5 Best Sights in The Central Coast, Chile

Near the south end of town, the lovely early 20th-century, neocolonial church seems out of place surrounded by modern buildings. It was once part of a convent that has since been replaced by vacation apartments. It was declared a national historic monument in 1995, but it's only open to visitors on weekends in January and February.

Also known as the Chalet Recart, this Papudo icon and somewhat whimsical white house topped with a tall tower sits just a block from the beach in the center of town. It was built in 1910 and now holds municipal offices and hosts occasional art and history exhibitions. There's a small plaza just below with an outdoor café that's a great place to have a refreshing drink while relaxing and people-watching.

A small and attractive yellow-sand beach on the south end of town near where the fishermen bring in their daily catch, Playa Chica is well protected and safe for swimming. A promenade lined with tall palm trees runs between the beach and the road and provides a place for vendors to set up while strollers admire their goods as well as the beach. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

You'll have to do a bit of walking to reach the quiet Playa Durazno. It's an attractive, yellow-sand beach north of Playa Grande—past the condominiums—that's lined with pine trees and protected by a rocky barrier offshore. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset.

Papudo's most popular beach is Playa Grande, a wide swath of yellow sand that stretches northward from the Barco Rojo for more than a mile. It's now lined with modern high-rise apartment buildings to house the Santiaguinos who flee the city for long weekends and vacations. Amenities: food and drink; parking. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.