valparaiso restaurants hotels things to do » heritage

A Chilean Ramada

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:55:33 +0000

As Chileans are proud citizens , their national independent day does not take just one day but several days of partying. Around the 18th of September friends and family have spontaneous asados (barbecues) or join a more ‘organized’ popular event called Ramada or Fonda Guachaca. Squares are taken in by chairs, stands, barbecues and dance floors. Huasos (the traditional Chilean cowboys) show off their skills as do the drunks and the Cueca is being danced by young and old.

In the Ex-carcel, an old prison building used as a cultural meeting place nowadays, an oficial fonda guachaca is taken place on the 18th and 19th of September. Entrance fee is CLP5.000 and the fonda kicks off at 21h00.

(image: www.guachacas.cl)

Traditional Tea at Cafe Con letras

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:56:09 +0000

Chileans traditionally have their tea, also known as onces, around 7pm. Cafe Con Letras is a cosy, quiet place to try a typical Chilean tea, including a sandwich, pie, coffee or tea. The place offers a dozen tables surrounded by bookstands, feel free to browse through them. In 2009, they won the prize for the best once patrimonial in Valparaiso for the second time. For CLP3.500 you have coffee or tea, homemade pie, crunchy sopaipillas and a sandwich. Our personal favourite at Cafe Con Letras is a steaming hot chocolate with an incredible kuchen de manzana, best described as a reversed apple crumble, outside at the tiny terrace.

You find Café con Letras on the corner of Almirante Montt where Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción meet. Check www.cafeconletras.cl

Valparaiso´s fish classics

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:10:35 +0000

We added Porto Viejo to our all time Valparaiso restaurant favourites. Why? Because they serve the Chilean fish classics in a no nonsense way with fresh products. Because of the correct and fast service. And because they bring new quality in an old setting, the Barrio Puerto: Valparaiso´s most traditional area and UNESCO world heritage.

Check their page here.

Top 3 things to do in Valparaiso

admin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:00:19 +0000

During your stay in World Heritage City Valparaiso you will find lots of things to do. Here are our personal favourites:

1. Walk the town and the “cerros” (hills). Valparaiso grew in a very chaotic way, every porteño constructed, and constructs, their home and claimed their rooftop ocean view. Pick up a map and walk along Bellavista’s open air museum, Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion, Calle Serrano and Plaza Echaurren and if time left, discover Playa Ancha. We heard Carolina from La Nona guides you on an interesting geographical and historic city walk.

2. Enjoy a ride with the ‘O’ bus (bus nr. 612, has a big O on the front screen). This is a public minibus that will take you on a spectacular ride through the cerros, via La Sebastiana (museum of Pablo Neruda), Plaza Echaurren (old historic center) to end in Playa Ancha. Hop on a historic trolleybus, a slower introduction to ‘El Plan’ (downtown).

3. Try some local and international food and have a bite out of Valparaiso’s nightlife. Try the historic bar ‘La Playa’ in Calle Serrano and Cinzano at Anibal Pinto. More recent bars like Pajarito, La Piedra Feliz and Poblenou or renewing bars like Ambar Martini Lounge are also worth a visit.

Check our ‘things to do section’ for a complete list.

Trolley guided city tour

admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:16:50 +0000

Trolleys are pure charm and history. On Fridays and Saturdays at 11am-3pm-6:30pm you can enjoy a 2 hour guided tour on a trolley. Departure is at the trolley terminal on Avenida Argentina. All trolleys are in their original state, come from all over the world and are national monuments. Adults pay CLP8.000, children CLP4.000.

Heritage walking tours

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:53:13 +0000

Yesterday we laid our hands on a printed copy of the ‘Ciudad de Valparaiso’ Heritage Routes, edited by the Government of Chile. The amount of detail, the pictures and the selection of Valparaiso’s cultutral heritage are impressive. This booklet is a must have for city explorers and is a free download. Visit the website of the Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales and click ‘bajar PDF’ on number 24. Unzip, print it, come to Valparaiso and walk, walk, walk.