The longest and thinnest country in the world runs from the Andes to the Pacific. Chile shares borders with Argentina, Peru and Bolivia and has . territories in Polynesia and Antarctica, making it a tri-continental nation.
Its capital, Santiago is a vibrant and modern city and has so much to offer. There are many ways to discover Santiago highlights, like this interesting Themed Walking Tour offered by Viator or this full day Authentic Walking Tour of Santiago.
We only have a brief stay in Santiago on our way to Patagonia. We feel like just walking around and play by ear.
Cerro San Cristóbal
Many South American cities have symbolic statues. For Rio de Janeiro it’s Christ the Redeemer; Santiago has the Virgin Mary and the Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception. This grand white statue is perched on Cerro San Cristóbal, some 300 metres above the city.,
We take the cable car to ascend the Cerro San Cristobal which is around 300 m (980 ft) above the city. The view is spectacular!
From the hilltop, the view over Santiago against the mountainous backdrop is simply breathtaking. The steps at the foot of the 14-metre statue and sanctuary provide a peaceful and tranquil setting.
The image of the Immaculate Conception measures 14 meters, On its pedestal there is a small chapel, in which Pope John Paul II prayed and blessed the city of Santiago.
The Museum of Fine Arts and the MAC
The Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts is a natural choice for our next destination. Founded in 1880, it’s one of the oldest in Latin America.
Situated in the green surroundings of Parque Forestal, the National Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most striking landmarks. The architecture is an interesting mix of baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau style.
We have really enjoyed the Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Santiago or MAC) in the western part of Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts building.
The MAC specializes in modern and contemporary art and projects well the Chilean cultural heritage.
Mercado Central
Everywhere I travel, I love to explore local markets. Mercado Central is one of the best marketplaces found in S. America.
Mercado Central is filled with large and small restaurants specialized in seafood, and market stalls selling a wide variety of fishes and seafood from the Pacific.
Order a Pisco Sour (the Chilean version is made with Chilean pisco and Pica lime, and excludes the bitters and egg white) or the Terremoto, a local beverage phenomenon that translates directly as ‘earthquake’. A terremoto is prepared with a generous portion of pipeño (a strong fortified wine) with a scoop of pineapple ice cream and typically served in a half-litre glass.
Seafood Dinner
The Chilean sea bass is actually the marketing name for the Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish which is slow growing. Due to overfishing, it’s now endangered, so it’s best to avoid ordering the Chilean Seabass… But there’s a wide variety of other fresh seafood to enjoy in Chile.
In the evening we meet up with a few friends from the martial arts world to enjoy an outstanding dinner.
Being locals, our friends have ordered the best seafood specialties. Frankly, I’ve been so busy feasting to enquire about the name of each dish. Suffice to say that everything is fresh and tasty, especially the ceviche!
We have a wonderful time in Santiago and there’s so much more to discover, including day trips such as the Valparaiso Port and Vino del Mar tour from Santiago or the Inca Lagoon in Portillo Andes Mountains – Archeologic Park and Winery Tour.
Read about our Casablanca Valley and organic winery private tour from Santiago. Viator offers a similar Casablanca Valley and organic winery and bodegas tour. It’s a true delight to taste great Chilean wines and we have been impressed by the biodynamic winery cutting edge technology .
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[…] a 4 to 5-hour flight south from Santiago to Punta Arenas (read about our stop over in Santiago here). Located on the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Punta Arenas […]