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Travel and Tourism in Chile >
Tourism
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Important information from the
National Emergency Bureau (ONEMI)
:
Basic
Integral Security Guide for Visitors and Foreign Residents in Chile
SERNATUR (Chile's National Board of Tourism – Servicio Nacional de Turismo)
The majestic Andean Mountain Range can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Due to its geographic location, Santiago is one of the few capital cities in the world which has easy access both to ski slopes -just 50 kms. away-, and beaches, 100 kms. away. It is in fact possible to visit the modern ski resorts as well as the famous beach resort of Viña del Mar or picturesque Valparaiso, Chile's main port, in just one day. Numerous villages located in the countryside around Santiago invite the visitor to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of countrylife. Tourists may also visit the vineyards and try the delicious Chilean wines.
The Santa Lucia Hill in the city center is an important historic landmark. It was here, at the foot of this hill formerly known as the "Huelen", that the Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the city of Santiago on February 1 2th, 1541. He planned the city according to the traditional Spanish checkerboard layout which is still evident in the downtown area today. Today, the Plaza de Armas with its colorful gardens is very different to what it was many years ago but the buildings that surround it bring back many memories. The Metropolitan Cathedral, on the western side of the plaza, stands on the same spot where the first church in Santiago was once built; to the north are three important buildings: the Post Office, the National Museum of History and the Townhall of Santiago. In the days of the Republic, new central neighbourhoods -now traditional ones- were added on to the colonial Santiago of the 16th century. By the 1930s, modern Santiago, with its green areas and architecture had come into being. The growth and development which have taken place during the past years are evident in the facilities which the city offers the visitor.
New and comfortable hotels Located both in the center and on the eastern side of the city, have significantly increased Santiago's capacity to accommodate visitors as well as providing special facilities for congresses and conventions. Together with the development of tourist infrastructure, gastronomy in Chile has also taken1on a new lease of life, both as regards the quality and the quantity of restaurants.
DOWNTOWN, includes churches dating from the 1 7th and 1 8th centuries and buildings that were once the seat of important colonial institutions, as well as other important historic landmarks.
Santa Lucia Hill - National Library-Casa Colorada (Museum of Santiago)
Stock Exchange
Club de la Union Building La Moneda Palace (Government Headquarters) - Plaza de la Constitucion.
Plaza de Armas - Townhall of Santiago Real Audiencia Building (National Museum of History) Central Post Office Building
Royal Customs Building (Museum of pre-Columbian Art) - Former National Congress Building - Palace of Justice - Club de Septiembre, Diplomatic Academy
Manso de Velasco`s House
Santo Domingo Temple
Central Market-Mapocho Station
San Francisco Church- Paris-Londres Neighbourhood-Catholic Univerty`s Main Campus-Vera Cruz Church
Traditional Neighbourhoods includes a tour through streets dating from the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, mansion houses built by well-to-do families reveal the influence of European culture. Racetrack
Diego de Almagro Plaza-Church of the Holy Sacrament- Cousiño Palace-Racetrack
Ejercito, Republica and España Avenues and Dieciocho, Vergara and Cienfues Streets - Main Railway Station
A visit to the museums, art galleries, handcraft centers and neighbourhoods with intense cultural and artistic activity will give the visitor an insight into the culture and traditions of the country and its people.
A few suggestions:
Museums in Santiago:
Colonial San Francisco
of Contemporary Art
of Decorative Art. A must.
of Popular American Art
of Pre-Columbian Art. A must.
of Fine Arts
of Santiago, "Casa Colorada"
of National History
``La Chascona", house of the poet Pablo Neruda
of Natural History
Municipal Theater - Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro with its art galleries and antique stores.
Bellavista district - Park of Sculptures
Providencia district (art galleries, cinemas and theater halls) - Cultural Institute of Providencia.
Artisan Village of Los Graneros del Alba - Los Dominicos Church -
Cultural Institute of Las Condes - Cultural Institute of La Reina.
Green areas located throughout the different sec- tors give the city a fresh and natural touch.
Forestal Park, borders the south bank of the Mapocho River, west of Plaza Baquedano and has fine sculptures located throughout it.
Metropolitan Park in the San Cristobal Hill: includes a zoo, two swimming pools, picnic areas, restaurants and Enoteca. It can be visited by car, cable car or teleferique.
Santa Lucia Hill, in the heart of the city.
Balmaceda Park, in the Las Condes district.
Araucano Park, in the Las Condes district.
Intercomunal Park of La Reina.
O'Higgins Park, located in the district of Santiago. Amongst its attractions is ``El Pueblito": which resembles a typical Chilean country village.
Quinta Normal Park: 40 acres located in west Santiago.
