Two years ago at this time I was visiting Santiago and the nearby Chilean wine region and the Andes Mountains. After spending the prior two days along the coast in Valparaíso (photos
here), my friends and I took a bus back to Santiago where we stayed for 4 nights (I stayed a 5th night because my flight back to the US was canceled). I had an amazing time and would definitely encourage others to visit Santiago!
1) The bus dropped us off at the Pajaritos station on Line 1 of the Santiago Metro. Santiago’s rail system is quite impressive!
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3) Sunset views from my hotel in Providencia on our first evening in Santiago
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7) The next morning we headed out early to spend the day exploring the city.
8) We first headed up Cerro Santa Lucia, a hill in the center of Santiago, to check out the views.
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26) After enjoying the view I headed down into the old historic area of downtown Santiago
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30) Plaza de Armas
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49) The Plaza Brasil with the Iglesia de la Preciosa Sangre in the background
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51) The National Museum of Natural History
52) Quinta Normal park
53) Museum of Memory and Human Rights, a very interesting museum!
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56) Estación Alameda – this is a terminal station for suburban rail from the south, but there’s also a Central station on the Metro system below.
57) Catching the Metro at Central station on Line 1 to head back to our hotel.
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59) Heading off to visit La Chascona – one of the Pablo Neruda houses. First we pass through Balmaceda Park
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61) Crossing the Mapocho River
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64) Heading into the popular Barrio Bellavista neighborhood
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66) Arriving at La Chascona
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71) After that we took the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal, the 2nd highest peak in Santiago, to check out the views.
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89) Had to get a selfie with South America’s tallest skyscraper…
90) Heading back down to Barrio Bellavista to wander around and have dinner.
91) Barrio Bellavista – a neighborhood full of energy and vitality!
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96) I don’t often eat red meat other than the occasional burger, but a Chilean steak sounded good and indeed it was.
97) Walking back to the hotel that night we passed by a water fountain with a nice choreographed light show in Balmaceda Park.
98) The next day I set off early to head up into the Andes Mountains. We stopped along the way in San José de Maipo.
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105) And now heading into the Maipo Canyon.
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111) This is Embalse el Yeso, approximately 8,500 feet/2,600 meters in elevation (obviously higher in the surrounding peaks). The gorgeous blue water contrasted beautifully with the dry landscape surrounding the reservoir.
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121) Our tour guide brought along an afternoon snack of breads, cheeses, and Chilean wine.
122) On our way back to Santiago we stopped by this cute little restaurant for a delicious empanada.
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124) Back in Santiago it looks like we had dinner back in the Bellavista area.
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127) The next day we headed off to the wine region to visit some vineyards/wineries. Delicious!
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143) Time to head off to the next vineyard.
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146) Our next vineyard/winery. Such a beautiful view looking out from the front!
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152) Wish I’d taken a better picture. We did our wine tasting at the table at the end of this corridor, where the light coming in from above is filtered sunlight through the water feature in the picture above. Very pretty setting!
153) After the wine tasting we opted to have lunch at the winery. I paid extra to have a wine pairing with each course. It was great though by the time we left I was rather hammered despite eating that meal! Good thing we didn’t have any other winery visits planned afterwards!
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156) After taking a late afternoon nap back at my hotel (i.e.passing out) I finally ventured out for a late evening dinner.
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158) The next day was our final day in Santiago. We were all flying out that night (though my flight was canceled so I didn’t leave until the next morning). We spent the day doing some more exploration of Santiago. Sunrise from my hotel.
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160) I decided to walk around the Barrio Italia, though it was still early with few people out. It picked up in the afternoon when I returned.
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171) Now wandering around near the Parque Bustamante, on the border of Barrio Italia & Barrio San Isidro, within Providencia.
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174) I ended up returning to Barrio Italia in the afternoon when it was more active. I love neighborhoods like this! Very pedestrian-scaled, with small streets and great little shops & restaurants.
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185) We spent the late afternoon in and around the downtown financial district.
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192) Parque Forestal
193) National Museum of Fine Arts
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195) And I stopped by Plaza de Armas once again on my final day.
I had a great time in Chile and really enjoyed exploring Santiago, as well as heading up into the Andes and visiting the nearby wine region. Hopefully my next trip to South America will include the southern part of Chile and also Argentina (including the Patagonia region).
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