6 Things to Do in Valparaíso, Chilé
You hiked the W-Trek and have a few extra days. Now what? While Patagonia’s natural beauty is the main draw of Chile, don’t overlook other destinations in the country. If your schedule allows, we recommend adding time to your schedule to visit Valparaiso.
Valparaiso is a city of opposites. It’s charming and gritty, vibrant and laid-back, trendy and vintage. Spend a few days in the city, and you’ll fall in love and dream of returning. The locals refer to the city as Valpo and call themselves porteños. Easily accessible via bus (just under 2 hours) or private transport (1.5 hours) from Santiago, this is a must-do stop while in Chile. Here are our favorite things to do in Valparaiso.
1. Get lost wandering the city
The city is made up of 42 cerros or hills and connected through a labyrinth of staircases where every day is leg day. Roaming the streets and alleys of the city is an incredible way to spend a day. At every turn there’s a photo op, so grab your camera and make sure you have enough battery to last you through the day. Stick to the main streets and neighborhoods after dark. Tip, Google maps isn’t the most helpful since it doesn’t account for the steepness of the streets and hills and may not give you the option of the stairs. Our favorite hills are Cerro Alegre, Concepcion, Carcel, and Mariposa.
2. Join a street art & graffiti tour
Learn about the fascinating history of graffiti by spending a couple of hours on a walking tour. The city is an artist’s paradise where street art is an ever-evolving reflection of the social, political, and historical landscape. Once your guide points out the style and message of well-known artists, you’ll recognize their work across the city and appreciate their talent. This is your chance to discover parts of the city you wouldn’t otherwise find on your own.
3. View the city from the water
Head down toward the shoreline to Muelle Prat and hop on a decommissioned fisherman’s boat and take a tour of the harbor. Most of the guides speak minimal English, but you’ll feel the passion and love for their city shine through. You’ll come up close with the massive ships that travel through Valparaiso's harbor, typically too large for passage through the Panama Canal. Shipping containers are stacked as high as skyscrapers, and the view from the harbor captures the city’s 42 cerros. It’s about a 30 minute ride and costs about $8 USD with tip.
4. Ride the ascensores
A perfect example of the pulley system you learned in high school physics class, Valparaiso’s ascensores is a marvel. Ascensor Artilleria offers a phenomenal view of the harbor where you can watch shipping containers transported around via cranes or trucks. Couple this with the boat tour since it’s about a 15 minute walk and one of the farthest ascensores.
5. Eat empanadas
Great options are around every corner, but our favorite is Delicias Express. They fry up your selection when you order, and it comes out piping hot. With 80 options to choose from, you’ll easily have decision-paralysis. The interior is small with a few seats around the perimeter.
6. Wine tasting at WineBox
Chile’s microclimates and proximity to the ocean produces world-renowned bottles of wine. You don’t have to go to wine country to experience the splendor of Chilean wine. A sunset wine tasting at Wine Box is a great way to begin or end your time in Valparaiso. The view on the rooftop is unmatched, and you’ll taste wines that will raise your bar and will turn you into a wine lover if you aren’t already one. Bring a warm jacket since the temperature drops after the sun goes down.
No other city has the equivalent character and energy as Valparaiso. To quickly get around the city, travel by foot on the lower streets where it’s flat and the main upper street called Avenida Alemania. We highly recommend Valparaiso to start or cap off your Chilean adventure.
Valparaiso is a great way to experience the variety of Chilean culture and will compliment your 9-day trekking adventure in southern Chile in Torres Del Paine. Join us at the edge of the world in 2023.