Bellavista Walking Tour (Self Guided), Santiago

A traveler searching for a one-stop place where culture, art and cuisine combine should make their way to Patio Bellavista in the heart of Santiago. This beautiful patio is a meeting place with numerous delights: wine shops, restobars, restaurants, art, crafts, an ice cream parlor and art gallery. More than fifty shops, featuring the best quality of art souvenirs and handicrafts, can be found here, with jewelry, artwork, pottery, fine leather products, textiles and books all finding a home.

The place can be accessed from various major tourist destinations, including La Chascona, El Mercado Central and Cerro San Cristobal. This is a top destination for a nocturnal traveler who fancies some night entertainment, whereas those more active during the day could relax and enjoy this patio visiting its various shops and restaurants. There are usually several events on the go that are sure to catch the traveler's eye, including historical and cultural exhibitions, as well as traditional dances that will give you a better peek into the life and culture of the natives.

Why You Should Visit:
Despite being in the middle of a very busy and dynamic area, it has a bohemian atmosphere (especially in the afternoon or early evening), with a mixture of souvenir and craft shops, excellent restaurants (Asian, Italian, Spanish and Chilean cuisines – some have a 2nd floor with a view to the whole patio), bars, pizzerias, pubs, as well as plenty of dessert spots for crepes or the rolling ice cream that's all the craze at the moment. Great place for first-time visitors.

Tip:
Plan your trip to allow time to visit one of the open-air restaurants on the patio.

Camilo Mori Square (Plaza Camilo Mori) resides in the charming commune of Providencia, nestled in the heart of Santiago. This delightful square is situated between the bustling streets of Constitución and Antonia López de Bello, gracefully nestled within the vibrant Barrio Bellavista. Notably, Pio Nono street, a mere block away, leads to both the renowned Chilean National Zoo and the picturesque San Cristóbal Hill.

Camilo Mori Square stands as a prominent hub for bohemian culture in Santiago, attracting diverse souls seeking artistic inspiration and camaraderie. The square plays host to several prominent landmarks, including the captivating house-museum of Pablo Neruda, affectionately known as La Chascona, as well as the vibrant Centro Mori, along with a myriad of delightful pubs and restaurants that stretch southward along Constitución street.

Above all, this lively plaza boasts a plethora of workshops, theaters, and cultural centers, fostering creativity and expression for enthusiasts of various artistic disciplines. The spirit of renowned artists permeates the area, as exemplified by the esteemed namesakes of this part of Barrio Bellavista, such as Nemesio Antúnez, Pablo Neruda, Mario Baeza, and Camilo Mori. Their legacy enriches the ambiance and perpetuates the artistic essence of this captivating neighborhood.

Castillo Lehuede, or Red House, is located on Plaza Mori in the Bellavista neighborhood of Santiago. It was built in 1923 for Don Pedro Lehuede, a successful merchant, but now serves as a boutique hotel.

The architect who designed the house was Federico Bieregel. The exterior of the home is covered in red stone and has numerous balconies. The interior includes oak floors, stained glass doors, large fireplaces and coffered ceilings.

Those tourists who do not wish to stay at the Castillo Lehuede can take a peek at the interior when they dine at the hotel's restaurant. The hotel also has an outdoor terrace where guests can sit to eat or have a glass of wine.

Castillo Lehuede is also referred to as the Castillo Rojo Hotel. Visitors who walk by the hotel can enjoy the view from the Plaza Mori, which is located directly in front of the building's entrance.

La Chascona, the home of Pablo Neruda, a celebrated Chilean poet, was built in 1953. Neruda and his future wife had used this property as a romantic getaway for years before they actually tied the knot. The house is located at Bellavista, at the foot of San Cristobal Hill.

It features a unique style, with one of its most outstanding features being the library with a wide collection of paintings from Chile and around the world, as well as the books that once belonged to the poet.

Replete with winding stairs, paths and bridges, La Chascona has a secret passageway and a bedroom at the top of the tower. Various collections of seashells, butterflies, wine glasses and many other different objects allow visitors a glimpse of romantic inspiration that was responsible for Neruda's poetic creations. Today the building is a house-museum and is open to public year round.

The property was vandalized after the coup of 1973 that overthrew president Salvador Allende, but Matilde, Pablo Neruda's wife, did her best to preserve the property and lived here until she passed away in 1985.

