Valparaíso (Santiago)

Valparaíso is a port city built on steep hills above the Pacific, about 120 kilometres from Santiago. The hillside neighbourhoods are covered in colourful houses, and historic funicular elevators climb between the lower town and the cerros above. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and street art covers walls on nearly every block. Pablo Neruda's house, La Sebastiana, looks out over the bay and is now a museum. The lower town has the commercial port, Plaza Sotomayor, and the old financial district. Viña del Mar, the neighbouring beach city, is about 15 minutes away and has long stretches of sand and manicured gardens. The Mercado Puerto has seafood stalls and small restaurants. Empanadas and pastel de choclo (corn pie) are local staples. The Chilean peso is the currency. Buses and colectivos (shared taxis) connect the two cities cheaply. Walking the cerros is the best way to see the street art and architecture.