Chile 2025
We had our trip in Chile from September 24 to October 7, 2025, out of which four days were in Easter Island.
Santiago is an amazing city, with the mountains in the background, covered by snow. It is a huge city with 8 million inhabitants, and many places to visit.
The area around the tallest building in South America, Gran Tore (300 m tall), can compete with any major city in the world. It is clean and has shops, fancy restaurants, parks, and the fantastic mountain view.
Santiago is an amazing city, with the mountains in the background, covered by snow. It is a huge city with 8 million inhabitants, and many places to visit.
The area around the tallest building in South America, Gran Tore (300 m tall), can compete with any major city in the world. It is clean and has shops, fancy restaurants, parks, and the fantastic mountain view.
The city has many hills (called Cerros) within its borders. You can climb them, or, for the bigger ones, use cable transportation. Close to the downtown tourist area is Cerro Santa Lucia. Below is a photo from the top.
The city has many hills (called Cerros) within its borders. You can climb them, or, for the bigger ones, use cable transportation. Close to the downtown tourist area is Cerro Santa Lucia. Below is a photo from the top.
In the city, poverty is also evident, particularly near downtown, where vendors display their merchandise on the streets. Because there are very few garbage bins, leftovers of everything are everywhere.
One thing a tourist should not miss is a trip to the mountains bordering Santiago. We decided on a one-day trip in a minivan with eight tourists. I think there are better options. Most of the time, we were in the van, and the driver was working against the clock to meet his eight-hour workday.
On our way back, we were served lunch in a park.
We also visited the National Museum of Fine Arts. It is free. It offers programs for students interested in studying the masterpieces on display.
We also visited the National Museum of Fine Arts. It is free. It offers programs for students interested in studying the masterpieces on display.
Vina del Mar
From Santiago we had a one-day trip to Vina Del Mar.
We took the bus from the main bus station, a 2-hour drive to Vina Del Mar. The buses are clean, comfortable, and run on time. We were interested to see the city and the beaches.
We took the bus from the main bus station, a 2-hour drive to Vina Del Mar. The buses are clean, comfortable, and run on time. We were interested to see the city and the beaches.
In the city, our main tourist attraction was the Vergara Museum, located in a nice park.
In the city, our main tourist attraction was the Vergara Museum, located in a nice park.
The family that owned the palace must have been wealthy, considering how big the building was.
Inside, there were hundreds of statues and paintings, ranging from classic to modern artists.
Valparaiso
Another city we visited was Valparaiso, a one-day trip, two hours by bus from Santiago.
It is a beautiful city, situated between hills on one side and the ocean on the other, with a huge maritime port.
I have to mention that in big cities in Chile, we had repeated warnings about thieves. At the hotel, even in line buying bus tickets, or the lady who changed our cellphones’ SIM cards warned us to keep our handbags close and not to make it easy for them to snatch. Well, we did. But in Valparaiso, someone grabbed my wife’s golden chain around her neck (easy to break since it was fragile and delicate) and ran away. I ran after him, shouting, but no one jumped to help.
If you ask them what is wrong. They blame the Venezuelan emigrants. I am not so sure.
If you ask them what is wrong. They blame the Venezuelan emigrants. I am not so sure.
What strikes me as particularly impressive are the colorful roofs and walls, painted with a wide array of images.
Even the steps are painted. Below is a girl jumping when playing.
We ended our day in Valparaiso with dinner in a well-located restaurant, Turri, overlooking the ocean.
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