A place you have to experience in your life
There is kind of a legend around Valparaíso. People from all over the globe talk about this unique and wonderful place. Its colour, people and essence are unforgettable. What is it that makes this city so important and unique? Its name appears from songs to literature and movies all over the world.
From the beginning, this was a strategic point to various ports of America and the world. Since then, it has become a special place for travellers and artists throughout history.
It's only been a few years since I live en Valparaíso, but I've spent a lot of time in the "Ciudad Puerto". If you don't know anything about its beginnings, let me tell you.
It's been a port since it began to exist. Captains and sailors and businessmen and ships arrive here all the time. The sea covers all the territory before the hills appear.
Valparaíso's strategic location made it a "famous" city, where tourists from all over the world travel every year, even now in a pandemic. And a lot of them come back or end up staying and living here. There is something about it that captivates a lot of people.
A city of colours, shapes and noises
The first thing you need to know is that Valparaíso is the port, next to the sea, where many companies are set, and where you can access boat rides tours through the bay.
Next, we have what we call "el plan" (downtown, where all the shops and offices are). Here is where every "porteño" spent most of his time.
Finally, we got the hills. There are 45 of them, very different between each other and is the first thing you see when you are in Valparaíso: houses up into the sky.
The architecture is one of the most amazing things here. It seems chaotic, and at the same time, beautiful. Every house is unique with different colours, painting these hills with the strangest rather artistic postcard you'll ever see.
It can seem loud initially, with all its people selling on the streets, performing or singing. Seems like something is happening every time. You might not be used to this, but it's what makes Valparaíso so special and brings thousands of people back every year.
What you can see/eat/enjoy in Valparaíso
Definitely, if you come here to visit, you have to be able to walk. These hills and streets have a lot to see because the walls are a canvas filled with street art, promoted by a city where all artistic movements are potent and organized.
Since it's a very touristic area, there are many places where to sleep and eat. Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción are some of the most visited among the hills, so they have a broad gastronomic offer. You can have Thai, Chilean, Mediterranean food or enjoy some cocktails watching the sea and the city.
Cerro Florida, Playa Ancha, Artillería, Barón… There are countless of them, just to name a few from the most popular for tourists. These all have several restaurants or bars, museums, and endless possibilities to visit and taste a bit of the local culture.
There are beaches like Torpederas or Caleta Portales where you can enjoy the sea at any time of the year. Our shores are cold, but in summer nobody misses the sea, and in winter you can go and have tea on the sand with your friends.
Why I love Valparaíso
Throughout the years, I've been able to work on many cultural events in this city. People from all over the world come to work on photography at the Festival Internacional de Fotografía en Valparaíso, for example.
Here I got to meet a lot of people that figured out a way to visit every year. They have this longing for Valparaíso; they are captivated.
Hearing their love and stories made me always look with other eyes at this city. It has a lot of contrasts. Its architecture includes an unusual mixture of styles, patrimony, and history whilst its people do their own business, adding stories to this town. You never know what is going to happen.
At night, if you are really up in the hills, you can always wonder at the thousands of tiny lights coming out from the city's houses. It creates some kind of magic that makes you fell in love with the place.
Finally, if you come, you have to love dogs and cats since they are strays everywhere, in their own wild animal pavement kingdom. It's just Valparaíso: you will always be surprised.
Valparaíso Checklist
To eat:
El Internado
El Peral
Tres Pages
To do:
Muelle Barón | Kayak, restaurants and other sea sports
To go:
Insomnia | Movie Theatre
Parque Cultural de Valparaíso
Museo a Cielo Abierto | Open Sky Museum
To drink:
Bar de Pisco
Café Vinilo
Winebox
