Valparaiso | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Valparaiso central Chile

October 22, 2013 by David Herd

Living on the edge in Valparaiso central Chile

Valparaiso central Chile

Valparaiso central Chile about 100 kilometers from Santiago. I bet this fantastic house has been photographed millions of times, perched on the edge of a sheer drop you would not want to be a sleep walker.

This is one of the escalators (Ascensores) connecting the harbour area to the hills, and the building is the restaurant Las Brujas.

Funicular or Elevator

In 1996, the World Monuments Fund declared Valparaíso’s unusual system of funicular elevators (highly-inclined cable cars) one of the world’s 100 most endangered historical treasures.

Heroes of Iquique Valparaiso

Iquique is a port city and region in north Chile. Territorial disputes between a united Bolivia – Peru and Chile triggered the War of the Pacific in 1879. The Battle of Iquique was fought in the harbour of Iquique on 21 May 1879. Now commemorated as Navy Day, an annual public holiday in Chile. The outcome of the war gave Chile this portion of Peruvian territory.

Chilean Navy Office in Sotomayor Square

The Sotomayor Square is the main square of beautiful Valparaiso central Chile. Valparaiso is a UNESCO world heritage site of Chile. The beautiful building is the Chilean Navy Office.

Friendly Llama

The young guy is fascinated by the cute Llama.

Valparaiso central Chile

A very distinctive building style here in the city.

Overlooking Valparaiso.

Winding down into the city we get a view of the port.

The port of Valparaiso

Valparaiso central Chile is a very interesting city, Viña del Mar is the next seaside town.

Valparaiso central Chile

The long winding road entering Valparaiso comes down from the hills.

Vina del Mar

Viña del Mar meaning “Vineyard by the Sea”, is a city and on central Chile’s Pacific coast right next to Valparaiso. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. Known as “La Ciudad Jardín“ (“The Garden City”), Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located in the Valparaíso Region. Viña del Mar has a population of 286,931 (according to the 2002 census), it is Chile’s fourth largest city.

Vina del Mar.

Valparaiso central Chile was an interesting stopover on my way from Brazil to Australia.

Here I am at Vina del Mar in October 2003.

I’m very pleased I took this tour to this ancient port of Valparaiso central Chile.

Statue off Easter island in Vina del Mar

Easter Island is certainly not on my travel agenda. 🙂

Downtown Santiago.

I only spent two nights in Santiago and must admit I was not too impressed. I found it a fairly dull city overall, unlike Valparaiso and Vina del Mar which are more to my liking. However when it comes to drinking wine Chile has some wonderful examples. Although I live in Thailand most of the wine I drink here comes from Chile.

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Pattaya Hilton

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.