ACTIVITIES IN VIñA DEL MAR AND VALPARAíSO

Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are located at a distance of 6 kilometers, so you can visit all of its attractions in the same day.

If we start from Valparaiso we can begin from the Muelle Prat, opposite the Capitanía de Puerto, where we can enjoy the dynamic activity of the port and a full view of the bay. Here you can take boat rides and watch the visiting ships that visit the coastline.

In the Muelle Prat there are craft stands where you can buy souvenirs and restaurants where you can sample products from the sea such as fish and seafood.

Valparaiso is considered a World Heritage Site for its History that we find as we climb its beautiful hills, either in one of the lifts that is still in operation such as the Artilleria, the Concepcion, El Peral, the Baron lift, Reina Victoria and Mariposas among others.

Another transportation attraction in Valparaiso is its trolleybuses and they are considered "rolling museums”. These buses move by electricity from the cable lines and are a traditional symbol of the city.

Among the things you can't miss are the Cerro Concepción ofValparaiso, where the Paseo Gervasoni and viewpoint of Paseo Atkinson are found. Also, in Cerro Alegre we find the Baburizza Palace, the Museum of Fine Arts of Valparaiso, Paseo Americano and Plaza Sotomayor (Sotomayor Square), which offers a beautiful view of the bay and is a favorite place to tourists and locals to observe the fireworks display during the New Year.

In the Cerro Playa Ancha we can visit the Paseo 21 de Mayo, which is accessed via the Artilleros lift. It has a panoramic viewpoint, large trees and seats for relaxing so you can appreciate the landscape of the harbor and the hills.

Other attractions that are worth seeing is Paseo Rubén Darío, which extends from Caleta El Membrillo to Carvallo Beach, where there is a small park overlooking the sea. The Paseo Carvallo is its continuation and gets to the Torpederas beach. It is an area of rocks and you can enjoy the waves crashing against the rocks as well as the beautiful sunsets.

The coastal walk Juan de Saavedra is found next to Caleta de Pescadores and Portales Beach. You can take walks and tours, plus activities such as sport fishing.

Each of these areas of Valparaiso is full of culture and tradition which can be seen in its murals, art shows, hotels and monuments. The Cosona Sebastiana del poeta Pablo Neruda (House of Pablo Neruda) which has been converted into a house museum and is an example of the identity of this port, which has always been a meeting point for artists and bohemian life as well as writers, musicians and poets.

Viña del Mar on the other hand is one of the most famous places in the country and abroad. It is a favorite place for foreign and local visitors to visit every summer and enjoy its beautiful beaches and touristic activities it has to offer.

Among its most famous beaches are Reñaca with an active nightlife and many restaurants, pubs, cafes and nightclubs. Cochoa and Concon beaches also offers beautiful scenery, a friendly atmosphere and delicious cuisine, but a feeling of a family atmosphere.

Viña del Mar has a beautiful coastline which connects Valparaíso, and where beautiful sunsets can be observed as well as hiking, running or biking. At the junction between the two cities youcan also see the Reloj de Flores (flower clock), located on the hillside of Castillo hill and facing Caleta Abarca. The mechanism that tells the time works perfectly and in the flowers you can observe the day and month of the year.

In the town we find a great number of hotels and other buildings like the Casino Municipal, the Hotel O'Higgins, Castillo Wulff, that corresponds to the headquarters of the Unidad de Patrimonio de la Municipalidad de Viña del Mar (Heritage Unit of the Municipality of Viña del Mar), and the Palacio Presidencial Cerro Lo Castillo (The Presidential Palace Cerro Lo Castillo).

Viña del Mar also offers natural areas such as the Santuario Natural Campo Dunar de Concón and el Humedal de Aconcagua. In both sectors you can observe the flora and fauna of the area, including sea lions, which are also seen in the Lobos Marinos viewpoint, in the northern part of the city.