sdadolf Posted July 5, 2013 #1 Share Posted July 5, 2013 I see lots of comments on the forum about Valparaiso vs Santiago, but they all seem to be related to people either starting or ending their cruise in Valparaiso. I will be on a 30 day cruise from Buenos Aires to San Diego in April and will be stopping for a day at Valparaiso. Options are to spend the day in and around Valparaiso seeing the sights, doing some shopping, etc. vs spending the day on a bus tour to Santiago. I'm trying to decide which way to go. Anyone with experience in both cities that might give me some thoughts, pointers, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airheadfan Posted July 5, 2013 #2 Share Posted July 5, 2013 We spent three days in Santiago and one day in Valparaiso before leaving on a cruise to French Polynesia. The cities are entirely different. Santiago is a huge sprawling city with an impressive and wealthy business district, good restaurants, an impressive public transportation system, very interesting street art, and it felt very safe. Valparaiso is a port city built on hillsides, not as modern, a little gritty, but very interesting. If I had only one day I would check out the walking tours of Valparaiso - we did the half day tour and it was fascinating and took us to places we would never have found on our own or with a motorized tour. Very impressive street art, colorful houses and infinite photo ops. If you take the waling tour ask the guide to take you to the Lutheran Church and ask for the vice pastor who is American and ex-merchant marine, and he will tell you the history of both the church (fascinating) and the graveyard of some 200 Americans that the church has restored. Although more edgy than Santiago we felt very safe. Valparaiso was one of the highlights of our trip Going to Santiago means many hours of bus or car travel through a huge valley of vineyards - depending on traffic likely three to four hours. If you are a wine enthusiast there are many opportunities to stop and taste. But you will not have much time in Santiago. Hope this helps a little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdadolf Posted July 5, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thank you for your detailed thoughts...much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-D Posted July 7, 2013 #4 Share Posted July 7, 2013 We have also spent several days in Santiago plus short periods in Valpo and neighbouring Vina del Mar when disembarking (twice) and embarking (once). I generally agree with "airheadfan". Valpo/Vina and Santiago are both very interesting and well worth visiting. However, there is more than enough of interest in Valpo and Vina to occupy a full day. An excursion to Santiago & return would use up a good fraction of your day, even without stopping at a winery, and I think the time would be better spent in Valpo and Vina. Better to save Santiago for another trip when you can spend more time there. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 7, 2013 #5 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Consider going to the wine country which is about an hour drive from Valparaiso. The views are beautiful. I would not go to Santiago. It has nothing to do with my view but it is a 90 minute drive each way and the consensus always is it was nice but much too much to see in one day so it was rushed and tiring. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdadolf Posted July 7, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Thanks J-D and Keith1010...appreciate the response....the kind of info I was looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBar3 Posted July 9, 2013 #7 Share Posted July 9, 2013 We took a cruise out of Valparaiso in February and had a fantastic experience. We landed in Santiago and hired a guide (through Leo Cuzmar) who gave us an all-day tour around Santiago, then had a fabulous lunch at a small local place between Santiago and Valparaiso. We then were taken to a vineyard in Casablanca for a tour and tasting, followed by a driving tour of both Viña del Mar and Valparaiso ending at our hotel. Spent the night in Valparaiso and did a walking tour of the picturesque city before our cruise left the next day. Highly recommended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJB1957 Posted July 11, 2013 #8 Share Posted July 11, 2013 We took a cruise out of Valparaiso in February and had a fantastic experience. We landed in Santiago and hired a guide (through Leo Cuzmar) who gave us an all-day tour around Santiago, then had a fabulous lunch at a small local place between Santiago and Valparaiso. We then were taken to a vineyard in Casablanca for a tour and tasting, followed by a driving tour of both Viña del Mar and Valparaiso ending at our hotel. Spent the night in Valparaiso and did a walking tour of the picturesque city before our cruise left the next day. Highly recommended! Could you give me info. on how to contact Leo Cuzmar and did you have a guide for your walking tour of Valparaiso? Thanks, Diane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sansterre Posted July 16, 2013 #9 Share Posted July 16, 2013 We flew into Santiago and toured the city. The next day we visited two vineyards on our way to Valpariso. Saw the sights of Valpariso that evening and before boarding at noon the next day. If I only had one day, I would definitely stay around Valpariso. As mentioned in a previous post, Valpariso is colorful and there is lots to see. Make sure you take several of the 9 or so trams that move people up and down the hillside. I would get a guide to make sure you see everything and stay away from the "less safe" areas. Do not wear good jewelry in either city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CloudsOfWhite Posted August 7, 2013 #10 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Valparaiso has a cultural oasis that's unique to all of Chile. Santiago is just another big city. If you're more into shopping then go to Santiago by all means, but at least to me, other than that, Santiago doesn't have much of touristic value to offer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted August 7, 2013 #11 Share Posted August 7, 2013 I totally agree. Valparaiso is unique. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site for a reason. With only one day's time, I would take a guided tour. The guides know where the acsensores are. We would never have found them on our own although we could see one from the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-D Posted August 12, 2013 #12 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Valparaiso has a cultural oasis that's unique to all of Chile. Santiago is just another big city. If you're more into shopping then go to Santiago by all means, but at least to me, other than that, Santiago doesn't have much of touristic value to offer! Concur that, during a one-day port visit at Valparaiso, it makes much sense to spend the day touring the interesting and colourful Valpo area -- perhaps including adjacent Vina del Mar and preferably with a guide -- and not lose the better part of 4 hours on the highway to and from Santiago (2 hr each way). However, in our view, Santiago is a very interesting and generally attractive city with "much of touristic value" and of historic interest. Unfortunately, the short time that one could achieve in Santiago during a day trip from Valpo would not do justice to the city. Better to save it for a trip when you can start or end a cruise at Valpo (or, as we did this year, get off one ship, spend time in Santiago, Valpo, Vina, etc., and then board another ship). John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmclsa Posted August 13, 2013 #13 Share Posted August 13, 2013 My wife and I will arrive Valparaiso on Oceania Marina on December 28, 2013 and will stay in Santiago for a few days. We are interested in joining the Valparaiso walking tour, can you advise which tour agency offers this and what is the approx. cost. AL We spent three days in Santiago and one day in Valparaiso before leaving on a cruise to French Polynesia. The cities are entirely different. Santiago is a huge sprawling city with an impressive and wealthy business district, good restaurants, an impressive public transportation system, very interesting street art, and it felt very safe. Valparaiso is a port city built on hillsides, not as modern, a little gritty, but very interesting. If I had only one day I would check out the walking tours of Valparaiso - we did the half day tour and it was fascinating and took us to places we would never have found on our own or with a motorized tour. Very impressive street art, colorful houses and infinite photo ops. If you take the waling tour ask the guide to take you to the Lutheran Church and ask for the vice pastor who is American and ex-merchant marine, and he will tell you the history of both the church (fascinating) and the graveyard of some 200 Americans that the church has restored. Although more edgy than Santiago we felt very safe. Valparaiso was one of the highlights of our trip Going to Santiago means many hours of bus or car travel through a huge valley of vineyards - depending on traffic likely three to four hours. If you are a wine enthusiast there are many opportunities to stop and taste. But you will not have much time in Santiago. Hope this helps a little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted August 16, 2013 #14 Share Posted August 16, 2013 With one day I would tour Valparaiso. Santiago is very nice but I would go with Valparaiso with the one day. There are beautiful wineries on the way if you have any interest in that. One of them is located in Casablanca about 1 hour from Valparaiso and on the way. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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