Chilean tourists often overlook the port city of Valparaiso. It’s located about an hour and a quarter from Santiago. Most visitors only visit the city for a quick overview. The best way to experience this bohemian city is to go slowly and leisurely.
It takes a full weekend to explore this Jewel of the Pacific. This city is famous for its vibrant street art and colorful houses.
These are the best 48-hour ways to spend Valparaiso. This is what a local portena recommends!
Choose a hotel with the best views.
Tourist is Valparaiso’s largest industry. It attracts people with its history and hippie vibes. There are many options for accommodation, from hostels that offer cheap and artistic lodging to old-world hotels with elegant amenities.
Book a hotel high up in the hills to get the most out of Valpo. You’ll be closer to top attractions and will wake up with expansive ocean views.
The Palacio Astoreca, a 23-room outfit, is one of the crown jewels. It’s located in a luxurious, restored 1920s mansion. Fauna hotel is a modern, trendy place to stay. It also hosts one of Valpo’s best restaurants. Winebox Valparaiso has quickly become the new place to stay. Grant Phelps is the winemaker behind this hotel. It’s a wine-themed hotel that allows you to taste and make wine in the basement. The building was made from recycled shipping containers and covered with street art. This makes it a unique addition to Valpo’s architectural scene.
Visit Pablo Neruda’s House
Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, loved Valparaiso. He praised its wild personality, bold colors and connection with the sea. These were all things he integrated into La Sebastiana, his home in central Chile. The other two houses are located in Santiago and El Quisco.
A chaotic pile of floors, filled with the flotsam-and-jetsam from Neruda’s many adventures. The whimsical La Sebastiana, which looks out across the bay from Cerro Bellavista, is a great place to take an audio tour. It also includes information about Neruda’s life and the items in the house.
Explore the Street Art of the City
Valparaiso is known for its street art, with various colorful and vibrant murals.
Cerro Alegre or Concepcion is the best place to begin. Here you will find iconic murals such as the piano key staircase, an ode to Vincent Van Gogh’s, a grandmother gazing out of a facade and the “we aren’t hippies, we are happies” sign. Chilean artists create many murals. However, painters from all walks of the globe can make their mark on these walls. Keep your eyes open for Banksy’s hidden gem.
Walk up to Avenida Alemania and take the “O”, a bus that offers panoramic views of the harbor and city. From Cerro Bellavista, you can visit the Museo de Cielo Abierto. This series of 20 murals were painted in the 1990s. Although it isn’t as well-known and not as well preserved as other artwork throughout the city, it is still worth a visit. It is full of abstract and reflective art.
