Santiago to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar: Private day trip

Once the most important port on the Pacific coast of South America, Valparaiso expanded rapidly through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 put a dampener on Valparaiso’s unimpeded expansion, but also left the city with a jumble of narrow streets, endless stairways and funiculars, and a historic seaport all crowded by humble homes and lavish mansions.Your itinerary here could basically be just one point: “Walk around”. Follow one of the paseos (walks), like Paseo Yugoslavo, Paseo Atkinson or Paseo Gervasoni for a sampling of the city’s villas, views, and famous street art. Ride whichever funicular you come across, and scale whatever staircase grabs your eye. The city’s uninhibited atmosphere has been attracting artists for over a century, and lit-lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the home of Nobel-winning author Pablo Neruda. And as Chile’s second-largest city, you’ll have no shortage of cafes, restaurants, art galleries, and museums where you can rest your feet.

Vina del Mar is the top destination in Chile for manicured seaside perfection. The perfect weather does present one problem though - how best to enjoy it. On one hand, you can head oceanside, walk the promenade, sunbathe and swim, grab some fresh seafood for lunch, and perhaps check out the giant flower clock or Wulff Castle, a Romantic seaside manor. The other option is to visit one of Viña del Mar green spaces to see why it’s nicknamed The Garden City. The Parque Quinta Vergara was originally the private residence of a 19th century Portuguese businessman, and his Venetian neo-Gothic palace (now an art museum) is still a striking attraction. Even more popular is the National Botanical Garden, a 400 hectare reserve where you can stroll shady paths to see some 3000 species of flora from around the world. Or just feed the ducks at the lagoon.