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Central Chile

La Serena - Elqui Valley     Zapallar     Viña Del Mar     Valparaiso     Santa Cruz - Colchagua Valley    

To see an itinerary that starts from, or includes, one of the places mentioned above, just click on the name.

What follows below is a brief introduction to the places we include within our Central Chile itineraries. Scroll down or Click on the section below to get directly to the information.

Climate

The central zone of Chile is an area that runs roughly 500 kms north and 300 kms south of Santiago (the capital city), roughly between 32° and 38° S. In this zone the climate is Mediterranean with long (5 months Nov - Mar), hot and dry summers with little rain; short, cool and changeable winter weather with snow on the mountains. Santiago enjoys spectacularly good summers due, also, to its altitude (543 mts - 800 mts) whereby the costal-range mountains prevent the clouds from encroaching up to the city. Central Chile is home to the fertile Central Valley, an area rich in agriculture and where most of the country's vineyards are planted. In the mountains, especially close to Santiago, are the ski resorts of Valle Nevado, Portillo, La Parva, El Colorado and Farellones - usually covered in snow in July, August and September.

La Serena - Elqui Valley

La Serena
Is 474 kms north from Santiago by road. It is a popular summer destination for Chileans and Argentineans. It boasts an impressively long sandy beach offering excellent bathing and attractions that include a casino. The city itself is not noted for any charm but it does offer a mock colonial flavour in some quarters. It is a good place to relax and use as either a stopping point to go further north or when coming from the north to the south. It is also a good place from where you can get to Vicuna (66 kms) or explore the other beach towns that are 30 to 40 kms further south.

Dolphins
About an hour north of La Serena (driving), is a place called Punta de Los Choros where you can hire a simple fishing boat, with captain, and see dolphins, sea lions, penguins and birds that live on and around the nearby islands ("Isla Margarita"). The sea tour takes about two to three hours but CAN be quite hairy in a choppy sea! Hat and sun cream essential and we recommend that you take your own beverages and sandwiches as well as warm clothing as it can be chilly out at sea.

Observatory La Silla
Located about 150 kms. north-east of La Serena at 2,240 mts above sea level. Open the first Saturday of the month 14:30hrs. - 17:30hrs. Advance registration ESSENTIAL. Tel: SANTIAGO 228 5006 or 698 8757.

Observatory El Tololo (Professional Astronomical Observatory)
Located at a high point of 2,200mts. South west of Vicuna (approx 45kms) is the El Tololo (Radio Telescope i.e. you do not see through an optical lens) Observatory. Visits are permitted but ONLY with prior notification and with a permit. Open: 09:00hrs - 12.00hrs and 13:00hrs - 16:00hrs. Tel: (51) 225 415

The Elqui Valley / Vicuna
A fertile valley running inland from La Serena. The greenest of the valley contrasts vividly against the barren, brown sides of the mountains. In the heart of the Elqui Valley is Vicuna, the birth place of Chile's Nobel Prize winning poet Gabriel Mistral. The most interesting place to visit is the tiny village of Pisco Elqui, located deep in the mountains about an hour south-east of Vicuna. Pisco Elqui is a tiny Andean village offering general peace and a slow way of life and is popular with hippies and travellers. An ideal place to relax, see the clear night sky and visit the old pisco distillery. Within our itineraries we offer trips to the local astronomical observatory called Mamalluca, run by local astronomical hobbyists.

Vina del Mar / Valparaiso

Vina del Mar
Is Chile's principal sea-side city located 120 kms to the north-west of Santiago, offering beaches, night life and an all-night casino. In the summer months it is very popular and consequently packed with holiday makers including many Argentineans who come over from Mendoza.

Valparaiso
Prior to the opening of the Panama Canal ships would stop off at Valparaiso to offload and pick up cargo route or just to rest and pickup supplies having rounded the southern Beagle Channel (near Cape Horn) before continuing towards North America. Today it is less active than in its hey day but nevertheless still an essential port of entry an export for goods coming in and going out of the country. It is also a stop off point for the increasing numbers of cruise ships that visit these parts.

Places of Interest
The section of the city immediately opposite the main port area is an interesting historic part of Valparaiso. The hills, of which there are 42 "cerros" (hill tops) rise up steeply and are covered in ramshackle-looking, but characteristic houses of a previous era many painted in contrasting bright colours. Walking through the narrow streets and passages is an interesting way to explore the "bohemian neighbourhood" offering an opportunity to see and feel some of the local life at close quarters.

Getting up the hill(s) is either on foot, which can be tiresome; by car, which is boring or by taking one of the many funicular railway carriages, some built in the late 1800's. Once up there, take a walk around and then have a drink or meal at one of the restaurants from where you will get a wonderful view of the Valparaiso bay, the docks and over to Vina del Mar. Note that hotels in Valparaiso are not particularly good.

Suggested funicular start point is: Acensor Concepcion. At the top is Cafe Turri (restaurant with terrace) and around the corner is Hotel Brighton (also restaurant with terrace) and La Colombina (pub) off Paseo Yugoslavia.

Pablo Neruda
If you are a follower of Pablo Neruda, Chile Nobel Prize-winning poet in 1971, one of his houses is in Valparaiso at Ferrari 692, on the hill called "Cerro Bellavista". Access is from Plaza La Sebastiana. Open Jan / Feb: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 hrs to 18:50 hrs, rest of the year: Tuesday to Friday 10:30 hrs to 14:10 hrs and 15:30 hrs to 18:00 hrs.

New Year
Valparaiso puts on a spectacular firework display on New Year's eve, one of the best in the world. The spectacle draws in the crowds and restaurants make a killing by charging exorbitant prices. If you can get to a view point, however, the show is pretty impressive.

Zapallar

Zapallar is 181 kms north-east of Santiago by road and 75 kms north of Vina del Mar. It has now, unfortunately, been "discovered". It comprises a very small bay with sandy beach, a simple village and two beach side restaurants - one is known for its fish menu and the other for a more general menu. The fish one is called "Chiringuto's" situated right next to the sea with views to the fishing boats and back to Zapallar beach. It has a charm and magic that is still there - simple wooden tables, parasols, an old fishing boat forming the bar. The hills that back up from the beach are covered in large houses, owned by wealthy Chileans as weekend and summer houses.

Santa Cruz - Colchagua Valley

Santa Cruz is located 179 kms south-west from Santiago in the heart of the agricultural zone of the Central Valley, now established as a main wine-producing area known as the Colchagua Valley. Santa Cruz is a simple, rural village that serves as an excellent base from which to explore many of the wineries in the area. Visitors to the valley can either stay at one of the newly-constructed hotels in the area (see our wine tours itineraries) or come for the day from Santiago.