"Valparaiso" Valparaíso by viajeras2

Valparaíso Travel Guide: 313 reviews and 835 photos

Valparaíso (Spanish pronunciation: [balpaɾaˈiso]) is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation (Greater Valparaíso) and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region. Although Santiago is Chile's official capital, the National Congress of Chile was established in Valparaíso in 1990.

Valparaíso played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century, when the city served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the Straits of Magellan. Always a magnet for European immigrants, Valparaíso mushroomed during its golden age, when the city was known by international sailors as “Little San Francisco” and “The Jewel of the Pacific.”

Renaca 5ta region

Reñaca is at the northernmost extreme of the city of Viña del Mar and has been incorporated by it. To the north, along the coast road, is the area of Cochoa and then the town of Concón. It is known mostly as a summer vacation area and receives a very large influx of tourists during the summer months (December-February). The tourist part of town is clustered around the main beach, which is referred to locally as "long beach" and is divided non-physically into five sectors (1-5).

The lower part of the hill overlooking the beach is covered with somewhat unique staircase residential buildings that sprawl up the hillside. These apartments are mostly owned by outsiders and remain empty during the off-season (March-November). The town also extends eastwards up the valley through which the Estero de Reñaca flows, it is here that the majority of the year-round population lives. The town has reached its housing capacity in the valley and has grown up the hillsides into the neighborhoods of Los Almendros and Jardin del Mar.

El Quisco-5ta region

El Quisco is a Chilean city and commune in San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. Located in the country's central coast, it serves as a popular summer resort for the population of Santiago. Littoral of the Arts and the Poets, cultural space that is forged by three poets of world renown (Pablo Neruda, Vicente Huidobro and Nicanor Parra). A place of interest is La Casa de Isla Negra, the former house of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, now his burial place and a museum.

Last visit to Valparaíso: Dec 2005
Intro Updated May 14, 2011
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Reviews (11)

Disco, Cafe concert. Nightlife (1)

http://lapiedrafeliz.cl/index.html http://lapiedrafeliz.cl/salones.html http://lapiedrafeliz.cl/galeria/galeria.html When... more travel advice

Walking place. Things to Do (7)

PASEO GERVASONI : Located in the Cerro Concepción, access is from Calle Pasaje Templeman Papudo up for Pratt Street,... more travel advice

San Francisco Church Things to Do (7)

It was declared a National Monument on July 18, 1983. Located in the Cerro Barón. In 1845, laid the foundation stone of... more travel advice

Seafood Restaurants (2)

Is old restaurant located in Valparaiso, in Caleta el Membrillo. Famous place in the zone, in the same place they have... more travel advice

Local Customs (1)
Cerro Concepcion-Alegre

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Comments (6)

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Jim_Eliason May 13, 2011 at 3:22 AM

nice tips
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PierreZA Jan 25, 2009 at 2:16 AM

Hi, thanks for your comments, yes you right, I have to go to Chile :-)!!
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hopang Jan 1, 2009 at 5:02 AM

Lovely Valparaiso travel pages complete with lovely photos and tips especially your local customs and restaurants tips. Thanks for sharing. ~ho & pang
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marsistanbul Aug 25, 2008 at 9:15 AM

me segunda fila de la pagina de Valparaiso,es su efecto..estoy agradecido por ello,gracias bambina:0)
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camilo74 Apr 13, 2007 at 8:34 AM

Linda foto de Valpo. una de las ciudades mas lindas de Chile!!
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DSwede Mar 11, 2007 at 6:14 PM

Thanks for the visit! I enjoyed my trips through Switzerland, so I can only assume you enjoyed living there. Your native city looks nice too.