Things To Do Near Santiago

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Things To Do Near Santiago

Written by Natalia Neira

Things To Do Near Santiago

If you are in Santiago and want a quick get away from the city, there are many cities and beaches nearby.

Cajon del Maipo

The Cajon del Maipo is a valley in the Andes foothills near Santiago. The Cajón is an excellent place for a daylong escape Santiago's smog. In the Cajón del Maipo, you can participate in any number of outdoor activities including hiking, camping, rock climbing, horseback riding and rafting. By car, travel southeast to Las Vizcachas and then follow the road signs to San José de Maipo. There are buses that leave Parque O'Higgins and go as far as the city of San José del Maipo.

Isla Negra

Isla Negra is a beach town that is the former home of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. You can visit Neruda's home, now a museum in his honor. Isla Negra is a two-hour drive from Santiago. You can also take a bus from Terminal Santiago.

Pomaire

Pomaire is a nearby example of a traditional Chilean town. Some tourists make the trip to Pomaire solely for the town's beautiful hand-painted pottery. The town lies 80 kilometers southwest of Santiago. Take route 78 or arrange a tour in Santiago.

Valparaiso & Viña del Mar

Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are the largest cities near Santiago. Valparaiso is Chile's principal port. The city is admired by tourists and poets alike for its winding streets, old unique neighborhoods and chaotic city planning. Viña del Mar, Chile's main seaside resort city, is adjacent to Valparaiso. The city boasts beautiful beaches, an upscale casino and an elegant promenade. Take Route 68 west to get to both cities. It takes 90 minutes to get there. Buses leave Santiago's Southern Bus Terminal for Viña del Mar and Valparaiso regularly.

Tags: tourism culture parks

Last Updated on Monday, 24 November 2008 10:59

CACHAI: "Get it?" "Understand?" This word comes from the root Cachar (to catch) and represents a remarkable preocupation by today's youth that everyone understand "what they are talking about" "where they come from", etc. (This according to "How to live in the Chilean jungle" book 1996). But the word cachai has become so popular in Chile that is not weird to hear a grandma saying it!

SAPEAR: (Echar un saping) "To sneak a peek". To take a look at someone usually without the other person knowing. You can sapear other people life's through facebook for example.

The Chile Information Project provides complete travel services for all of Chile, with updated information for all the most important tourist destinations (and some of the least known). Contact CHIP for travel packages, tours and hotels throughout Chile.

SACAR LA VUELTA: To take one's time doing something while at work.

PISAR: A word to refer to a sexual act. This word comes from the same term used to indicate animal sex.

PELAR EL CABLE: To talk a lot of nonsense or say crazy things. To talk without any determinable meaning significance. (How to survive in the Chilean jungle 1996)

PITUTO: "Connection" A contact with someone or someplace to receive special treatment or privileges. The most classical pituto example in Chile is to have contact in business to get work.