Valparaíso in 1 day
Up by the Concepción, down by El Peral, onto Bellavista by the Espíritu Santo — because the Artillería, the one in the guidebooks, does not run.
- How long
- 1, from Santiago
- Coach
- From the Alameda terminal
- Funiculars
- Foreign visitors pay €0.90 a ride
A day in Valparaíso follows the funiculars that run, not the ones in the guidebooks: the Artillería stands unrepaired, so you reach Cerro Concepción by the Concepción lift from Prat street, come down from Cerro Alegre by El Peral, and ride the Espíritu Santo up Bellavista to Neruda's La Sebastiana. The house is closed on Mondays, and so is this plan.
Concepción, Alegre, Bellavista
A Tur Bus or Pullman coach from the Alameda terminal in Santiago; departures every 15 to 30 minutes, and the ride takes an hour and a half to two.
A taxi from the coach station to Prat street, in the lower town.
The Concepción funicular, the oldest of those still running (1883): from Prat street up to the Paseo Gervasoni on Cerro Concepción. The fare for foreign visitors is €0.90.
On foot across Cerro Concepción to Cerro Alegre, along Templeman and Almirante Montt.
Down by the El Peral funicular (1902), then lunch in the lower town.
The Espíritu Santo funicular (1911) up Cerro Bellavista, then uphill to Neruda's house.
La Sebastiana: €9.95, with an audio guide in English and five other languages included. No booking, you go in as you arrive; it closes at 6, and at 7 in January and February.
A taxi to the coach station and back to Santiago.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which Valparaíso funiculars are running?
Seven: Barón, Concepción, Cordillera, El Peral, Reina Victoria, Espíritu Santo and San Agustín. The Artillería and Polanco are out of service. Foreign visitors pay €0.90 a ride; winter hours are 7 (weekends 8) to 9.30 pm.
Is La Sebastiana open on Mondays?
No. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 6, and until 7 in January and February. Entry is €9.95, with the audio guide, and there is no booking.
How long is the coach from Santiago?
An hour and a half to two, depending on traffic. Tur Bus and Pullman leave the Alameda terminal every 15 to 30 minutes.
Ready for Valparaíso?
Where to next
Valparaíso
→A port on forty-two hills, with nineteenth-century lifts instead of stairs and a mural on every second wall
Santiago · 103 km
→A city with the Andes at the end of every street — visible only on the day the wind clears the smog
How well does Valparaíso suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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