Epic Chile: Explore Viña del Mar and Santiago’s Hotspots!

Introduction

From the NYC skyline to the Santiago vibes! 🏙✈️ Join me on this wild ride as I spill the beans on my Delta flight experience. Navigating the Chilean roads towards Viña del Mar, we’re in for a treat. Get ready for a whirlwind tour through iconic spots like Wulff Castle and Viña del Mar’s lively Casino. 🏰🎰

But wait, there’s more – coffee sips at Juan Valdez, beefy bites at Garden Bar, and the Santiago scene at Mercado Urbano Tobalaba. Kick back in Santiago at the AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago Costanera Center, taste the treats at Crepes and Waffles, and dive into shopping at Parque Arauco Mall. Wrap it up with the panoramic views from Luna Bar – Hotel AC and a SkyCostanera finale before jetting off to Patagonia! 🌄✨ Fasten your seatbelts for this Chilean escapade!

From JFK to SCL

The day had come, my Patagonia adventure had started. Since 2022 when I visited Santiago for the first time, I had been wanting to come, and I was finally going to be able to spend 10 days exploring the south cone of South America.

My adventure started in the JFK international airport in New York City, where I was going to get in a direct red-eye flight to Santiago for 10 hours and a half.

I got into the plane and immediately and when it took off, not too long after, they started serving the dinner, which I was patiently waiting for, so hungry lol.

The dinner was good, and now I was going to the get ready to force myself to sleep. I had a packed day the next day in Santiago and Viña del Mar, and needed to be all rested.

I woke up, and I believe I slept almost 8 hours, which is good, and then soon after they decided to provide the breakfast.

It was better than I expected, and liked it a lot. Soon after, we were descending on the Santiago International Airport. I was very very far away from home.

Immigration was kinda fast this time, compared to the last time I came in 2022 with all the COVID-19 restrictions. It was the opposite season here, so for us in the US was Fall already, here they were still leaving the winter.

On the way to Viña del Mar

I checked for the best ways to go from Santiago to Viña del Mar, and in my opinion is best to just take the bus at the terminal. From the airport I got into a shuttle that would take some time to drop me off at the Bus Terminal, and there I got tickets for Viña del Mar, departing in the next hour or so.

The ride was smooth, and I was able to get a little bit of sleep while we passed by the viñedos (vineyards), on the way to Viña del Mar.

From its Bus Terminal I just walked to my hotel, located a few blocks, the Best Western Hotel Marina del Rey.

South of Viña del Mar

I was going to be here only one night, since the focus of this trip was going to be the Argentinian Patagonia, so I just took a quick rest on the bed, and left to get coffee and explore this city.

I had wanted to come to this city for a long time, but the best time to come is the Summer, and it was a bit chilli still from the last winter here.

I still walked to the Quinta Vergara Park, where you can find the Museo Palacio Vergara which was closed at this time of the day. And then I went to the famous Quinta Vergara at Vina del Mar, the amphitheatre where the annual Viña del Mar International Song Festival is held. Famous artists from all over the world compete and perform in this stage.

Continuing with my walk around Viña del Mar, I now went towards the beach on the East side, and found myself looking at the gorgeous, Reloj de Flores (Flower Clock), which reminded me of the one I had seen in Geneva, Switzerland.

Behind this clock, there was a path going up to a look out, and of course, I had to come up there to enjoy the best views of Viña del Mar.

North of Viña del Mar

I kept walking North and saw the Wulff Castle, currently closed because of the Pandemic. I don’t know why it never opened, but I would have visited it.

After I crossed the river that separates Viña del Mar between South and North, I was walking around the Casino, which attracts a lot of people to this city. Reminded me a bit of the one in Monaco.

Time for lunch

We decided to have lunch, since I had not eaten anything since probably the airport. There were so many Peruvian restaurants in this area, and I did not lose the opportunity to visit one.

We went to El Imperio Peruano, which had good reviews overall.

For the appetizer we got the Tricolor, which was raw fish in 3 sauces: cilantro, yellow chilli and Rocoto. It was so good, I wanted to try more.

For the Main Dish, I got the Salmon, because of course I wanted some seafood. The fish was so fresh and well prepared. The whole experience was good and not too expensive.

Exploring the Viña del Mar beaches

It was chilli, but still explored some of the beaches in the north of Viña del Mar, going into the Vergara Pier. From here you could see the skyline at very north. All those buildings on top of the cliffs! That was crazy to me.

But the beach reminded me of the Promenade in Cape Town, South Africa. I guess different continents and oceans, but similar latitudes.

The water was obviously too cold to get in, but some people were enjoying the sun.

Nightlife in Viña del Mar

We started to wind down, and walked to the Mall Marina, located not too far from the beach. There I noticed that Juan Valdez, the Starbucks of Colombia, had a franchise in Chile.

I needed to get a coffee from here.

From here, and after a bit of relaxing, we took an Uber back to the hotel. And that night we went just around the corner to the Viña del Mar: Avenida Valparaiso. A lot of clubs and restaurants located here. We picked the Garden Bar, for some beers in the rooftop.

And of course we got a whole plate with meats and snacks.

Back to Santiago

The next morning I went to the Bus Terminal and got back to Santiago, where I had my flight to Buenos Aires and then Ushuaia in the Patagonia.

When I arrived I got to take the subway and then get off in the newly renovated Mercado Urbano Tobalaba, where I got to explore its new stores.

After getting some Starbucks, I went up to check in my room, in the AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago Costanera Center, which I had enjoyed in my last visit in 2022. The views are just unbeatable.

And the rooms are huge and beautiful.

Exploring Santiago

I had been to Santiago the last year, so this time I wanted to relax before heading South, so I took an Uber to Parque Arauco and had lunch in the Crepes and Waffles (another Colombian restaurant chain), and got a Panne Cook with Shrimp. It was sooo good.

This mall is one of the biggest ones in South America, but it is also very beautiful and full or surprises. I explored for a bit until it was time for me to come back to my hotel.

Which by the way is located literally below the Gran Costanera tower, an icon and the tallest building in South America.

My recommendation is to go up to the Observation Deck, which you can access from the Mall Costanera down below. I had done that last year, so I just skipped it this time.

Last hours at SCL

I decided to spend my last hours in Santiago just relaxing and staying close to my hotel. In the lower floors of my hotel, I could find the Luna Bar, which offered great views of the city, and some of the best Chilean wine you could get.

The views are just great.

Let the Patagonia adventure starts

Day 3 of this experience, and I had to get ready to go to the Patagonia. My first flight was in a few hours, and I was going to have a stop in Buenos Aires. My first time in that Cosmopolitan city, although I had been to Argentina before. Do not miss the next part!