In Chile you find the best skiing opportunities in Latin America. Professional skiers from the Northern hemisphere find their thrills during Chilean winter but amateur snow lovers also trap on boards and skis. From Valparaiso it only takes about 2 1/2 hours to reach beautiful slopes and well equipped resorts. Where else then in Valparaiso to have breakfast with ocean view in the morning, a full day in the Andes and after ski diner or drinks in a Valparaiso bar or restaurant?
Michael from Valposki organizes ski trips with guaranteed departure on Saturdays. Groups get special rates of course.
Category Archives: adventure
Valparaiso Cerro Abajo 2011
Edition n 9 of Valparaiso’s spectacular city mountain bike competition will kick off Sunday 20th of February at 12am. National and international mountainbikers will race down 2km of Valparaiso’s city hills at a breakneck speed to reach the finish on Plaza Anibal Pinto. Be there and watch the riders get the best out of their bikes in a unique coastal city landscape! Visit the Cerro Abajao homepage for more details (foto: fotolog.com)
Rene and Carolina’s Valpo experiences
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Rene and Carolina run the friendly Bed and Breakfast La Nona. They are very keen on taking their clients to the best spots and experiences in the region so that’s why I asked them what their ‘Valparaiso top 3′ is.
1. A visit to the Casablanca wine valley. Casablanca is known for its whites but is building a reputation on red wines. 25 vineyards at a short drive from Valparaiso.
2. Horseback riding in Ritoque. To Rene and Carolina this is the best way to connect with the natural beauty of Chile’s fifth region. Ritoque´s dunes, a soft sea breeze and a blue sky are the perfect setting for a ride on men´s second best friend.
3. Lunch at Deportistas. This family run restaurant, hidden in Valparaiso´s Cerro O´Higgins is only known by insiders. You can have chicken or fish but people come for the meat. The owners are proud to serve Uruguay´s best quality meat. Lunch at Deportistas is abundant, high quality and a social experience.
More information at info@bblanona.com
Biking along Valparaiso´s coast
Last weekend, Lalo from valparaiso expediciones.cl invited me for a bicycle ride from Valparaíso to Con Con and back. I have always enjoyed the coastal road when I visit the more remote beaches by bus, but by bike you rediscover the fifth`s region diversity of rocky coast, coastal towns and piers. I was a bit worried at first about the safety of cycling in Valparaíso, but I was surprised by the several decent cycling paths and the kind attitude of drivers towards cyclers. I listened to Lalo’s explanation about the social and geographic history of the pier Portales, I watched the body boarders in Reñaca, I had a delicious empanada in Con Con and I admired the small bird reserve at the Aconcagua river delta. Our perfect day ended with an even more perfect sunset while we headed back to Valparaiso.
Bike adventures in Valparaiso
Bikers, adventurers and active travellers: start paddeling. Lalo and Pato, two experienced bikers, guides and Chile conoceurs founded Valparaiso Expediciones, a bicycle and trekking tour company. Five expeditions in and around Valparaiso will tell you all about Valparaiso’s nature, culture, history, geography and all you want to know of Chile’s fifth region. We especially recommend the La Campana tour for walkers or the Cerros of Valparaiso for everybody who wants to see Valparaiso from a biker’s perspective. Riding a bike is an adventure in Valparaiso and that’s why every tour comes with 2 guides, helmets and decent bikes. Visit their website to learn about the tours or send an e-mail to info@valparaisoexpediciones.cl
La Campana
If the hills of Valparaiso inspire you to do some serious trekking or climbing then Cerro La Campana (1.880 m) is a perfect destination for an active and adventurous day trip. La Campana is a national nature reserve at an hour’s drive from Valparaiso. The metro’s terminal – Limache station- is just a few kilometres away from the park’s South entrance. Charles Darwin climbed La Campana in 1834 and a plaque, halfway up, honours his memory. The 4 hour ‘sendero andinista’ takes you through a variety of unique landscapes and the 7km trail should not be underestimated. On the top you will admire the Aconcagua (Andes, Argentina) in the distance. Cerro La Campana is steep and the trip is intense. Bring water, trekking shoes, sunscreen and appropriate clothing (layers) with you.