National and imported goods at reasonable prices are available in Santiago in some of the following areas:
Downtown, between Miraflores and Amunategui streets and Av. B. O'Higgins and Santo Domingo street.
Providencia Avenue, including chic boutiques on Suecia, General Holley, Los Leones, Ricardo Lyon streets, amongst others.
Shopping Centers: Panoramico, Apumanque and Parque Arauco, Alto Las Condes in the eastern area.
Plaza Vespucio, in the southern area.
Santiago's restaurants offer local cuisine based on seafood, fish, vegetables, and meat, as well as a variety of international specialities. Aeras where most restaurants are located are:
Bellavista district.
El Bosque - Isidora Goyenechea area.
Providencia Suecia area
General Holley, also has elegant bars.
Paseo San Damián. Las Condes.
Nowadays it is vital to have somewhere special where you can do business, arrange meetings and meet up with contacts. Santiago, like other cities in Chile -Viña del Mar, Arica, La Serena and Concepcio- combines all the ideal characteristics: a pleasant climate, beautiful surroundings and first-class tourist facilities. Most major multinational companies, whether European, North American or Japanese, have offices and/ or representatives in Santiago. They have chosen Chile as their South American operational base because of the efficient services offered here.
A modern communications network via satelite -International Direct Dialing telephone system, fax and telex-offers permanent contact with other countries. A good highway system and a regular transport service connects Santiago with the rest of the country and the world. The International Airport receives over 100 regular flights a week from 20 different international and two national airlines. Chile's financial system is sophisticated and efficient, which explains why 22 foreign banks and 24 national banks operate in the country, supplying the corresponding facilities for financial operations. In Chile, those in charge of organizing conventions will find that the very best facilities and efficient backup systems are available to help them guarantee the success of every event.
The ideal place, where you can really enjoy doing business
Convention centers, numerous well-organized tourist facilities offering the efficient professional and friendly attention characteristic of the Chilean people, are determining factors when it comes to choosing the right meeting place. Due to its variety of tourist attractions, Chile is an ideal destination for incentive trips. As the main port of entry to the country, Santiago is the right place from which to start a visit, a fitting reward for hard work and professional achievement.
For a weekend of sun, snow and fun.
Valparaiso
and Viña del Mar
An excellent highway about a hundred
kilometers long leads to the coast through the valleys of Curacavi
and Casablanca. The countryside is beautiful and there are several
typical Chilean restaurants serving good local food along the way.
Viña del Mar, also known as the Garden City, has 300
thousand inhabitants and is the country's main beach resort. Located
next to the Port of Valparaiso it has a good selection of hotels and
a wide variety of restaurants, a Casino, cafes, discotheques and good
shops. Visitors can go for a ride in a traditional horse-drawn
"Victoria" and see the town with its wellkept gardens by
the sea. The past and the present intermingle in this bustling
tourist center.
Valparaiso, linked to Viña del Mar, is Chile's main port and also the site of the Chilean Congress.
The magnificent view from the numerous hills surrounding the bay of Valparaiso has long been a source of inspiration for both Chilean and foreign artists. It is undoubtedly worth going for a stroll around the picturesque fishing coves or taking one of the old-fashioned elevators up to the hills of Valparaiso with their multicolored houses and mansions dating from last century. "La Sebastiana", Pablo Neruda's museum-cum-house, recently opened to the public, is located on one of these hills. His most important housemuseum, which is filled with his collections, is in Isla Negra, Just an hour from Valparaiso, or an hour and a half from Santiago. As one of the most important ports in the Pacific Ocean, Valparaiso receives ships from all over the world. Here, they unload their cargos and load up again with Chilean goods destined for international markets.
Vineyards
In
the Maipo Valley, near the city of Santiago, lies one of the
country's most important winegrowing areas. This region combines the
three ideal conditions know internationally as the "trilogy"
necessary to produce good wine: climate-soil- vinestock.
Several vineyards are located in this area: The Concha y Toro vineyard in Pirque offers guided tours of the winery and the nearby village of Pirque with its beautiful countryside and mountain air and old haciendas with their stately manor houses. Other vineyards in the area open to the public are: Santa Rita, Santa Carolina and Cousiño Macul.
Ski
Resorts
The ski resorts, which can be reached by bus or car, are
located less that an hour's drive from Santiago. Farellones-EI
Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado are all situated on the slopes of
the Andean mountains. From June to October these resorts, as well as
others in Chile, are visited by both foreign and Chilean ski
fanatics, because of the excellent slopes, good snow, nice weather
and modern infrastructure.
Also near Santiago, but 145 kilometers northeast is Portillo with its traditional hotel of international fame, overlooking the beautiful Del Inca Lagoon.
