Take a funicular into one of Valparaíso's many hilly neighborhoods or "Cerros" where you'll find a mixture of flamboyant colored houses painted with eclectic murals, staircases leading to vistas with striking views overlooking the bay, and a variety of restaurants serving up Chilean delicacies for all budgets. Cerro Alegre is filled with derelict galleries showcasing local artists and Victorian mansions renovated into boutique hotels while Cerro Mariposa houses the famous poet, Pablo Neruda's, ...
Take a funicular into one of Valparaíso's many hilly neighborhoods or "Cerros" where you'll find a mixture of flamboyant colored houses painted with eclectic murals, staircases leading to vistas with striking views overlooking the bay, and a variety of restaurants serving up Chilean delicacies for all budgets. Cerro Alegre is filled with derelict galleries showcasing local artists and Victorian mansions renovated into boutique hotels while Cerro Mariposa houses the famous poet, Pablo Neruda's, peculiar home.
Valpo's 43 Cerros offer ample space to sip on pisco sours while overlooking the myriad of colored homes that grace the winding hills. In the form of nightlife, you'll find rooftop parties that last until sunrise, 80's queer bars blasting music that you can hear from the streets, and drag queens that don't perform well into the night. Portenos (locals) love to live in the streets. You'll find lots of folk musicians singing, college students drinking wine from the bottle, and families strolling with children until late into the evening.
The narrow strip between the hills and the port named "el plan" hosts busy markets, plazas full of performance street artists, and historic churches. Zipping along the thoroughfares minibusses called "micros" carry locals to neighboring Viña Del Mar and Playa Reñaca. Here you will find umbrella filed sandy beaches, upscale restaurants, and second homes for many of Santiago's elite. Travel further along the coast to find more beach communties such as Concon famous for its surf-friendly beach La Boca and Horcon for the only clothing-optional beach in Chile.
A Note on Safety:
Although, Valparaíso's culture is very "live and let live" the bohemian city has a reputation for being a bit gritty. Pick pocketing, theft, and unarmed roberies are not uncommon much like large cities anywhere in the world. Make sure to excercise caution when walking alone at night in the port neighborhood, and in the less touristry Cerros away from "el plan" that are higher into the hills. Avoid taking large sums of money out at the ATMs during the night, and take a taxi or Uber if you are unsure of the area.
