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

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.

1. Get involved in an asado. This Chilean way of barbecue is a true social experience.

2. Install yourself on the playa San Mateo, Valparaiso’s only city beach. Feel how freezing cold the sea still is this time of the year and stroll on to Caleta El Membrillo to indulge yourself in seafood. to get to San Mateo, hop on a bus that goes to Aduana and Playa Ancha. Or just walk 15 minutes from the harbour, following the coast at your right hand side.

3. Stroll or bike along the coastline in Viña. Take any bus going to Viña and ask for the casino. In front of the casino starts a beautiful beachwalk that takes you along the coast to Las Salinas. From there you can hop back on any bus to Valparaiso. You can also start your walk closer to Valparaiso: from Baron metro station, cross the railroad and walk towards the sea, from here you can follow the coastline on a very quiet and nice walkway and even see some sea-lions. The path ends at Caleta Portales, where you can take the metro back to Valpo or to Viña del Mar.