Chile holidays to Valparaiso & Vina del Mar tours from Santiago packages will allow you to explore this charming coastal area that is only 1.5-hours west of the capital city. Known locally as ‘Valpo’, Valparaiso is the third largest city in Chile. Established in 1544, Valparaiso was one of the Pacific’s most important ports in the late 19th century when, prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, it thrived as a major stopover for voyages between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, when ships sailed around Patagonia and passed through the Strait of Magellan. Today Valparaiso is the cultural capital of Chile, with a multinational population, picturesque hilltop neighbourhoods and a vibrant artistic buzz. The historic port quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that still reflects its former maritime dominance.
With its maze of cobbled streets, brilliantly multi-coloured buildings and some of the best street graffiti in the world, Valparaiso is a major international tourist attraction. It is also Chile’s foremost educational and cultural centre, with numerous universities, festivals, street musicians, artists and street traders. on Chile holidays to Valparaiso & Vina del Mar tours from Santiago packages, you can take a guided walking tour of the street art, a boat trip round the harbour, or a ride on what is claimed to be the oldest working trolleybus in the world.
No Chile holidays to Valparaiso would be complete without riding one of its many funicular elevators, installed to give residents access to their homes on the steep hillsides that provide an amphitheatre-like backdrop to the main urban area. Some of these elevators are over 130 years old, but whether you ride or walk up the hillsides, the panoramic views of the city and the ocean are stunning and well worth the effort.
On Chile holidays to Valparaiso & Vina del Mar tours from Santiago packages you will discover a laid-back city which has retained a quirky and spontaneous old port atmosphere. With an abundance of hotels, bars, shops, markets, excellent restaurants, galleries, colonial architecture and a multitude of ancient churches to explore, this is a varied and fun city to visit.
Combine your ideas with our expertise and let us help you create a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a wide range of options at different price points, all of which can be tailor made to your needs.
We have been arranging Chile holidays to Valparaiso & Vina del Mar tours from Santiago packages for over 20 years.