Santiago is located at 543 meters above sea level, in Chile's central zone, 2,051 kms south of Arica, the country's northernmost city and 3,141 kms. north of Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world. The Pacific Ocean is located a hundred kilometers away and the Andean Mountain Range. 40 kms
Climate
Warm
with annual average temperature of 14.5oC (21oC in January, summer
and 8.4oC in July. winter), with annual average rainfall of 346 mm.
Language
The
official language spoken is Spanish. In tourist companies and
organizations the higher echelons speak English and/or French.
Time
Winter
: -4 hours GMT
Summer : -3 hours GMT
Airport
Comodoro
Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport The airport is located 17
kms. from Santiago downtown. There are bus and taxi services, which
takes you to and from the airport.
There is a SUBWAY that runs from east to west and north to south in the city as well as buses and taxis. The city is connected to the rest of the country by mean of:
Airplanes
Lan Chile
run regular daily flights There are also companies that run air taxi
services.
Buses
Buses run to any part of the
country with on board services such as food, bar, video and
telephone, etc. Bus terminals are located in: Los Heroes: Tucapel
Jimenez 21; Santiago: Av. L. Bernardo O'Higgins 3800; Alameda: Av L
Bernardo O'Higgins 3794.
Trains
Trains
run from Santiago to the south of the country with final destination
Puerto Montt. The Main Railway Station is located in Av. L. Bernardo
O'Higgins 3322 (Tel. 68951 99)
Money exchange can be done in banks, money exchange houses and main hotels Most major credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels and travel agencies. Banks are open Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to 2pm. Money Exchange Houses have the same opening hours as shops.
Shops are open Mondays to Fridays, from 10 am to 8 pm and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. Shopping Centers open Mondays to Sundays. fromlOamto9pm.
Area code for Chile (56) Area code for Santiago (2) Public telephone and fax services are located throughout the city Consult Entel-Chile.
Offices in the Airport and in Nro. 1550 Providencia. Tel. 2360531 Open: Mondays to Fridays 8.30 am to 6 30 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm
Referential prices:
La Serena was first founded in 1544 by Juan Bohon, destroyed by Indians in 1548, and refounded in 1549 by Francisco de Aguirre who rebuilt the city and defended it against the Indians and the privateer, Francis Drake. La Serena was later sacked by the pirates Sharp and Davis.
SHOPPING AND MISCELLANEOUS TIPS
Shopping Hours : Closing and opening hours are approximate, but in general you can expect stores to be open from 10:00am until 2:00pm, and 4:30pm to 8:30pm.
Supermarkets are open all day 9:00am to 10:00pm, including Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Supermarkets – Supermercados
LIDER: Mall
Puerta del Mar (open till 11:00pm)
DECA: Balmaceda
1350
SANTA ISABEL: Huanhualí with Pan American
Highway
LAS BRISAS: Cienfuegos 526
RENDIC:
Cisternas (going down by República)
Tip : When initially buying beer, soft drinks and water in returnable bottles, you need to pay a deposit equal to the price of an empty bottle. Upon the next purchase you turn in your empties and receive a receipt which will discount the deposit at the register.
Bottled water is available with or without carbonation. Wine, beer and liquor are all available in the supermarkets listed above.
Note : Many La Serena residents wash fruit and vegetables with some drops of disinfectants such as “Zonalin” or “Cloro” (Clorex or Clorinda), which you can find in the supermarkets listed above. The use of these disinfectants is recommended for raw vegetables, such as lettuce, especially during the summer months.
Street Market – Feria
The Feria is quite picturesque. It takes place at two different locations:
Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays: Juan de Dios Pení with Esmeralda (“Plaza de Abastos”)
Saturdays: Gabriel González Videla with Los Perales, about ten blocks south of Huanhualí.
You can by fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants housewares, and many other items there. Stands are usually set by 8:00-8:30am and the vendors gradually pack around 1:30-2:30pm. Do not go if you cannot stand crowds, and go if you like more of a variety, cheaper prices and fresher foods. Following you have a list for translations of the most commonly used fruit and vegetables.
Fish and Shellfish Market – Pescados y Mariscos
Terminal Pesquero La Serena: Vicuña near Cantournet, La Serena
Terminal Pesquero Coquimbo: La Costanera, Coquimbo (best place to buy fish)
La Jaula: Av. Varela, Coquimbo
Supermarkets Lider and DECA has a nice fresh fish section.
NOTE: It is wise to inspect the fish carefully before buying so as to make sure that is completely fresh. The flesh should be firm, the eyes clear and the gills bright red inside. It is highly advisable for newcomers to eat only cooked seafood and shellfish.
