Chile Highlights Part 1

Preface: Even before my first trip to Chile at the age of 15, I considered starting a blog to keep friends and family informed. However, this idea quickly faded away. Today - 8 years later, I am actually sitting here and starting to create a blog. But why? I am now 23 years old and have visited 32 countries on this earth and often receive questions from friends or Instagram acquaintances who ask me for tips on one country or another. That's why I thought, why shouldn't I make them public for others as well?

And as it should be, my first post is dedicated to my absolute favorite country: CHILE! At the young age of 13, I constantly tried to convince my parents to fly to Chile with me. Since my mother suffers from fear of flying, this was always rejected. When I saw a notice on the bulletin board of my former school, which read 'Chile Club' in bold red letters, it was clear to me that I would visit it regularly in the future. So I started learning Spanish in the club and also learned a lot about the country and people of Chile. My former teacher was from Chile, which was perfect for me. When she asked me if I was interested in a school exchange, I was amazed. I spare you the details, but I think it is logical that my parents were not thrilled about letting their 15-year-old child fly to Chile. However, after a long period of nagging, they agreed and I flew to Chile in mid-July 2010. Long story short, strikes made attending school difficult, as they were closed for about 6 weeks for 'political reasons'. So I traveled to the Atacama Desert with 2 friends, where I had the best time of my life! Since those months in Chile, I have traveled to the country of my dreams every year (except 2015).

From 2010 to 2016, I was one of the few tourists who was enthusiastic about Chile. Yet the longest country in the world has so much to offer! The driest desert in the world, beautiful port cities where you can enjoy great wine, and the south of the country that offers fascinating mountain landscapes (Torres del Paine, etc.). For me, the lack of interest from my fellow human beings was always incomprehensible. Many attributed it to the allegedly high crime rate there. (I have been to so many countries in South America and nothing bad has happened to me anywhere!) However, in 2017, Lonely Planet declared Chile to be the country of the earth that you must see - since then, everyone I know wants to go to Chile for their study abroad semester, etc. When I was there for the first time this year (February to March), I was overwhelmed by the masses of tourists. (Of course, it could also be because I was there during the peak season ;-)).

Anyway - I actually just wanted to share my personal recommendations and tips, but I think it wouldn't have been possible without a 'short' preface.

At the beginning of my trip, I always fly to Santiago de Chile, where I spend a few days in a hostel before heading to Valparaiso. The first few years, I found Santiago relatively uninteresting. I only visited Cerro San Cristóbal and the Costanera Center (which offers a mall and a wonderful view over the entire city of Santiago) and then continued by bus. But in recent years, I discovered completely new activities, such as 'Cajon del Maipo', which is a true natural paradise right at the gates of Santiago. If you have a lot of time, you should definitely spend a few days there. It is best to stay in one of the hostels / hotels located there. (I stayed at Hostal Los Penoles, which is very central and also cheap). The trip is worth it, I promise!

Now we come to my absolute favorite city in the whole wide world: Valparaiso. The city of artists and good wine. I already lived in Valparaiso during my exchange and therefore also have all my friends there. When I am there, I stay with the son of my former professor, with whom I like to have a beer on the balcony in the evenings. Valparaiso offers so much: from impressive street graffiti to small art museums of local painters, if you love art, you are in the right place here. Valpo, as the residents call it, is divided into the so-called Cerros (hills). In other words, the Cerros are the neighborhoods of the city. When I am there, I stay in Cerro Florida, which is outside the tourist area. However, most hostels / activities / sights are located on Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción. You should definitely have a nice glass of red wine on one of the many terraces there, the view is worth it - I promise! The city's landmarks are the so-called ascensores (elevators), which take you from the bottom to the Cerros, they are definitely worth a ride.

If you prefer more beach and party, you should go to the neighboring city - Viña del Mar. The metro runs along the entire coast of Valparaiso to the city center. (Of course, there are also the minibuses, which I would not recommend to anyone without good Spanish skills, as they usually stop wherever they want). My school was also in Viña at that time, which is why I have seen quite a bit of this city - but I prefer Valpo. Viña is still very European for me and is booming in the field of economy, which of course makes it absolutely interesting as well. A visit to the Casino de Viña del Mar is an absolute must. There are also many restaurants and bars nearby. (From McDonald's to Starbucks to Michelin-starred restaurants, there is really everything there). Another highly recommended place is the Park Quinta Vergara - there are often open-air concerts there, it's worth it!

 Viña del mar

Quinta Vergara

If you have a little more time and know a little about local buses, I really recommend taking a day trip to Concon. The small town belongs to Viña del Mar and you can easily see it from there. You can recognize it by its huge sand dunes, which can be visited all year round. If you are in the mood, you can rent a sandboard there and slide down the dunes. Especially in the summer months, Concon is very crowded, as the beaches there are very beautiful and many bars and restaurants attract visitors.

Valle de la luna, San Pedro de Atacama

Laguna Verde, Valparaiso: Just a 30-minute bus ride from Valpo is Laguna Verde. (the minibuses leave from Avenida Pedro Montt every 30 minutes, it usually says 'Laguna verde' on their sign.) It includes a beautiful bay, which is also suitable for swimming in summer, some small snack bars, as well as beautiful hiking trails and rivers.

Well, this was supposed to be just a brief insight into my favorite places in Chile, but in the end I wrote more than planned and decided to write a second post about Chile when I have the time. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me on Instagram: _annamariaw

PS: You should consider that I have now been to Chile 7 times for several weeks / months and have by no means seen everything, so plan enough time and create a rough itinerary with places you definitely want to visit!