Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile

Valparaiso is a major port and the second largest city in Chile. It is 120km west of the capital, Santiago de Chile. This blue collar city is full of colorful clapboard houses and Victorian mansions built on a circle of steep hills. This stunning panorama is backed by the distant snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera.

Valparaiso has many things to offer the tourist, including great shopping, fine dining, theatre, museums, orchestral and band performances, festivals and sports events. Almost everything is within walking distance, and Valparaiso is located less than two hours from downtown Chicago. Valparaiso is also well known for its raucous nightlife, as sailors' bars and bordellos line the winding, hilly streets.

Things to see and do

* Funiculars (ascending railways)
* Naval Maritime Museum
* Cielo Abierto open air museum
* Colorful clapboard houses

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - Chilean peso (Ch$)
Language - Spanish and Portuguese
Land Area - 15,403.2 km2 (Santiago)
Population - 300,000 +
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code - +56

Port Location - Cruise ships dock at Muelle Prat, which is within walking distance to town.

Transport Links - The closest airport is Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, which offers extensive domestic and international service.

There is a new metro/train that runs from Valparaiso to Viña del Mar and other surrounding communities. Taxis (called "colectivos") run on fixed routes, and are a very common mode of transport between (and inside of) Valparaiso, Viña del Mar and other surrounding areas.

You can easily get to Valparaiso by bus from Santiago. The trip takes less than two hours and there is a wide choice of bus companies and departure times.

To get around Valparaiso you can catch a bus, taxis or subway.