Valparaíso

Pros: Go soon, before Chile figures out what they have here.
Cons: Pinochet´s Arch. No others, unless you expect a gaudy, polished place designed for tourism.

After two hours of freeway through scrubbish, hot plains, the bus from Santiago seems almost to plunge off a cliff, dropping 600m of altitude on a steep, curvy road that finally runs down a narrow canyon to emerge, bang, in the city. I catch quick ...

Pros: overall charm, historical interest
Cons: seediness, no beaches

Valparaiso is a must on any trip to Chile. The San Francisco of the Southern Hemisphere, Valparaiso is architecturally and geographically unique and captivating. Valparaiso is also the new capitol of Chile, the Congress having moved to new headquarters...