Valparaiso v Santiago

[joybook]

What would you do? While Valparaiso is the cruise port for Santiago, searching through the threads seem to suggest that rather than going into Santiago you may as well just stay in Valparaiso and look around. While I know that everyone's expectations are different I would appreciate your thoughts and experiences from those who have been to both places. While I don't mind a place being old, it seems that Santiago is very old and not very inspiring or interesting. So what are your comarisons between the two places? Thanks:)

[airheadfan]

Like many we arrived at the Santiago airport, and chose to spend time there pre-cruise before transferring to Valparaiso. We spend three days (Christmas) in Santiago and thoroughly enjoyed our time - lots to see, and a huge bustling cosmopolitan city. Then on to Valparaiso and one day there before departing. Chile was new for us and we had no expectations - we went with open minds. If we had to do it over again, we would have spent more time in Valparaiso. Valparaiso is a port city, a little rough but colorful and tremendously interesting. We were simply overwhelmed by the street art, but we did have the benefit of a walking tour guide who took us places we would never have found on our own. We did not get to Vina del Mar, but missing another resort city was just fine for us.

 

If you want a feel for the topography of Valparaiso, search for "Valparaiso bike race" or "Valparaiso Cerro Abajo" on the video web site to get an idea - tough walking up hill but an amazing ride from the top to the bottom.

[Keith1010]

Are you stopping in Valparaiso or is the start or end of your cruise.

 

If you are just transiting through Valparaiso I would not go all the way to Santiago. It would be around 3 hours R/T and you wouldn't have much time there. Instead I would either tour Valparaiso or consider going to the wine country which is about 1 hour away. A nice area is the Casablanca wine country.

 

Can you provide more details on how long you will be there and whether you are just passing through the port or starting or ending your cruise there?

 

Keith

[joybook]

Thanks. We will be on a cruise from Buenos Aires to LA with Valparaiso a port of call. The port stay is a full day (around 12 hours).:)

[Keith1010]

If it was me I would go with Valparaiso and/or the wine country.

 

Keith

[donaldonaldonald]

Hello- The two cities offer very different experiences. As mentioned above, Santiago is a big, bustling, cosmopolitan capital and Valparaiso is relatively small but really charming. If you are a walker, you might enjoy Valpo more, as you can cover a lot of it on foot, particularly if you don't mind hills. (A lot of hills.) It is a world heritage site with exquisitely painted buildings, beautiful shops and restaurants, etc.

Santiago is fascinating with a great deal to offer, a great subway system, etc. But it is big and busy.

In all South American cities, you should be cautious about crime in some areas. We found that the locals in Valpo would suggest areas to avoid or areas to take particular care. We had no troubles in either city at all.

[mrslex]

Just returned from a month's cruise (Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires on Holland America.) We stayed in Valpariso and toured with Michael, the German Pirate. Valpariso is a city of hills and quite fascinating. When we were there, the country was experiencing a strike so the funeculars were not operating. Be prepared to walk up and down the hills - it's worth it.

[no fuss travel]

There is a free walking tour in Valparaiso. It is well worth doing. Meets in the central plaza. They take you to all the main sites, are very entertaining and very knowledgeable. A private guide who could also take you to vineyards as well as tour Valparaiso is Al Ramirez. He is a wine expert, speaks perfect English as he was educated in New York but is from Chile. He designed the free walking tour in Valparaiso with two of his friends, so has all the history down pat. Enjoy Chile.

[joybook]

Thanks to you all for your comments. The walking tour in Valparaiso sounds interesting. Can you recall what time it starts - thanks:)

[HDS]

Joybook,

We hired a guide and driver in Valparaiso as we were transferring from one cruise ship to another and had our heavy luggage with us. I'm thinking that the walking tour will be around the town centre which is on the flat ground close to the harbour. The rest of Valparaiso is steep, steep. Think Sydney harbour and the heights of Mosman around Taronga Park Zoo and treble it.

Our short funicular ride on a very touristy funicular was fun. Our favourite was visiting Pablo Neruda's house, even though one of us knew very little and the other knew nothing about him before the visit. It's a delightful quirky hillside house with magnificent views; an interesting representation of a statesman, poet and author with a great sense of humour and the times he lived in. And a reminder that the Pinochet military dictatorship started in Chile only 40 years ago.

Our driver navigated the steep, narrow winding roads very skilfully to show us streets of delightful old houses and the best views from the heights. We had a delightful seafood lunch in a restaurant overooking the harbour.

We were warned about tourists being robbed and were glad we didn't try to do it on our own.

[someotherguy]

Thanks to you all for your comments. The walking tour in Valparaiso sounds interesting. Can you recall what time it starts - thanks:)

 

The tours4tips are at 10 and 3. The guides wear red striped T-shirts. Details here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=40716067#post40716067