Santiago & Valparaiso - Help with Planning
 

My husband and I will be traveling to Chile in early February for a long weekend: 3 nights in Santiago and 2 in Valparaiso. We have our hotels booked, but would welcome some suggestions for things to see and do (Pablo Neruda's homes are on our list) and some restaurant recommendations. During our time in Santiago, we plan to spend one of those days outside the city - perhaps touring wineries. All suggestions welcome. Thank you in advance!

In Valparaiso take at least one of the walking tours. You can either go on the tip-based tours such as Tours4Tips or book a private one.

I'd recommend the 3pm tour if you go Tours4Tips, the 10 am one was also good and hit some of the social and historic issues.

I enjoyed Sabor Color restaurant in Valpo so much that I went twice.

Neruda's houses are all interesting. Go as early as possible for Isla Negra as you have to line up to get in. The restaurant in town on the main street with a patio in front was very good, also. Don't remember the name but it was diagonal from the market and maybe a half block up. Fresh congrio.

It is ancient now but here is a link to our blog of our time in Valparaiso. http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...9520/tpod.html
Loved the self guided graffiti trail. Favourite restaurants, both casual, included the Casino Social Club and Cinzanos. A wonderful, fascinating city.

I found Valparaiso much more interesting than Santiago. I also did a day trip to Vino del Mar, which was worth it for the moai outside the Archaeological Museum

I walked by the outside of the museum and saw some carved figure in the front yard. Was that it?

I didn't think Vina was interesting, just another high rise coastal resort.

I would spend that time in Valpo.

Probably. Photo here: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...aiso-the-good/

I preferred Valpraiso much more than Santiago. I agree to see all 3 of Neruda's houses. Also enjoyed the self guided street art trail.. Some wonderful street art. You can click on my name to find our TR from our time in Santiago and Valpariso.
Have fun!

These are wonderful suggestions - please keep them coming! Where can I find the route for the self-guided street art trail in Valparaiso?
Thanks.

Our route was via a photocopied map from our accomodation, B&BLa Nona. Seems like they only do guided tours now. Here is a link which may help. Alternatively, I would head straight to the local tourist office on arrival, they are sure to have a map.

I think we followed a guidebook, but agree the local tourist office or where you stay should be able to help.

Giving graffiti tours has become good business so it may be more difficult to find 'free' guides. I'd still recommend the tip-based tour from Tours4Tips. They include a walking tour through some of the best graffiti areas as well as fun stuff like riding the old green trolleys. Then you can wander around on your own and feel a little more comfortable both walking and taking the public transport.

The graffiti changes all the time. One of the first routes publicized is the so called Museum of the Sky and I don't think the graffiti is anywhere as interesting as some of the new stuff.

If you are going up to La Sebastiana on your own, there is quite a bit of good stuff as you walk up from the Ascensor Espiritu Santu.

Here's a link to a map that I took a photo of a few months ago. IIRC it's posted at the top of one of the Ascensors.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1053023...65085204380066

One thing to be aware of is that while Cerro Concepcion, Bella Vista, and Allegre are fairly safe, you should not go to other areas alone unless you are sure about their safety.

The walking tours sound great, but I don't know that we would do more than one in the 5-day period, so as between Santiago and Valpo, which would be the better for the tour? From what I have read, the Tours4Tips tour in Valpo sounds great. Thoughts? Thanks.

Are you limited physically? Or is it just a matter of time? The tips tours don't take that long, a few hours. You can also break off at the end and not go back to their office (which is near the start).

Valparaiso is better, but it is hilly.

Santiago is flat, mostly, with one hill but I think you would take a cable car.

More a matter of time. Too few hours in a day!

In that case, no contest...Valpo!

I didn't especially love Santiago.

Bellavista neighborhood and the old market, plus the Neruda house.

(Those sights are what I liked in Santiago, if you didn't recognize them).

I 2nd mlgb's comments. My feeling exactly.

In Santiago, what about: 1) the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino;
2) La Vega market (across the river) and 3) Museum of the Disappeared (can't easily find the proper name of it right now)? Did you go? Worth it?

Also, any suggestions for a day trip from Santiago (or is that better raised in a separate thread)?

Thank you.

The Pre-Colombian Museum was closed when I was there, alas, but I thoght the Museum of the Disappeared was well done and worth seeing.