Why You Should Visit:
Very interesting mix of architecture and history of Neruda's life that will not leave you disappointed. The house itself can be both elegant and flamboyant at the same time, reflecting Neruda's unique tastes in furnishing and design. Besides, you get an interesting look not only at a brilliant creative human being but also a general overview of the 20th century with a little Communism, Socialism, gender equality, machismo, dictatorships and human rights all part and parcel...

Tip:
Take the tour with an audio device, as it is really essential for understanding the layout. Also, make sure to see the short movie before embarking on the tour – you won't be able to see it after.

The Metropolitan Park of Santiago is a public park nestled within the city. It is more than 1,700 acres, making it more than twice the size of New York City's Central Park. It is the largest urban park in Chile and the second largest in South America.

The park consists of San Cristobal Hill, the Chilean National Zoo, two open-air pools, a botanical garden, a children's park and a sanctuary. The Metropolitan Park of Santiago also has a cable car that takes visitors from the base of San Cristobal Hill to the sanctuary at its peak. From there, tourists can take the Funicular downhill.

Birdwatching is a popular activity at the park. It is easy to find more than 40 species of birds on any given day. Most birdwatching takes place at the summit of San Cristobal Hill. Visitors who aren't lucky with their birdwatching can easily find rhea birds, condors, emus and penguins at the zoo.

The Metropolitan Park of Santiago is open from 6 AM through 8:30 PM from Monday through Friday and from 6 AM through 9:30 PM on weekends and holidays.

The Santiago Cable Car (Teleférico de Santiago) is a captivating aerial tramway designed for tourists, situated within the enchanting Metropolitan Park of San Cristóbal Hill in Santiago.

Commencing its construction in 1979, the project faced challenges due to the rugged volcanic rock terrain, which required installing 12 towers. After a year's effort, the Santiago Cable Car proudly inaugurated on April 1, 1980, boasting 72 ovoid-shaped cabins gliding at a speed of 14.4 kilometers per hour, covering a 4.8 kilometers stretch in just 20 minutes.

However, on June 7, 2009, an unfortunate mechanical failure occurred, leading to the temporary suspension of its services. In response, a comprehensive project was introduced in 2011, aimed at revamping the cable car system, providing it with new cabins, and restoring its infrastructure. Graciously, the cable car resumed operations on November 24, 2016, inaugurated by President Michelle Bachelet.

Presently, the renovated cable car is equipped with 47 cabins, with 16 cabins each in striking red, blue, and green colors, capable of accommodating up to six passengers each. Additionally, eight specialized cabins are thoughtfully designed to accommodate bicycles, with four in each carriage, along with a maintenance trolley. The system now operates at a flexible speed, ranging from 1 to 5 meters per second, which is approximately 18 kilometers per hour.

The cable car route encompasses three distinct stations: Oasis, Tupahue, and Cumbre. At the Cumbre station, passengers can conveniently connect with the Funicular de Santiago. The Tupahue station is conveniently located near the Tupahue Pool, the serene Mapulemu Botanical Garden (referred to as the "Forest of the Earth"), and the inviting Camino Real Restaurant.

Those who seek the best view of picturesque Santiago de Chile should make their way to the majestic San Cristóbal Hill in the northern part of the city. The hill rises to about 880 meters, which is approximately 300 meters higher than most of the sites in Santiago. It is the second highest spot in the city, and the view it affords is quite spectacular.

At the very top of the hill stands the statue of Virgin Mary, inaugurated in 1908. There is also a church which became well known after Pope John Paul II served a mass there in 1987. The largest park in Santiago, a vast urban expanse of green space with varied landscapes and roads for vehicles, is also found on the hill.

If you go there on a sunny summer day shortly after it is rained and the smog cleared off, you can see virtually everything from the high-rising towers of Santiago to the Andes mountains far beyond.

Why You Should Visit:
The "must-see" big hill in Santiago, hands down. Many things to do in the park, like hiking its many trails, cycling, going to the pool in the summer, riding the funicular and the recently renovated cable car, visiting different corners (Japanese Garden and/or different playgrounds), etc.

Tip:
Make sure you get Mote con Huesillo at the peak! Most refreshing (made with a dried peach, husked wheat and sugar syrup) traditional drink plus an 'empanada de pino'!