Excursion to Viño del Mar and Valparaiso

This excursion begins in the morning from the hotel in Santiago, to the coast to go 120 km, about 1 hour 40 minutes, and immediately outside the city begins the picturesque valley of Kurakavi, where citrus fruits grow, there are plantations of avocados, olives, almonds and pearl cactus, if you arrive in August (this is winter:)), you will see how many almond and mimosa trees bloom along the road.

The name "Kurakawi" in the language of the local Indians means "water from under the stones" - in the valley there is little water and the only river in the summer often dries up, but in the morning there are frequent fogs, thanks to which dew formed on the grass and under the stones in the early morning. For the Indians it was a true miracle and salvation, this phenomenon gave the name to the whole valley. After a while, the landscape is replaced by continuous grape plantations – we enter the Casablanca valley. It is the youngest valley where grapes are grown, the first plantations of grapes appeared here only in the middle of the 80th year of the 20th century, one of the best in the production of white wine. On both sides of the road we will see endless vineyards and many wineries.

The first city we will visit, Valparaiso, a very old city founded by the Spanish conquistador Juan de Saavedra back in 1536, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2003. It is called the city of poets, artists and writers, not for nothing there is a house-museum of Pablo Neruda La Sebastian* (visited at will). The city is very picturesque on 43 hills, it has old funiculars* (you can ride on them, if desired), built by the British in the late 19th century (the oldest 1883) and trolleybuses designed by Europeans in the middle of the 20th century. Valparaiso is the only city in Chile with trolleybuses and funiculars: There are very beautiful observation decks, overlooking the entire bay and 4 cities in it - Valparaiso, Viño del Mar, Reñaca and Con-Con.

Drive along the ribbon road, it connects almost all the hills and is extremely important for the residents of the city, in addition, it offers amazing views of the old, colorful and very picturesque houses. The city is truly unique, it developed rapidly for several centuries, all the innovations from Europe came including this city, because it was one of the largest ports of the Spanish colony in the Pacific Ocean, almost became the capital, and then with the opening of the Panama Canal (1914) as if stuck in time. The city is not rich, but it is extremely interesting from an artistic, architectural and, of course, historical point of view. Viña del Mar - one of the best resorts in Chile in the Pacific Ocean, was founded in the late 19th century, looks completely modern, there is a beautiful promenade that reminds many of the promenade of Nice, a wide beach, a symbol of the city - the Flower Clock, donated by the Swiss in honor of the conquest of the Chilean 3rd place in the World Cup in 1962. There's the country's first casino.

There's time for lunch. Return to a hotel in Santiago. This tour can also be started from the port. Valparaiso and finish at the hotel in Santiago (relevant for crusaders).