"Between the mountains and the sea" Top 5 Page for this destination Santiago by TheWanderingCamel
Santiago Travel Guide: 1,167 reviews and 2,153 photos
Coming to the city overland from Argentina is no less dramatic. The pass across the Andes takes you to 10,000 feet and through a long tunnel. Then it's a seemingly-endless switchback of terrifying hairpin bends, down , down, down from the barren, rocky heights, through the increasingly green and lush Arconcagua Valley, its rushing river tumbling through a steep gorge and between steep banks where water-side willows give way to cactii further up the steep hillside.
Once you are in the city, the mountains are behind you - forming a dramatic backdrop to the urban sprawl - a mixture of old and new, grand and rundown, affluent and poor. To get to the sea you actually have to cross another range of mountains -the coastal cordillera. But that is for later - right now you have Santiago to explore.
leyle
Reviews (34)
How much time do you have?
Things to Do
(18)
Santiago is often dismissed as a rather boring, mostly modern, city with little of the glamour or colour of other South... more travel advice
A walk between two squares
Things to Do
(18)
It's just a few blocks between the Plaza de la Constitucion and the Plaza de Armas - Satiago's two main squares, you... more travel advice
The north side of the square
Things to Do
(18)
Whilst the Cathedral takes up the east side of the Plaza de Armas, and small shops and restaurants most of the south and... more travel advice
The posh end of town
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(5)
Barrios Providencia and Las Condes are where you'll find the more well-heeled folk of Santiago. They'll tell you Las... more travel advice
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Comments (25)
I lived in Santiago when I learnt Spanish in 2007 and returned the following year when I travelled around the Chilean and Argentine Lake Districts for 3 weeks. A very interesting city to start off your travels with...Great page! Dawn
A Five-Star page! You have a gift for writing which makes me wish to visit whatever place you are visiting! Extremely interesting, informative with great photos to top it all off!
I couldn't agree with you more - Santiago definitely is the kind of city that grows on you. I actually wouldn't mind going back to do a Spanish immersion, especially if I could stay near Barrio Bellavista - that was my favourite part of the city :o)
Thank you for your kind comment on my Lisbon page. I enjoyed this Santiago page a lot. I must see those ascensores in Valparaiso some day.
Santiago will be my next South American destination...Barrio Bellavista sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing...pre-Columbian treasures are always amazing...
A lot of great updates again, Leyle,thanks for sharing ! This excellent page is bringing back great memories ! There is so much to see there and it was great to see the many houses in colonial style there !
I must say, I do have a soft spot for old colonial buildings - particularly as I am on old colonial construction myself! Excellent tips on a beguiling destination. Ah, if only I didn't dissolve at the thought of any flight over 2.5 hours...
That is a nice South American page, Leyle. You show well the colonial Hispanic architecture, which fascinates me since I can look at books. Thanks for the link to this wonderful website of the of the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. Cheers H.
santiago kind of reminds me of santo domingo, all that colonial architecture and history. now im really looking forward to it!
Excellent page with a wide panorama of the history from the precolumbian period to Salvador Allende’s memory and the superb Mercato centrale. The tip about quipu is very informative and the linked website excellent !
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