Prague, France and southern Germany. The Baburizza palace was redesigned and restored over and over again during its course of history. This beautiful building was declared as a historical monument on 19th July 1979. Valparaiso city is an ideal place for your winter holidays.

What you will like there?

Carnivals

Valparaiso is a hotspot for tourists who want to enjoy different carnivals and festivals. The most famous annual carnival takes place in the last week of the year which you must definitely attend. Various beautiful festivals are organized in the city that sees enthusiastic artists and performers participating in different activities. The city’s new year firework celebration is considered as one of the best firework display on the planet. The entry to these carnivals and festivals are usually free and it is organized outdoors. You definitely must partake in any of the grand festivities and the carnivals which take place in this beautiful city.


Nightlife

Valparaiso has always amazed tourists visiting the city to cherish on its arresting nightlife culture. There are various restaurants and bars open all through the night. You can also find a few markets which function till midnight. At the middle of the night, if you find yourself craving for a cup of coffee or tea, then you can visit some local cafes which offer you different varieties of coffee as well as tea. La Terrazza mimi is the best night club you will find in Valparaiso city. Pagano is a very popular gay club whereas Club El Huevo is one of the largest clubs in Valparaiso frequently visited by youngsters. Visiting any of these local pubs, bars and clubs are indeed one of the best things to do.


Local cuisine

Indulge in some great dishes offered by local restaurants here. Chorillina is the most traditional food of Valparaiso. You can also try French fries topped with steak strips, fried onion and fried eggs that will easily fill the stomach for two. Visit J Cruz which is one of the most popular traditional restaurants in the city. Several restaurants also offer International cuisines like Thai, Mexican, and Argentine. Fresh seafood is easily available at most of the restaurants. Other foods you can indulge includes a flaky pastry, filled with meat or cheese, palta, and empanadas.


Guided walking tours

Usually, guided walking tours in most of the cities are boring and uninteresting. However, in Valparaiso, you will love to go on guided walking tours. Mostly they last from 2.5 hours to 3 hours and offer an amazing experience. A lot of people in the city take these walking tours and most of them are tourists looking to explore different unknown places of the city. Choose a local guide and ask them to show their walking tour schedules and join the most convenient one, you will have a great time.


There is plenty to do in Valparaíso

Valparaíso has a vibe of an archaic colonial European type city bereft a price tag. Of course, you’ll encounter few uncomfortable aspects too (but that’s common everywhere else too) - Few smells which raise the question of their origin, some streets unpaved, etc. However, you definitely must spend a few days in this area to browse through the phenomenal attractions of the city. You can also ride along one of the many 130-year-old elevators which will take you to the top of one of the very steep hills that are almost free at 20 CLP. Besides undertaking the disquieting creaking and squeaking of the car itself all funiculars lead you from the port area to the other older residential parts of the tower which cater very well to the tourists. The donation or free places to see:

·         World class street art all across the city

·         History, natural sciences, museums, art, etc

·         Huge cultural center on the bay along with a large well-appointed casino

·         Spectacular views over the bay and the city

·         House guided tours of Chilean notables, admirals, and writers

·         Art galleries

All of this assures a great ambience to the city. Take a guidebook that will tell you which attractions is at the top of each city. This definitely can be a great help to plan an interesting itinerary. You can find several local people offering themselves as guides at cheap rates. They are very well aware and multilingual.


  It’s the Hippy Art Capital of Chile

Valparaíso has a vast tradition of vibrant art. On the city’s streets, you can find art in the form of the murals, people’s houses and fountains paid for by the city. Plus, everywhere you set your eyes you can check out the:

 

·         3D creations of all kinds

·         Jewelry

·         Paintings

·         Weavings

·         Sculpture

A hill containing the original powder magazine ‘ExCarcel’ was used in the 1880s as a jail. It was further used and expanded for prisoners for 110 years. Until the year 1999, the ‘Carcel’ happened to be the main working jail for the region. It then happened to the place you would want to be kept away from. However, in the year 2000, the jail was falling down and abandoned. That is when a group of leftover hippy artists who desired for a studio space took up to the squatter’s rights and started requesting the politicians to metamorphose the place into a vibrant art space as it is now. It has a couple of workshop areas, a small concert hall, studios and exhibition space as well as the outdoor gardens where free music concerts are conducted all summer. If you plan a visit during summers, you definitely must attend one of the concerts in the city.


Accommodation in Valparaíso is well priced for a beach city

Firstly, you need to know and understand that the city is divided into two parts. Valparaíso is an archaic town whereas the Viña del Mar is its sister city and there is just one street in between which divides the two. Viña del Mar is modern and chic. It is brimming with hostels and condos. During the holidays, the town gets full, so make sure you make a booking early to get your hands on the best accommodation in the city. More often than not, you can get avail a luxurious place to stay that is equipped with world class amenities such as room service, Wi-Fi, pool and a restaurant near the beach at about US$92 or more. In case you are prepared to go off the beach towards the hill with bright walls, mosaics, and paintings in a hostel that has a small private bath, you’ll have to pay around US$50 or$25,000 CLP. That’s basically a normal stay in one of the big old mansions of the city. If you are really low on budget, you can also find an accommodation for around US$22-30. However, if you opt for such a place, you ought to check for the security and cleanliness. Some of these are very good and filled with locals who known great deals.

Recommended reads for destination (govt. websites, travel forum articles)?

Website: Official Website

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Forum: Official Forum

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