Fun things to do in Santiago

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Touring the city on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus, we disembarked at the Funicular stop for the ride to the top of the hill. We were early in the morning and had no wait for the ride. It was an idyllic ride on a summer morning going up the tree-lined rails. If you are a photographer, try to be in the end car so you can see the rails and the other car used for the counterbalance. There is some vibration, so expect to use a fast shutter speed to eliminate blur. As a sidebar, our friends went on to the Plaza where, crowded as it was, they had a locket ripped from the neck of one of them. No such problem on the funicular.

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We stayed in Santiago for a few days before embarking on a cruise and found the transition easier by taking walks in the city. As a photographer, this gave me the chance to capture images of life in the city not associated with major tourist areas. It is a city, so I found my zoom lens to be perfect. I was not weighed down with camera gear and was able to photograph rapidly as the scenes unfolded. Be respectful when including people in the photo. Always remember, would their mother approve of the photo of their child that you took.

Foto Ruta makes weekly photography tours in Santiago. You get to explore the city, use your creativity, take amazing photos and meet other travelers.

The session kicks off with an introduction to the neighbourhood and a fun creative photography workshop. Participants then embark on their unguided excursion using a set of clues to inspire their creativity. The days is rounded off with a complementary glass of wine and an look at the ever-inspiring images that the group has captured.

It doesn't matter whether you’re a photo enthusiast, a professional, or just want to see a more authentic side of the city, this excursion offers you a unique and memorable afternoon of photography, collaboration and urban discovery.

What a timeless church. Situated not too far from the Sheraton Four-Points.

Whether you choose to walk or drive around town, Santiago has it going on. You can get around with ease.

From bars to bibles, make a choice! Both the Bartenders and Cathedral Fathers surely are welcoming.

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We want to help you make the most of your stay in Santiago de Chile, that’s why we’ve decided to share our favorite places in our city, where the GoChile team works for you every day. This is our list:

1- San Cristóbal Hill and Parque Metropolitano

By Claudia Rivera, sales executive

“San Cristóbal Hill is a giant green lung set amidst the huge concrete mass that is Santiago. Its green areas are great for resting and disconnecting from the city’s hustle and bustle. It is a meeting point for sportsmen who want to go jogging, trekking, or biking, the latter being the activity I enjoy the most. The goal is to get to the top and have a panoramic view of Santiago (there is also a cable car that can take you to the summit). It has picnic and barbecue areas to enjoy with your friends or family. Also, the hill has two restaurants: Camino Real (ex Enoteca), and Divertimento Chileno, good options for those wanting to enjoy a good lunch or dinner. Some other attractions are the zoo (especially for kids), as well as the Tupahue and Antilén pools, which receive thousands of Santiaguinos every summer.

For these reasons, and because it is such an important and beautiful place in our city, I think San Cristobal Hill is a must for all tourists visiting Santiago”.

http://www.parquemet.cl/


2- Barrio Bellavista

By Héctor Gatica, sales manager

“Mi favorite place in Santiago is Barrio Bellavista, an important tourist, artistic, and bohemian pole for Chileans and foreigners. In just a few blocks you can find excellent Chilean and international cuisine restaurants, as well as pubs, cultural activities, and several museums (the most famous being La Chascona, house of the poet Pablo Neruda). There are also many theaters, art rooms, and handicraft stores, some of which are important for the barrio’s architectural identity. The Patio Bellavista is also very famous. This is a tourist center and meeting point with over a hundred premises, including art, design, clothing, and handicraft stores, ice-cream parlors and coffee shops, and pubs and restaurants of the most varied styles. Also, this neighborhood is located on the foot of San Cristóbal Hill, from where you have an incredible view of Santiago and the Andes Range”.


3- Parque Mahuida and Cajón del Maipo

By Alfonso Hartard, general manager
“My favorite places are the Nature Sanctuary Parque Mahuida and Cajón del Maipo. In general, I think that all the towns located on the slopes of the Andes, are unique because they really set Santiago apart from other cities. Let’s not forget that Santiago is set on the foot of one of the most important mountain chains in the world. In my opinion, this feature elevates the city, because it’s as though the mountains are part of the city itself. That’s why I think visiting these places, which are situated on the border of the rural and urban, between hills and buildings, between light and shade, is crucial for understanding the city and its history”.

http://www.parquemahuidalareina.cl/
http://www.cajondelmaipo.com/


4- Barrio Lastarria

By María José Lizama, products and marketing executive
I like the bohemian neighborhood of Lastarria because of its classic architecture and the intellectual atmosphere that floods the area. This barrio is located in Santiago city center, which makes it really accessible, and a staple of the city tours. In the route you can choose between a number of pubs and restaurants, clothing stores owned by young designers or watch a movie in the traditional El Biógrafo Theater, located at the heart of this neighborhood. You can also enjoy several art displays at the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM), a great building that was restored to house this epicenter of cultural and artistic manifestations.