Some of more common fish and shellfish sold locally include:
Flounder/sole = Lenguado
Shrimp =
Langostinos, camarones
Sea Bass = Corvina
Abalones =
Locos
Conger Eel = Congrio
Razor Clams = Machas
Mackerel =
Jurel
Mussels = Cholgas, Choros
Tuna = Atún
Crawfish
= Camarones de río
Shark = Toyo
Crab = Jaiba
White
Fish = Blanquillo
Oysters = Ostras
Bass/Mackerel =
Cojinova
Scallops = Ostiones
Clams = Almejas
Shopping Malls
Mall Plaza La serena Huanhualí w/Pan American Hwy.
Puerta del Mar Av. Francisco de Aguirre w/Pan American Hwy.
Drugstores – Farmacias
Ahumada Cordovez 651
Ahumada (at DECA) Balmaceda 1350
Ahumada Balmaceda 3463
Botica Nilsson Balmaceda 674
Brand Cordovez 588
Brand Mall Plaza La Serena
Cruz Verde Supermarket Santa Isabel La Serena
Cruz Verde Balmaceda with Cordovez
La Serena Balmaceda 457
Nueva Alameda Av. Francisco de Aguirre 605
Bookstores and Stationary Stores – Librerías
Good places to purchase books, toys, games, plastic bags, postcards, etc.
Books & Bits (Books, some English) Balmaceda 1162-A
Lápiz López Mall Plaza
Clip (Stationary) Prat 670
Clip (stationary) Balmaceda 489
Multilibro (books only) Serena Oriente, Store 107
Rojas (stationary) O’Higgins 439
Andrés Bello (books only) Matta 510
Supermarket Lider Mall Puerta del Mar
Flowers, Planta, Garden Supplies – Florerías, Viveros
La Feria on Feria days, cur flowers and potted plants
La Pérgola Domeyko 580
La Recova Cienfuegos w/Cantournet
Las Añañucas at the end of Matta to the north
Homecenter Sodimac Mall Puerta del Mar
Supermarket Lider Mall Puerta del Mar
Dry Cleaning and Laundromats
Silvana Eduardo de la Barra 495
Roma Los Carrera 654
Sandrico Mal Puerta del Mar (Lider)
Travel Agencies – Agencias de Viaje
Lan Chile Eduardo de la Barra 435
American Cienfuegos 463
Torremolinos Balmaceda 437
Movies – Cines
CINEMARK Mall Plaza La Serena
Blockbuster Video (Video Rental) Balmaceda 1397
Dining out in La Serena
Most restaurants open for the lunch hours, then close for the afternoon until they begin serving dinner at 8:00 – 8:30.
Bakulik – International Avenida del Mar 5700
Hotel Costa Real – International Avenida Francisco de Aguirre 170
La Mia Pizza – International Avenida del Mar 2100
La Serena Club Resort – International Avenida del Mar 1000
Tololo Beach Pub – International Avenida del Mar 5200
El Cedro – Arab Prat 572
Trattoría Pizzeria – Italian Avenida Peñuelas 167
Zapoteco – Mexican Avenida los Pescadores 63
Tai Sung – Chinese Avenida del Mar 2900
Deli Cafe – Buffet & Sandwiches Mall Plaza La Serena
Food Court Mall Plaza La Serena
McDonalds Mall Plaza La Serena
Pubs & Discoteques
Brooklyn’s (Pub & Disco) Avenida del Mar 2150
Kamanga (Pub) Avenida Costanera
Sundance (Disco) Avenida Cuatro Esquinas w/Panam. Hwy.
Market Place “La Recova”
The Recova is essentially a small shopping center with an assortment of butcher shops, fruit and vegetable stores, small restaurants specializing in fish, bakeries, a supermarket and many shops around the inside patios selling the work of Chilean artisans (pottery, weavings, clothing, baskets, wood and stone carvings, toys, etc.). Other forms of regional art are carvings made out of Guayacán wood (a shrub that took more than a century to grow to its full size and is now in extinction) and Steatite “Soapstone” carvings.
Archeological Museum – Museo Arqueológico
This museum contains collections of findings that date up to 6,000 years ago, including a complete collection of the Diaguita culture that originated in this province. This culture was conquered by the Incas and in 1536 by the Spaniards. They developed agriculture, fishing, and domesticated the llama.
The Diaguita culture became famous for its beautiful ceramicware which was developed to a high degree. The museum is open as follows:
Tuesday through Friday 09:00am – 01:00pm, 04:00pm – 07:00pm
Saturday 10:00am – 01:00pm, 04:00pm – 7:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 01:00pm
The port of Coquimbo is 13 kms. South of La Serena along the Pan American Highway. It is a port of considerable importance with several industries. The city is built on the southern slopes of the highlands which encircle the sheltered bay of Coquimbo; it has one of the best harbors on the coast, with a mole pier.
The Marine Biology Center is a research station located in Guayacán. If you wish to visit the laboratories and aquarium, you will need to obtain a pass from the Marine Biology Department at the Universidad Católica del Norte in Coquimbo.
