52 Best Sights in The Central Coast, Chile

This national park about 45 minutes east of Concón by car holds the largest remaining forests of Chilean wine palms, which tower above the arid peaks of the Cordillera de la Costa. To immerse yourself in these massive palms, head to the northern Palmas de Ocoa Sector. If you want to instead follow in Charles Darwin's footsteps to the top of the park's namesake peak, Cerro La Campana, head to the southern Granizo Sector near the village of Olmué (which is famous for its annual folk music festival). Note that the hike to this 1,880-meter summit is a 11.5km (7.1 mile) full day affair along the largely shade-less Sendero El Andinista.

Ascensor Artillería pulls you uphill to Paseo 21 de Mayo, a wide promenade lined by a long row of booths selling crafts and souvenirs and surrounded by well-tended gardens and stately trees. From here you can survey the working port and much of the city through coin-operated binoculars. A gazebo—a good place to escape the sun—seems to be hanging in midair. Paseo 21 de Mayo is located in the middle of Cerro Playa Ancha, one of the city's more colorful and less touristy neighborhoods.

The light-gray sand of the long and narrow Playa Aguas Blancas lies to the south of a rock outcropping, protected from the swells, and consequently is decent for swimming (and fishing). A constant stiff breeze and the cliffs leading down to the beach also make it ideal for paragliding. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

One of Concón's most popular beaches, Playa Amarilla's yellow sand and relatively calm waters make it a favorite with families, many of whom own or rent apartments in the stair-stepped high-rise buildings across the street. The street-level promenade makes for a nice stroll and a beautiful spot to sit and watch people, or the sunset. There are plenty of options for eating, ranging from kiosk snacks to formal dining. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: sunsets; swimming.

One of Viña's most popular beaches, smack in the center of town, Playa Caleta Abarca's golden sands are crowded with sun worshippers in midsummer, making it a great place for people-watching. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards. Best for: swimming.

This nice stretch of light-gray-sand beach on the northern end of town has the best of both worlds—the waves are big enough for light surfing, bodyboarding, and paddleboarding, but not big enough to be dangerous for swimmers. Lifeguards are on duty, beachgoers can rent lounge chairs and sun umbrellas, and beachside restaurants offer drinks and light meals. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; water sports. Best for: sunsets; surfing; swimming.

Vacation apartments keep creeping closer to the beach, which gets its fair share of sun worshippers in summer. There are two ways to reach Playa Grande: through the town, following Avenida Teniente Merino, or through the gated community of Santa Augusta. Amenities: food; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

The beige sand of this nice beach stretches northward from town for several miles. The surf is usually rough—though beautiful—and therefore not apt for swimming. It's a great place for a long walk on the beach, and you'll often see people fishing. Massive condominium complexes scattered along the beach spill hundreds of vacationers onto it every summer. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: sunset; walking.

At the northern end of town is the sprawling gray-sand Playa La Boca, named for the boca (mouth) of the Aconcagua River, which flows into the Pacific here and sometimes makes the water murky. The long, regular curl to the waves makes it a favorite spot for paddleboarding and beginning surfers (there are numerous places to take lessons along the beach). The southern end has a large parking lot with prices that vary throughout the year, and the northern end has a children's park and horse and kayak rentals. There's a very long stretch of seafood restaurants in between. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; walking.

Toward the northern end of town, where the promenade that runs between the beach and the long row of waterfront properties ends, Playa Las Cadenas is a popular, smaller spot to spread a beach towel. The calm and relatively shallow water makes it a good place for swimming. The name, translated to "Chain Beach," refers to the thick metal links lining the sidewalk, which were recovered from a shipwreck off Algarrobo Bay. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

Valparaíso's only true swim-worthy beach is set in a sheltered crescent of yellow sand west of the port. Although less attractive than other beaches up and down the coast, it's a fast and easy getaway from the busy port and does have very calm water. Amenities: food and drink; free parking. Best for: sunset; swimming.

The westernmost beach in Concón, the tiny Playa Los Lilenes is set in a yellow-sand cove with calm waters. It's good for swimming and family outings. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

The most popular beach in town is tiny Playa San Pedro; a statue of Saint Peter in the sand next to the wharf marks the spot. It's small, but the waters are surrounded by a rocky barrier that keeps them calm and good for swimming. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Viña del Mar's central square, Plaza Vergara is lined with majestic palms. Presiding over the east end of the plaza is the patriarch of coastal accommodations, the venerable Hotel O'Higgins, which has seen better days. Opposite the hotel is the neoclassical Teatro Municipal de Viña del Mar, where you can watch a ballet, theater, or music performance. To the west on Avenida Valparaíso is the city's main shopping strip, a one-lane, seven-block stretch with extra-wide sidewalks and numerous stores and cafés. Some of the city's stateliest mansions lie on the streets just back from the plaza.

Up the hill from Caleta de Zapallar is this plaza. Translated as the "Rough Sea Square," the park has a nice ocean view and a playground. In January and February, there are often mule rides for kids as well.

Valparaíso's impressive Plaza Sotomayor serves as a gateway to the bustling port. The Comandancia en Jefe de la Armada, headquarters of the Chilean navy, is a grand periwinkle building that rises to a turreted pinnacle over a mansard roof. At the eastern end of the plaza the Monumento de los Héroes de Iquique honors Arturo Prat and other heroes of the War of the Pacific. At the southern end, the Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y el Patrimonio often hosts art exhibitions. A crafts and products fair also happens weekly during the warmer months. Beware of traffic in the middle of the square; cars and buses come suddenly from all directions. 

Most Chilean cities have a Plaza de Armas that serves as the center of urban life, but Valparaíso has this, the "Victory Plaza," which dates back to the early 19th century. It was once the favored venue for bullfights and public executions, but today it's a lovely park graced by a large fountain. The fountain is bordered by four female figures representing the seasons and two black lions that look across the street to the neo-Gothic cathedral and its unusual freestanding bell tower.

Lose yourself on the paths that wind amid towering araucaria and other well-marked trees on the grounds that contain one of Chile's best botanical gardens. An amphitheater here holds an international music festival, Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar, in February. There is also an arts-focused kids’ museum, Museo Artequin, which is highly interactive.

Fundación Quintay looks after this former whaling station, which operated from 1943 to 1967 and processed approximately 13,700 whales. It's been converted into a quaint museum that gives you a window into this coastal town's past. The museum, along with the skeletal remains of a whale, are just a stone's throw away from the handful of brightly colored fishing boats at the wharf.

Built for the 1962 World Cup, this functional flower clock has been tick-tocking away for six decades. The botanical landmark is not only one of the most photographed sites on the Central Coast; it's helped Viña del Mar foster a reputation as La Ciudad Jardín ("The Garden City").

This massive promontory covered with scrubby vegetation has footpaths winding throughout that afford excellent views of Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, and the sea churning against black volcanic rock below, as well as pelicans and other sea birds soaring and diving headlong into the sea.

The biodynamic Viña Matetic straddles the border between the Casablanca Valley and the adjacent San Antonio Valley and may take the prize for having the region's most stunning bodega. Set into a ridge overlooking vines on both sides, it aims to harmonize with the gorgeous setting, with sloping passageways revealing glimpses into the barrels stored below. Just down the road, the winery's restaurant looks out over beautifully manicured gardens, in the middle of which is a restored guesthouse with 10 elegantly decorated rooms.