"Fun in a polluted capital" Región Metropolitana de Santiago by world_citizen

Región Metropolitana de Santiago Travel Guide: 1,035 reviews and 2,534 photos

Santiago - Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Close to all kinds of action.

Santiago's main advantage is it's location. Not so much on the North South axis, more on the East West one. A couple of hours East and you are in the Andes and a couple of hours West and you are on the Pacific Coast. It's nighlife is not as good as Buenos Aires but it's still fun, and it's got all the attractions any big city can offer but is not so big that you get lost in it.

East

bbq in cajon de maipo

To the East you have access to Cajon de Maipo where you can do rafting and go for picnics and barbecues in the parks there. If you go on a little further there's climbing, trekking and horse riding to be done and waterfalls to visit.

West

Quintay beach - you can go nude here

Head west and you can visit the port city of Valparaiso, lots of opportunities for fun there!, and the posher Vina del Mar (overated). There are plenty of nice beaches nearby, some of which are very lonely and lovely. You can also go trekking in Chile's other mountain range, not the Andes, which are not as high as the Cordillera.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lots to do, cleanliness, metro
Cons:Pollution, food, racism against Peruvians
In a nutshell:Easy access to the best of Chile.

Last visit to Región Metropolitana de Santiago: Mar 2005
Intro Written Apr 6, 2006
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Reviews (5)

This is the bay with all the restaurants - Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Beach trip Things to Do (3)

There are lots of beaches around Vallparaiso and Vina del Mar and I went to quite a few of them during my year living in... more travel advice

At the glacier in the park - Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Hidden National Park Things to Do (3)

What most visitors to Santiago don't know is they have a gem of a national park right on their doorstep. It's mainly... more travel advice

A different kind of coffee Things to Do (3)

Santiago has a unique business which I have seen in no other country - the cafe con piernas, translated literally as... more travel advice

Cheap good food Restaurants (1)

This place serves simple but tasty Cuban food at a really good price! It's a Cuban bar which serves food and is a great... more travel advice

Nightlife (1)
Good food

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Comments (2)

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marsistanbul Nov 8, 2007 at 7:04 AM

Hi:) thanks for yr detailed reply and advice for the flight to Santiago.hoping to be there the end of december and will follow your tips:)regards..
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Sininen Jul 14, 2006 at 11:31 AM

Great small page on Santiago. Hope you will add more tips in the future, since you lived there a year you should be able to build up a page full of tips and photos!