Restaurants
El Barrio Inglés in the port area.
Casino
The
Casino de Juegos de Coquimbo, is located on the Av. Peñuelas
Norte (just off the Pan American Highway between La Serena and
Coquimbo). This a grand old oceanfront building, with roulette
tables, baccarat and slot machines, combined with a bar and dining
room. Entrance is free to the dining room and slot machines,
but one must pay a cover charge to be admitted to the gaming room
upstairs.
Guayacán on La Herradura Bay
On the southern slope of the Coquimbo peninsula is Guayacán, a mechanized port, full of legendary treasures and a church designed by Eiffel. The bay was used by the Navy as a shelter from big storms, its form of a horseshoe having a narrow entrance just wide enough to permit the ships to pass through and anchor in the bay. During the 17th century, pirates, buccaneers and corsairs often put down their sails and anchored there. A legend tells the story of a treasure which was hidden by the English during the Spanish attacks.
Chile's central coastline, which is caressed by the Pacific Ocean, is characterized by a series of beaches where the blue sea blends in with the green vegetation.
In the North, the Coquimbo Region offers 400 kms of coast with a wide variety of large beaches with white, fine sand.
Towards the South, the Valparaíso Region has many different beaches, fishing coves and the country's most important port.
The Coquimbo regions coastline possess many beaches with warm waters ideal for water sports: swimming, rowing, waterskiing, diving, windsurfing and yachting. The sea generously provides numerous sought after productos which form the basis of the are'as rich gastronomy. Conger eel, sole, croaker, razor clams and large oysters are cooked in many different ways to satisfy even the most demanding palates. The seaside resorts in this area have an ever increasing amount of hotels. Furthermore, there are comfortable and well-equipped camping sites, whose use is enhanced by the total lack of rain during the Summer. The development of tourism in the area is favoured by efficient transport and telecommunication services, the good condition of the road network enables one to move about comfortably in the region and from Santiago.
La Serena, a city with a marked neocolonial architectural style, has its own undeniable image. It always abounds in multicoloured gardens and many beautiful churches, whose bell chiming traces the passage of time. The city's development can clearly be seen on Avenida del Mar, a coastal stretch located only 2 kms from the centre of La Serena. Thanks to the modern streetlighting system this avenue is also an attractive place for a nocturnal stroll. In addition to the city's constant cultural activity, business life is also fervent. Along with handicrafts and typical products from the region, such as pisco and papaws in all their varieties, sold at a good price in the popular "La Recova" market, can be added the trip along the central streets where all kinds of national and imported products can be found. Coquimbo means ``place of calm waters" and its large seaside resorts, among which Penuelas and La Herradura stand out, are its main attraction as well as the entertainment provided by the Casino and the Club Hipico (the local hippodrome) which are both located in Penuelas. Coquimbo and its surroundings take the visitor back to the XVI and XVII centuries with their pirates and filibusters. The Bay of Guayacan, to the south of Coquimb'os port, was discovered by the English corsair, Francis Drake. Around 1578 it was the meeting point and refuge of pirates among whom the names of Sharp and Davis stand out.
Beaches like Pichidangui, which are famous for their perfect conditions for windsurfing, Los Vilos, Tongoy and the sheltered bay of Guanaqueros are prominent coastal points in the region.
New holiday resorts are being developed in Morrillos and ias Tacas. In the heart of the region there is the Valley of Elqui, river made up from tributaries of minor gorges that only provide it with water during the winter, and which reaches the North of the city of La Serena. The main characteristic of the Elqui river basin is the abundance of underground water, which provides productive potential for agriculture. This, along with its mild climate and landscape invoke contemplation due to its peaceful nature. Many esoteric groups have found a place of special interest in this valley. Towards the mountains, following the course of the river, is the vicinity of Vicuna, founded in the posthispanic era around the year 1821. It is a place where the dry mountains meet with the abundant vegetation of the narrow valleys arising out of the passage of the river.
Monte Grande, beloved village of our Nobel Prize winner poet, Gabriela Mistral, is also on the bank of the river Elqui. Here is her grave which she chose when she was alive. The Tololo Hill, on which sits the largest astronomical observatory in the southern hemisphere, is a few kilometres off the road to Vicuna. It is striking to see the Andacollo village, which is a pilgrimage point for its sanctuary, a basilica which lodges the virgin Rosari'os statue brought from Peru in 1676. The Fray Jorge National Park, where cinnamon trees, terebinth shrubs and ferns which cover the tops of its hill survive thanks to the typical mist in the area, is also here.
Valparaiso, and particularly Vina del Mar, is the most important tourist area in the country and one of the most attractive of its kind in South America. Between Los Molles in the North and Santo Domingo in the South, the coastline of the Valparaiso region is scattered with beaches which are among the most popular in the country due to their varied infrastructure and proximity to the capital.
