Exploring Santiago
When I arrived in Santiago, I took a short city tour around the Vitacura neighborhood, where I was staying. The area is one of the top places to stay, second only to Providencia — the favorite among Brazilian travelers. Personally, I didn’t think it was bad, mainly thanks to the hotel’s location, but Vitacura does come with a few drawbacks.
Since it’s an upscale neighborhood (which, of course, isn’t really my style), the biggest downside is the lack of public transportation. There’s no metro in Vitacura, and the nearest station was at least a 30-minute walk away. On top of that, only two or three bus lines passed by the hotel. Another drawback is that both markets and restaurants are quite expensive, so I decided to explore other areas to save money. By the way, both my Wise* and Nomad* cards worked flawlessly for all transactions in Santiago.
Given these conditions, I decided to split my city tour of Santiago into two days. Despite being over 3 km from the city center, the distance wasn’t an issue for me — I love walking. I revisited many familiar places and discovered new ones, which gave me a fresh perspective on the city.
Vale Nevado and Farellones
I visited Valle Nevado and Farellones — two famous ski resorts in the Andes Mountains, located in the Lo Barnechea commune. The scenery was spectacular, with golden light illuminating the peaks and transforming the landscape into a true masterpiece.
Even though it wasn’t snow season, I joined the Andes Sunset tour — an amazing experience that lets you watch the sunset right from the mountains.
To top it off, we enjoyed a delicious picnic while soaking in the splendor of nature.
Cajón del Maipo and Embalse El Yeso
I took a trip to Cajón del Maipo and Embalse El Yeso, visiting the impressive dam located over 2,500 meters above sea level in the heart of the Andes. The scenery is breathtaking, with waters that reflected the region’s unique beauty and changed color depending on the time of day, season, and light.
During the journey, we passed through small villages that added a special charm and an authentic touch of local culture. We wrapped up the day with a picnic surrounded by nature — the perfect ending to an unforgettable experience.
I went back to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. This time, I focused on exploring every little detail of the alleys in Valparaíso’s hills, which completely changed how I see the city.
In Viña del Mar, I took the time to admire its beautiful landscapes — always impressive with their calm, coastal charm.
