VALPARAISO

The Pearl of the Pacific, legendary port, UNESCO World Heritage Site, open-air museum, city of 44 hills... there's no shortage of adjectives to describe this cultural capital, now home to approximately 300,000 inhabitants.

Valpo, as Chileans call it, is located on the Pacific coast, in Region V (quinta region) and just 120 km from Santiago.

It was the Spaniard Don Juan de Saavedra who discovered the bay in 1536 and named it after his native village, Valparaiso, in Spain. Eight years later, the conquistador and founder of the city of Santiago, Pedro de Valdivia, ordered the creation of a port that would continue to grow over time, becoming the country's main port.

Its heyday dates back to the 19th century, when all ships had to stop before or after rounding Cape Horn, the starting point for exporting Chilean minerals. The most important port in South America saw the arrival of sailors and adventurers from all over the world, including many Europeans: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and many others who, over time, left their cultural mark, transforming the city into a cosmopolitan city.

During your stay, you'll easily fall under the spell of the colorful houses, the countless graffiti, the diverse viewpoints offered by the hills, the elevators that never stop coming and going, the alleys lined with beautiful colonial and Republican mansions, its windy nights with magical and romantic landscapes... in short, a charming and pleasant city to end your stay in Chile and leave with wonderful picturesque memories.

A visit to Valparaiso is a meeting of past and present, and the magnificent spectacle of this large amphitheater will not leave you indifferent!

Before leaving, don't forget to climb Cerro Florida to discover one of Pablo Neruda's three house museums, La Sebastiana, and admire the view from the heights.

Across the bay, to the north, lies the city of Viña del Mar, a seaside resort also home to nearly 300,000 people. Considered the rich sister, the city has a beautiful beach and welcomes national and international tourism in summer.