A modern 120 km road links Santiago to Viña del Mar, known as the "Garden City" for its large green areas and colourful gardens and connected to the fervent market activity in Valparaiso, the main port in Chile. Vina del Mar is also linked to Mendoza and other cities in the Argentine by a paved road that crosses the Aconcagua Valley and the Andes mountain range. This city fuses both the old and the new. Beautiful villas, parks, gardens and mansions, mostly of classical and neogothic styles, reminiscent of the era of the nitrate boom at the beginning of the century. A tour in a "Victoria", an old carriage drawn by horses typical of the city, is good to appreciate thecity's modern architecture. Its 3 castles also stand out: Cerro Castillo castle, the Presidential palace, Wulff castle, currently a museum, and the castle where the Arab Club is lodged. The Fonck Museum and the La Rioja Palace also keep their splendour. This popular city-holiday resort has an excellent and varied tourist infrastructure. There are many hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants, discotheques, a casino, cinemas and theatres. Furthermore, it is characterized by permanent and rich cultural activity, by its attractive shops, which are mainly concentrated on Valparaiso Avenue, and by the varied entertainment it offers. The open-air stage, where every year in February thousands of people vibrate to the International Song Festival, is in the Quinta Vergara, which is an ideal stroll for tree and garden lovers. It also houses a beautiful Venetian style building, which is the headquarters of the Museum and School of Fine Arts. Another place of interest is the Valparaiso Sporting Club hippodrome.
An attractive coastal road dotted with coves and restaurants, whose specialties are shellfish and fish, viewing points to enjoy the ever changing seascape, and stalls of handicrafts and other products of the region, leads to the Reaca and Con-Con beaches. The former stands out for its long white sandy beach, which in Summer becomes a real carnival of beauty, youth and entertainment. Con-Con has lovely views, a picturesque fishing cove and pleasant beaches. The Charm of Valparais'os port and its unusual architecture make it one of the country's most attractive cities. Open to the sea, European style mansions and thousands of multicoloured houses are to be found among its many hills. The visitor is captivated by the impressive number of streets, narrow passages, steps, attractive places and elevators built more than 100 years ago. This was what fascinated the Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner, Pablo Neruda. His house, "La Sebastiana", is the place where the poet discovered the magic of the polychromatic city. To visit Valparaiso and "La Sebastiana"is to enter a world that goes beyond reality, a world that comes from the past with all the crazy happiness of the "Belle Epoque". The northern coast of the Valparaiso region displays a variety of beaches.
Exclusive seaside resorts are those of Zapallar and Cachagua which mix the beauty of the landscape with the architectonic tradition in Zapallar and the harmony of style in Cachagua.
Maitencillo stands out for its restaurants which are highly visited throughout the year by the gourmets who enjoy dishes prepared with fish (conger eel, sole, croaker, swordsifh) and shellfish (clams, crabs, razor clams, mussels and "picorocos").
The luxurious and new "Marbella Resort" is in this area, which combines the attractiveness of the country side and the beach.
A nice mediterranean-style hotel surrounded by gardens with a golf course, polo and tennis courts and swimming pools, make it an international tourist resort. The beaches on the Southern coast of Valparaiso, together with the fascination of the sea, offer additional attractions. The pleasant waters and smooth slope of the Algarrobo beach make it a large resort for water sports and international competitions. Every summer El Quisco, El Tabo, Las Cruces, San Sebastian, Cartagena and Llolleo attract thousands of visitors who enjoy the sun, swimming in the sea and youthful games. Rocas de Santo Domingo, quiet and familyoriented, is characterized by its beautiful houses surrounded by parks and gardens as well as a golf club, which is the centre of the social activities.
Local Beaches and Nearby La Serena and Coquimbo Towns
Peñuelas: Between La Serena and Coquimbo, used for swimming.
La Herradura: The pirate’s bay on the southern slope of the Coquimbo peninsula, used for water-skiing, sailing, wind surfing and swimming.
Totoralillo: Swimming, surfing and skin-diving. Motel & Polynesian Restaurant “Tiki-Tano”. There is an entrance fee for the beach.
Las Tacas: Private resort, Spanish restaurant “El Chiringuito”.
Morrillos: 25 minutes drive south, has camping site and restaurant. There is an entrance fee.
Las Mostazas: 30 minutes drive south, has a camping site. There is an entrance fee.
Guanaqueros: 35 minutes drive south, is a fisherman’s village; few established camping sites; is good for skin-diving, fishing, swimming. Local fishermen will take you out on the bay on weekday afternoons & weekends for a small fee.
