Valparaiso & Vina Del Mar Day Trip Review: Is It Worth It?
Planning a trip to Chile and wondering if the ‘Valparaiso, Vina Del Mar, and Casablanca Full Day Experience’ is a must-do? Well, you have come to just the right spot. I took this tour not too long ago, and I want to share all the details, so that you can figure out if it’s right for you. Getting around these three interesting locations in just a single day seems like it might be a tall order. But that is what I planned to do.
First Stop: The Colorful Streets of Valparaiso
Our first destination, Valparaiso, turned out to be every bit as captivating as they say. Now, be warned, there are a bunch of hills. Yet they also offer some really outstanding views. In that respect, I’d highly recommend wearing some really comfortable shoes. It’s almost like the whole city is an unbelievable piece of art. Everywhere you look, there’s fantastic street art, some lively buildings, and a cool, kind of creative vibe that’s hard to find anywhere else.
You will find that the tour guides are normally quite clued up on the background to most of the famous spots. Also that can actually make quite a large difference to what you actually take away from this. As a matter of fact, one thing that made my exploration easier was the use of the funiculars. Very handy for getting up and down those hills. They’re almost like small capsules which clunk and rattle their way up very steep inclines, that too gives you a bit of a feeling of old-fashioned charm. If you’re interested in photography or simply like architecture, Valparaiso really won’t disappoint.
A Look at the Street Art
So, what’s so special in relation to the art? Well, it’s really that each wall looks almost like it’s got its own crazy story to tell. Many of the paintings deliver interesting socio-political messages, yet others are simply just fun and wacky. The neighborhood that is Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion stood out in my mind. Now these neighborhoods offer a really dense mix of the interesting murals, restaurants and quirky small cafes.
The trip I took went at quite a nice relaxing pace. Anyway I got a really reasonable chance to absorb a fair amount of detail. Clearly I got time to take a fair few photos, and the guides often knew of, very often, some great hidden gems to check out too it’s almost like, if you just look a little closer.
Navigating the Hills and Alleys
Okay, the hills could be, could be a killer on the legs. And those steep, winding alleys? You may want to think that getting lost a bit is just part of the Valparaiso experience. As I was saying, that said, do not be shy to check a map now and then to, you know, just so you still roughly have a feel of where things are. Anyway the paths less trodden often present an appealing little cafe or store. Now this part of the experience just felt a little bit genuine. If your fitness levels are rather not what they used to be, the available walking tours will really test them out. That’s really why a reasonable pair of trainers makes a big difference.
Second Stop: Vina Del Mar, the “Garden City”
From the gritty and vivid urban landscape of Valparaiso, our trip then moved to Vina Del Mar. I’d heard it called the “Garden City.” In many respects, Vina Del Mar has almost a classy feeling with manicured gardens and expansive coastal views.
Exploring the Coastal Beauty
The beaches along Vina Del Mar have nice golden sand, the crashing waves sounded extremely therapeutic too it’s almost like. Anyway I took a leisurely stroll on the coastline. Arguably, the fresh sea breeze added to the refreshing feel of the city. Now, one thing I noticed too it’s almost like were the various statues along the shore. First, these have a distinctive charm. Furthermore, they give some brilliant photo opportunities. Make sure, also, to explore the well known Flower Clock. It makes just a fantastic and quirky display.
The Famous Flower Clock
As a matter of fact, the Flower Clock is much more impressive in person than in pictures. Or so it seems. The clock tells the correct time with all the various moving parts being seamlessly incorporated in all the pretty flowers. Obviously the gardens right around are lovely and extremely well maintained. Now is a really decent time to chill out and just watch the local life slowly drift by.
Last Stop: Casablanca Valley Wine Tasting
Ultimately, the final stop on our journey took us to the Casablanca Valley. So, this valley is definitely known for its wineries. If you enjoy some superb wine tasting in amongst gorgeous vineyards, then you may want to see this for yourself.
Vineyard Views and Wine Varieties
So, the Casablanca Valley gives rather a nice contrast from all the urban exploration earlier. Now the landscape is really pretty full of endless vineyards. Furthermore it provides a much more relaxed setting. Clearly, I enjoyed learning a bit more of all the various types of wines made in this area. Also, tasting the wines. Basically that’s obviously the better bit!
Casablanca is well known for producing especially delicious white wines. In that case, I had the ability to sample many Sauvignon Blancs. Also some crisp Chardonnays. Right then the wineries are typically very clued up on explaining their viticulture strategies, and after that obviously you need to make a trip to their store.
A Relaxing End to a Busy Day
Anyway sipping wine surrounded by amazing views may be a seriously fantastic approach to wrap up each day. Yet also that it’s actually an opportunity to really contemplate all of the days exciting activities.
Things to know before you travel
Before setting out on your adventure to Valparaiso, Vina Del Mar, and Casablanca, it’s a reasonable plan to note some points to just improve your experience. To be honest, I wish I knew these things ahead of my trip!
What to bring?
Pack a variety of essentials, so, depending on the season. The coast might be cool, you may want to bring layers, or even an umbrella in case the weather suddenly changes. Be ready to handle many kinds of weather conditions, for instance a light jacket and sunscreen. This trip, demands plenty of walking, and as mentioned some of Valparaiso’s streets can be fairly steep and irregular. And if the sun gets too hot then you may want to apply a sunscreen frequently to fully get yourself properly protected. It is usually a reasonably wise decision to be correctly hydrated.
Book ahead of time?
Very often, guided tours will make any adventure pretty seamless and enriching. Anyway they’ll often take care of the transport which is useful particularly when you are short of spare time. If there’s a trip planned around peak tourist season you might just have to book ahead of time, because they may quickly sell out.
Is this day trip worth doing?
Ultimately, is the ‘Valparaiso, Vina Del Mar, and Casablanca Full Day Experience’ worth it? I can confirm, absolutely yes. In that case it is a fantastic summary of some extremely stand-out areas around Santiago. You are going to have a full on day. You may be doing just a fair bit of travelling.
Still, in order to experience the vividness of Valparaiso, the refinement of Vina Del Mar, coupled with the stunning wine valley of Casablanca, makes a really memorable experience. Be sure to wear suitable shoes, and also bear in mind travel instances. Just sit back, kick back and enjoy this outstanding Chile excursion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tour physically demanding?
Valparaiso includes walking on very steep hills. Anyone that has mobility limitations may find it tricky. Having said that, Vina Del Mar and Casablanca are typically a bit more easily walkable.
What is the best time of year to take this tour?
Spring (September-November) and Autumn (March-May) tend to offer more or less the ideal temperatures and weather conditions to tour.
Are meals included?
It really varies on the particular tour. Typically it is assumed lunch won’t be factored in the cost. But that said there are always several options at various spots.
Can I customize the tour?
Most organized trips are usually rigid with set locations and timescales. Obviously certain private tour companies may give more freedom. If you happen to have any specialised interests, it really won’t hurt to ask, as you just never know.
Do I need to know Spanish?
Many organised tour groups and operators often provide for an English-speaking helper. Having said that being able to say some popular Spanish terminology won’t go a miss.