It is one of my favorite places in the city, because it is a tranquil neighborhood, it has all you need, and you can enjoy it in different ways depending on your needs and interests.
http://www.barriolastarria.com/


5- Parque Bicentenario

By Catalina Zúñiga, sales executive
“One of my favorite places in Santiago is Parque Bicentenario, a 30 hectare park with really cool green areas and entertainment options for people of all ages, including sport and cultural activities. It is located on the bank of Mapocho River, a perfect scenario that gives it a unique vibe. It’s fun to see people playing with their remote control boats in the artificial lagoons, or to watch the kids having fun in the playgrounds. There is a lot of vegetation, including native trees, and animals like flamingoes and fish. These original details let you enjoy different activities, such as feeding the ducks, playing chess, and many others.


6-Estadio Nacional (National Stadium)

By Pablo Dutilh, Product Manager
Mi favorite place is this sport coliseum located in the district of Ñuñoa, in the intersection of the avenues Pedro de Valdivia and Grecia. I like it because it’s the main meeting point of the Santiaguinos (and Chileans in general) around the most important music and sport events carried out in the country. It also has a profound and sad history, because it was a witness to the violation of human rights during Pinochet’s dictatorship, events that are remembered in its galleries, kept intact since those times.


7- Barrio Italia

By Francisco Cárdenas, photographer and designer
“My favorite place is Barrio Italia. There you can find a lot of antique shops and restaurants that overtook the sidewalks in the past few years. It has lots of galleries with clothes, design, decoration, and gifts shops. Also, several restaurants and pubs have been established there, making it a really fun neighborhood to walk around, especially on Saturday mornings, when everything is open”.

http://barrioitalia.cl/


8- Barrio Bellas Artes and Parque Forestal

By Eugenio Cox, director
“I live in Barrio Bellas Artes, next to the Parque Forestal, and I love this place because there is always something going on. It is located in the city center, and it has a varied gastronomic and cultural offer, with the majestic Museo de Bellas Artes crowning the landscape. There are lots of places to go for a drink, eat something (Bar The Clinic is pretty popular), and listen to live music, as well as good record stores, book shops. It’s just a place with a great vibe, where a mere walk along the park is an enormous pleasure”.


9- Mall Sport

By Karina Pires, marketing executive
“The Mall Sport is a different type of mall that attracts tourists from all over the world, especially sportsmen. This place has the best sport shops in town, and you can find both clothes and accessories for skiing, surfing, trekking, etc. Besides, it has several attractions, for children, such as climbing walls, air trail, soccer, skating and ice skating, pedal boats, aqua ball, and many more.

http://www.mallsport.cl


10- Museo Interactivo Mirador – MIM

By Tania Opazo, editor and community manager
MIM is a museum located in the district of La Granja, and I like it because it’s very original. It’s rather an anti-museum: it’s attractiveness is based precisely on the experience, in touching everything and seeing the world, its laws, and nature through exploring each corner of the building. Because of this, it’s especially interesting for kids, and they can learn about physics, perception and the environment. I recommend it for families with children, but also for adults who want to play to feel young again, making huge bubbles, drawing, and laughing.
http://www.mim.cl

More information in the Santiago de Chile guide.

Situated in the middle of the Plaza De Armas this monument, inaugurated in 1992 is dedicated to the "Pueblo Indígena" (Indigenous people), who originally populated Chile. According to Eddulabe, "it used a lot of controversy because it shows the broken face of a Mapuche man, although it's a tribute to the bravery of the original inhabitants of Chile." The monument is so unusual and striking that is a place that many come to photograph or pose in front of.

Take the Metro, Line L4A (the vertical blue line at the far right of the metro map) to Quilim. There you catch a taxi to the winery. Maybe make a reservation first. Though we just went and they accomodated us with a tour.

You pay for the tour and the tastings for two wines. The tour is quite fun! Wish though there were more tastings. The wine isn´t expensive and it´s worth buying a bottle to enjoy later.

Diving is a more and more growing activety in Chile, in Santiago alone there must be more than 15 companies that offer diving trips, usually combined with a great BBQ at the end of the day. You can visit www.dive.cl for more info or shoot me an email at Tol@mi.cl