Playa Blanca: 45 minutes drive south on the road to Tongoy. Has a camping site with private baths. Restaurant during summer months. There is an entrance fee. To reserve a camping site call 244185, 244228, Parcela 57, Vegas Sur (take the dirt road by the discotheque Sundance).
Tongoy: 50 minutes drive south, has seafood restaurants and two good beaches.
WARNING: Dangerous beaches are El Faro, Cuatro Esquinas and Punta de Teatinos. All of these are good for walks, but the waves and undertows are excessive. Also, sometimes there may be pollution at the Peñuelas, El Faro, La Herradura and Guanaqueros beaches.
A trip through the Elqui Valley, where Chilean pisco is made, brings you to the towns of Vicuña, Rivadavia, Paihuano and Montegrande. The Chilean poetess Gabriela Mistral, Nobel Prize Winner in 1945, was born in Vicuña and buried in Montegrande.
El Molle: A picturesque village on the road to Vicuña. There is a pleasant hosteria with a restaurant and pool.
Vicuña: (60 Kms) Located just a few kilometers past the Tololo gate, this town has a wonderful dry climate, and boasts a commemorative museum to Gabriela Mistral. There is an active inn (“Hostería”) with a restaurant and swimming pool. Gasoline is not available beyond Vicuña.
Chapilca: (96 Kms) At Rivadavia the road forks, and the left fork leads to this village where rough hand weaving work in natural or bright colors is done. Knock on several doors to get an idea of the selection. You may special-order items.
Paihuano Montegrande & Pisco Elqui: (90 Kms) The right fork leads south through the picturesque pisco-distilling area which makes these towns so famous. Paihuano has a lovely river-side picnic area and campsite.
Paso de Aguas Negras: (250 Kms) The pass of Aguas Negras to San Juan, Argentina, is situated at the end of the road to Baños del Toro. This road is normally open during the summer months.
Fray Jorge National Park: About 90-minute drive south, unusual weather phenomenon has preserved this fores between the ocean and desert terrain. Has a hiking path and a ranger to answer questions Also has a nice picnic area with tables, barbeque and toilet facilities. Best time of the year to go is spring when the wild flowers are out (if there has been rain during winter!).
Pichasca Petrified Forest: National park along the road between Ovalle and Vicuña.
Enchanted Valley National Park: (“Valle del Encanto”), located a few kilometers from Ovalle, site of settlement of indigenous cultures. Many hollowed-out grindstones (“piedras moledoras”) to be seen. Walk to the old Inca bathing place (“Baño del Inca”).
La Pampilla: (Coquimbo), every year on the 18th, 19th and 20th of September, tents and “ramadas” are installed on the Pampilla. Large crowds gather to enjoy the typical folklore, food and dancing in celebration of Chile’s independence from Spain. There is no water on the Pampilla, premises to please be cautious of what you eat there. Don’t go if you don’t like crowds and dust.
The region known as the North of Chile occupies an area equivalent in size to two thirds of Italy. It stretches from the highlands of the Andean Altiplano over the golden sands of the Atacama Desert as far as the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Diverse, surprising, majestic and untouched... this is the place for those in search of adventure with its breathtaking salt flats, geysers and Andean volcanos, vast expanses of land and here and there, occasional signs of life... llamas, vicunas, flamingos and alpacas, all unperturbed by the presence of man. Here you can find museums which record ma~ns presence over the last 10,000 years, sea and long sandy beaches, relaxation and entertainment in casinos, restaurants and hotels, and above all the friendly hospitality of the Chilean people.
The North of Chile... in fact... has everything!
The Chilean Altiplano, situated in the foothills of the Andean Mountain Range, 4.000 meters above sea level, is a treasure chest of natural phenomena set in surroundings of unspoilt beauty. Here, you simply must visit the Lauca National Park, a natural monument now declared a World Biosphere Reserve. Incredible landscapes, with volcanos, lagoons, salt flats, tiny pre-Hispanic settlements, as well as a wide variety of animal life such as llamas, vicunas, guanacos, alpacas, flamingos and wild duck, create a lasting impression of sheer beauty.
For over 10,000 years these lands have been inhabited by man and evidence of his presence can be found throughout this area from the Pacific coast to the high Andean Mountain Range 6,000 meters above sea level. In the Azapa Valley 12 kilometers from Arica, the museum of San Miguel de Azapa exhibits especially 'prepared' mummies dating from18000 BC, the oldest in the world yet to be discovered. The museum also houses a fine archeological collection of some 20,000 objects discovered in this area.
