19 Best Hotels in The Central Coast, Chile

The hills of Valparaíso have enjoyed a boom of boutique hotels in the last decade, but this one is a cut above the rest. Tucked behind the Baburizza Palace, the hotel includes many luxuries, such as an outdoor pool, an elevator, a small spa, and a private garden, that are a rare treat in crowded Valpo. Dark wooden floors and corridors create a calm interior that contrasts with the bustle outside, and the views across the bay and back up the hill are spectacular.

As the name suggests, Fauna stays true to its natural surroundings: the floors, stairs, and handrails are made from recycled native wood, adobe is used generously in the architecture, and the span of the hotel's interior street-side wall, extending some two floors, is actually the exposed containment wall originally constructed to keep Cerro Alegre standing. The three-story house, dating back to 1870, is a short walk from the Ascensor Reina Victoria. Many of its rooms, as well as its restaurant, with its large windows and long outdoor deck, offer unobstructed views of the bay. Room No. 5 has a view of the hill's rock foundation, which juts in.

A rounded facade, echoing the shape of the adjacent Casino Viña del Mar, means that almost every room at this elegant oceanfront hotel has unmatched views. The exterior is true to the casino's neoclassical design, but spacious guest rooms are pure 21st century, with sleek furnishings, original modern art, and sliding glass doors that open onto balconies. Marble floors, fountains, abundant gardens, and impeccable service make Hotel Del Mar one of Chile's most luxurious. An eighth-floor spa and infinity pool have stunning views. A stay here includes free access to the upscale casino, the country's first and largest, which evokes Monaco rather than Las Vegas.

Bougainvillea and cypress trees surround two identical moss-green buildings with well-appointed, spacious rooms. If you choose those with terraza y vista al mar, you get picture windows and narrow balconies with wonderful views of the rocky coast and blue Pacific. The suites on the corners have views on two sides but lack terraces. The airy restaurant, with its black-and-white tile floor and original art, has style to rival anything in Miami Beach. It leads directly out to a terrace wrapping around a sparkling pool. A private trail leads down to the beach.

This sophisticated city hotel certainly earns its name, as you can do almost everything here while you gaze at the sea. The striking white architecture has quickly made it a landmark in the city, attracting many of the big-name stars who perform at the summer music festival. Another highlight is the Sheraton Fitness spa with sauna, hot tub, and massage rooms, as well as a heated indoor pool and an outdoor pool, which guests can alternate between.

Set in an overgrown garden, these cabanas feel far away from everything, but in reality, they're just across from the beach. A jumble of stone and dirt walkways leads uphill to the rooms. Stone fireplaces and wooden walls add to the rustic feel. All rooms come with an outdoor grill area, some overlooking the beach. Ask for one of the newer rooms at the top of the hill, as they have a few nice touches like river-rock showers.

Set in a sprawling Victorian mansion that spreads across five floors built in the 1870s, the Gervasoni is a chance to step back in time to Valparaíso's more elegant past. Finding your room will involve navigating dark corridors and climbing steep stairways, but the atmosphere is enchanting, and the house still contains many of the former owner's original furnishings. If stairs are a problem, ask for a room on a lower floor. The city's mind-boggling topography means that the hotel has three entrances on different floors. Breakfast is included, and a welcome drink awaits you on the upper-level terrace.

One of the few true hotels in a town with an abundance of cabins and apartments for rent, the Carande looks a bit worn, but it's just a short walk from the beach. It's worth paying the extra money for a room on the third floor to have a sea view over the rooftops. There's a restaurant on the second floor, and the lobby has a fireplace that usually has a fire burning in winter.

One of the first boutique hotels to spring up on fashionable Cerro Concepción, this cozy house lies at the end of Paseo Atkinson, near many local attractions. Many of this 19th-century building's original features have been carefully preserved, such as beautiful stained-glass windows and tastefully elegant furnishings, plenty of artwork, and a piano in the lobby. A common-area terrace, with a panoramic view of the bay, is perfect for enjoying a glass of wine. The owners live on-site and pride themselves on being good hosts.

Golf fairways, pine trees, and ocean vistas surround this five-story white-stucco resort building; the spacious, colorful rooms are decorated with original art and have large terraces with views of Maitencillo Bay. Some meals are included, served at the circular Mirador Restaurant, which specializes in seafood.

Built on the rocky coast between Viña and Reñaca, this boutique hotel has luxurious rooms with gorgeous ocean views. Rooms are cheerful, decorated in bright shades of pink and orange. The pool area, perched on the rocks below, is occasionally drenched by big swells. Although there's no beach access, the sands of Las Salinas are a short walk away. 

Complete with a piano bar, wine cellar, spa, massage room, indoor heated swimming pool, wood-fire heated hot tub, and indoor garden, this luxurious hotel aims to please. It's situated in a renovated 1920s Victorian mansion and is perfect as a romantic getaway. If your aim is to splurge, this is the best place in town to do it.

The pine cabanas here range from cozy studios to two-bedroom apartments complete with wooden decks and hot tubs. Llamas trim the grass around the cabanas spread across a forested ridge north of town. Only some rooms have ocean views, although all have large windows and well-stocked kitchenettes; most have small fireplaces.

The slick and modern Pullman boasts all the things you'd expect of a glossy chain hotel, including a pool, fitness center, rooftop terrace, bar, and attractive restaurant. Located on the southern edge of Viña's largest beach, it's ideally placed for easy access to the city's top sights.

Rising out of a craggy headland with spectacular views up and down the coast, this hotel blends almost seamlessly into its surroundings. The rough rock walls, huge bright windows, and red leather upholstery also make this one of Chile's most stylish hotels. Do not miss the beautiful roof terrace, the heated seawater indoor pool, or the hot tub.

If you want to swim in the sea but aren't keen to brave the polar temperatures of Chilean waters, try this set of imposing apartment buildings on Algarrobo's northern edge with its eight-hectare, 1,000-meter, turquoise-blue seawater pool that stretches the length of the complex. The pool attracts swimmers, kayakers, and even yachters. As if that weren't enough, there are another 11 outdoor pools, each with artificial beaches, and two heated indoor pools. The spacious suites, all with terraces overlooking the ocean, sleep up to 11, and guests also have access to their own spa, supermarket, and dance club, so there is plenty to keep everyone occupied without having to go far.

Perched high atop Cerro Alegre, between ascensores El Peral and Reina Victoria, this palm-shaded mansion has an unobstructed view of the sea. As befits an elegant home from the 19th century, its rambling hallways and wooden staircases lead to rooms of various shapes and sizes. Ask for No. 8, which has lovely French doors and a private terrace where you can enjoy your breakfast. All rooms at this boutique hotel are furnished with antique armoires and bureaus and beds piled high with imported linens. Dozens of trendy shops and restaurants are steps away.

Come for the personalized service and for many of the same amenities you'll find at larger hotels at a fraction of the cost. Rooms are carpeted, nicely furnished, and impeccably clean. Two "apartments," larger rooms in back, are ideal for small families. Complimentary breakfast and light meals are served at the bright café in front, behind which is a small lounge with armchairs and a sofa. The small hotel is half a block from busy 1 Norte but is remarkably quiet.

Set in one of the quieter corners of bustling Cerro Alegre, this former Dutch diplomat's residence dating to to the 1880s has been transformed into a chic boutique hotel. The hotel offers first-rate service and stunning views of the bay from its three outdoor decks, where you can relax under the shade of many trees. The rooms, with their high ceilings and redbrick walls, aren't overly cluttered and provide simple comfort.