Santiago, Valparaiso and the Central Valley Travel Guide
Travel to Santiago, Valparaiso and the Central Valley - Colonial history and New World Wines
- Ratings:
- 5 out of 5 (1 votes)
-
Reviews:
-
Be the first to write a review
At the centre of Chile's long slender territory is the capital Santiago and the home of the national congress, Valparaíso. Although two separate administrative regions they are located especially close together considering the vast distances between the rest of the country's cities.
Set on a wide open plain with a spectacular Andean backdrop on a clear day, the centre of Santiago is surprising compact for sprawling metropolis of 5 million. A thoroughly modern city served by a subterranean metro system, Santiago is more European in appearance than much of Latin America.
Surrounding a lively plaza with the expected hustle and bustle are post colonial buildings, national museums such as the renowned Pre-Columbian Museum, neat city parks and a leafy bohemian district. In the hills outside the city, visitors can ski at the city's top resorts, camp, hike and horse ride in the Cajón de Maipo or visit La Campana National Park.
Nearby, Valparaíso is altogether different. Its main thoroughfare that runs along the narrow gap between the city's docks and its hilly heights is lined with early 20th century buildings and served by tram-buses powered by overhead cables. On the steep hills of Cerro Santa Lucía and Cerro San Cristóbal Victorian mansions built in a period of boom give a hint of what life was like before this photogenic city began its economic decline.
South of the capital and Valparaíso, is Chile's wine country. One of its major exports, Chilean wine is well regarded in the world. A land of classic haciendas and small rustic towns, its climate makes this the centre of the country's wine industry. Many of its vineyards can be visited, while the effects of too much wine tasting can be walked off in the region's national parks, such as lush forested Río de Los Cipreses.
Places to Visit in Santiago, Valparaiso and the Central Valley
Santiago, Valparaiso and the Central Valley Reviews
Why not be the first and add your review below?