From the road the huge geoglyphic paintings which adorn the hillsides are still visible through the olive groves and from the air they stand out even more clearly. These gigantic drawings of which the most important are those of Lluta, Azapa, Pintados, Cerro Unitas and Tiliviche remain wrapped in mystery to this day. Another world-famous museum, San Pedro de Atacama, is located 100 kilometers from the city of Calama. The small village from which it takes its name was once the center of the Atacamanian civilization. This museum contains a collection of over 300,000 pieces which include pottery, woven fragments and mummies discovered in this area The ruins of Indian fortresses or 'pukaras' such as Quitor, Lasana and Turi remain to this day in the North of Chile, where every step leads to discovery and a new understanding of the history of man.
...Discover for yourself the many wonders of the Atacama Desert, the most arid desert in the world. Spectacular landscapes and natural phenomena abound wherver you look.
And in all this immensity, tiny villages such as Parinacota, Caspana, Socoroma, Surire or Isluga still maintain the traditions of their Aymara ancestors, and the influence of Spanish colonization is still evident in the architecture of their churches. The city of Calama, 214 kilometers from Antofagasta, is an oasis in the middle of the desert. With its fine selection of hotels, this in an ideal basecamp for sightseeing trips to nearby places of interest such as the El Tatio Geysers 3,550 meters above sea level, where great pillars of water and steam which rise up some 10 meters high and reach temperatures of 85oC. 100 kilometers to the southeastlies the arid wasteland of the Valley of the Moon. Towards the north, the village of Chiu-Chiu has several attractions including the nearby 150 meter deep Chiu-Chiu Lagoon, an astonishing natural phenomenon in the middle of the desert.
From Calama, you can also visit the huge amphitheatre of the biggest open-cast mine in the world-Chuquicamata. As the largest of the twelve salt flats in the Northern Region, the Salt Lake of Atacama is especially interesting. It stretches out like a vast white lake as far as the eye can see and its banks are the habitat of unique species of fauna.
The main cities of the North, Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta are situated on the coast. They all have airports linking them to the rest of the country, and are connected by road to each other and to the most important sightseeing areas. Comfortable hotels, motels and hostels, usually located on or near the sea in these towns, are available for your enjoyment and relaxation. Ther'es no time for boredom in the North... every day you can choose from the delicious variety of local dishes usually based on fish and seafood. For those who like shopping there are lots of local markets in Arica where yo'ure bound to come across that unexpected treasure, or you can visit the Duty Free Zone in Iquique. The choice is endless! Spend the afternoons sunbathing on one of the numerous beaches lulled by the sea breeze and the feeling of endless space! At night enjoy a game of back gammon, roulette or even the slot machines in the Casinos of Arica or Iquique where you can also dine and dance.
The North of Chile it much more...
Chile has large areas fit for skiing which are easily accessible and which provide all the hospitality, atmosphere and services of modern winter resorts. From June to October you can enjoy their pistes for different kinds of winter sports. Discover the Chilean Andes and the best snow in the Sourthern Hemisphere, while enjoying your favorite sports: skiing, monoskiing, cliff parachuting, and heliskiing.
Four of the most important ski resorts in the country are to be found very close to Santiago. Their different pistes, quallty of SNOW and excellent infrastructure enable one to have an unforgettable stay. What is more, before going up or after coming down from these ski resorts one can take advantage of the various attractions in Santiago: theatres; museums; sophisticate restaurants; discotheques; and of course the elegant shopping centres and the excellent bargains that they offer.
Chapa Verde is found 53 km North East of Rancagua and has 1 hut, 2 ski lifts and a cafeteria.
At a distance of 89 km East of Los Angeles one rises to Antuco, and this has 3 ski liffs, a restaurant, a bar, a cafeteria, a ski school and ski hire.
Lonquimay, 162 km North East of Temuco has ski lifts, a cafeteria, and a hut. In the same area 80 km East of Temuco Llaima has 1 hut and 5 ski lifts.
Antillanca is found 102 km East of Osorno, which includes 22 km of non-asphalted roads. There are 2 flights a day between Santiago and Osorno, and also a transport Osorno-Antillanca.
The ski resort La Burbuja, 60 km East of Puerto Varas has huts, 1 ski lift, a cafeteria, nursery, ski classes, and ski hire.
In the austral area of Chile is Cerro El Fraile located 29 km South East of Coyhaique. This has 2 ski lifts, first-aid services, ski workshop and ski hire.
Cerro Mirador 8 km West of Punta Arenas has 1 ski lift, first-aid service and ski school.
In the country main winter resorts the tourist have daily programmes of activities and shows which are especially prepared for their entertainment. Children and adults can enjoy a wide range of services. Hoaled swimming pools, games rooms, restaurants, cinemas, recreation centres, discotheques, live music, and others provide a nice end to a day`s skiing and make their stay a more pleasant one. rou can also enjoy the speciallities of the excellent Chilean gastronomy which includes a wide variety of fish shellfish, meats, delicious fruit and the famous Chilean wines.
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