SANTIAGO, CHILE
Santiago is home to more than 6 million Chileans making it the country’s largest city and capital. Over the last century, it has seen its ups and downs to say the least. The 30s, 40s, and 50s were decades of immense growth and urbanization, while the most recent half century has been one of hardship and inequity. The 70s and 80s saw Pinochet wreck havoc. Today, the streets are littered with anti-Piñera sentiment. Through it all though, this city’s personality shines through. One of perseverance, authenticity, and valor. A visit to Santiago will set the table nicely for your Chilean travels!
Attractions:
San Cristóbal Hill: The most popular view in Santiago is at the top of this hill! Here, you will be greeted by statues of the Virgin Mary and Pope John Paul II. There are three ways to reach the top; all of which start at Pío Nono, which is a 30-minute walk from the city center.
Hike: The walk to the top is free and takes 1 hour.
Bus & Cable Car (Teleférico): Board the bus and ride it to Tupahue (10 minutes; 650 CLP). From here, hop on the teleférico and ride it to Cumbre (5 minutes; 1,025 CLP). In total, this commute is 15 minutes and costs 1,675 CLP ($2 USD) one-way. For those wanting to swim, there is a pool at Tupahue; entrance costs 6,000 CLP ($8 USD).
Funicular: For 2,000 CLP ($3 USD) round-trip, you can take the funicular straight to the top. The ride is 15 minutes, but this line is generally very long (which is why I opted for the bus and cable car option)!
Central Market: This spot is a must-visit for some good old-fashioned street food. It is open daily from 6am-5pm; all dietary restrictions can be accommodated for. Talk about an authentic Chilean experience! Another great spot to eat is here; the store owner sells vegan completos, a Chilean delicacy!
Plaza de Armas: Santiago’s bustling main square. You do not need to spend a lot of time here but you should at least walk around a bit; you will find plenty of vendors selling empanadas!
Santa Lucía Hill: This quaint city park is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. The climb to the top takes 30-45 minutes and offers a lovely view! It is free and open daily from 9am-7pm.
Museo Cielo Abierto San Miguel: This enthralling open-air museum is in the southern part of town and well worth a visit! To get here from the city center, take Metro Line L2 (Yellow) to Departamental (30 minutes; 800 CLP). It is free and open 24/7.
Museum of Memory & Human Rights: A visit here will shine a spotlight on all of the human rights violations by the Chilean state between 1973-1990. It is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm and free to enter. The main hope of the museum is to educate people to prevent actions like this from ever happening again.
La Chascona: The old house of famous Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm and costs 7,000 CLP ($9.50 USD) to enter. It currently serves as a museum.
Other spots to check out include: Villa Grimaldi, Parque Forestal, Barrio Bellavista, Araucano Park, Barrio Lastarria, Bicentenario Park, and Barrio Italia.
Accommodation:
La Casa Roja: Most hostels with poolside bars are a good time and this one is no exception! This place has everything a backpacker needs - a huge kitchen, clean rooms, and helpful staff. It is 25 minutes walking from Plaza de Armas and 30 minutes from Terminal Alameda Santiago (or 15 minutes via metro). I would certainly stay again! Great vibes here!
Transportation:
Santiago’s main bus station is Terminal Alameda Santiago; all buses below leave from here.
Valparaíso is 2 hours by bus from Santiago and costs 4,500 CLP ($6 USD).
Calama, known as the gateway to the Atacama Desert, is 2 hours by plane from Santiago and costs 17,000-35,000 CLP ($23-$48 USD). The bus ride is 23 hours and costs 32,000 CLP ($44 USD).
Puerto Natales is 3.5 hours by plane from Santiago and costs 36,000-70,000 CLP ($49-$95 USD). The bus ride is 43 hours (indirect; via Osorno and Punta Arenas) and costs 59,700 CLP ($81 USD). The first bus from Santiago to Osorno is 13 hours and costs 14,000 CLP. The second bus from Osorno to Punta Arenas is 26.5 hours and costs 38,200 CLP. The third and final bus from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales is 3.5 hours and costs 7,500 CLP.
Easter Island is 5.5 hours by plane from Santiago and round-trip tickets cost 550,725-1,468,600 CLP ($750-$2,000 USD).
Mendoza, Argentina is 8 hours by bus from Santiago and costs 24,000 CLP ($33 USD). The flight is 1 hour and costs 38,000-80,000 CLP ($52-$109 USD).
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) is 16km (10 miles) from the city center and accessible via bus or taxi.
Bus: The ride is 35 minutes and costs 1,900 CLP ($2.50 USD). The bus departs every 10 minutes from 6:00am-11:30pm and drops off at Los Héroes Metro Station, Terminal Alameda Santiago, and/or Terminal de Buses Pajaritos.
Taxi: The ride is 20 minutes and costs 12,000-16,000 CLP ($16-$22 USD) depending on the time of day.
