Viña del Mar Information

Viña del Mar Information

Daily must do:

Places to eat:

Restaurant: Sushi Home (restaurant and delivery) Address: 490, 5 Norte St. Specialty: Sushi. Value per person: $6.000-$8.000 (USD 12-16). Comments: It’s your better option to have Sushi in Viña del Mar. Restaurant: Sibarítico Address: 147, 5 Norte St. Specialty: Sandwiches and “completos” (hot dogs). Value per person: $1.000-$4.000 (USD 2-8). Comments: The best place of its kind. Be sure you are very hungry because sandwiches are HUGE! Restaurant: Diego’s Pizza Address: 636, San Martín Av. Specialty: Pizzas. Value per person: $3.500-$5.000 (USD 7-10). Comments: The better place to eat pizz. It has different and incredible recipes with delicious ingredients. Restaurant: Bar Barañao Address: Caleta Abarca beach (3 blocks from the Hostel). Specialty: International food Value per person: $5.000-$8.000 (USD 10-15). Comments: An incredible restaurant by the sea, with different dishes made by one well-known Chilean chef. Restaurant: Gran Torre Address: 263, Valparaíso Av. Specialty: Chinese and Worldwide Cuisine, all-you-can-eat buffet Value per person: $5.000 (USD 10). Comments: A spot with a very good combination: reasonable price, quality and variety. You must be very hungry to go to this place!

Tours

Warning: Tours and activities are not a specific service of the Hostel; they are provided by an external tour operator and recommended by us. Surf (Escuela SacandoQuillas) Prices: 1 lesson: $14.000, 4 lessons: $46.000, 7 Lessons $70.000 Place: Reñaca – Puertecillo - Concón. Personalized surf lessons for different levels. Groups are no bigger than 10 people per class. Instructors are well-known national surf riders: Sebastián Mella and Andrés Aguilera, both with 15 years of experience in surfing. Valparaíso in Action Price: $15.000 p/p. Schedule: from 09.00 to 13.30 hrs. Includes: Bilingual Guide; transportation: train, elevators and “trolebús”; and Snack. Exploring Valparaíso in a different way as closer as you could get to this lovely city. Discover the charm of this timeless city through stairways, balconies and asymmetric streets. We will use lifts and trolleys and walk around to understand and experience the rich culture and heritage of this port. Its unique architecture, history, popular hills crammed with colorful houses. We’ll look up its corners, identity, gastronomy and secrets. Valparaíso Bohemio Price: $15.000 p/p. Schedule: from 20.00 to 01.00 hrs. Includes: Guide, Transportation, Live Music and Pisco Sour. Discover this charmed and Bohemian Port. Valparaíso breathes at night and its corners and stairs hide an intense life of music, conversations, characters, stories and local people share with travelers from around the world. Go ahead to the best viewpoints taking a lift and enjoy the sweet taste of Pisco Sour in the soul of Valpo. Cheers! Concón e Islote Cachagua Price: $25.000 p/p. Schedule: from 09.00 to 17.00 hrs. Includes: Guide, Transportation and Picnic lunch. Important: sunscreen, water, comfortable clothing, snickers and swimming suit. Route to an interesting ecological biodiversity and coastal birds in the region. The islet natural sanctuary finds the presence of pelicans, gulls and otters. Ecosystem of a great number of flora and fauna species. The beautiful landscapes welcome you. Coastal shell middens of pre-Hispanic indigenous settlements with small fishing creeks characterize this circuit. Horseride in Mantagua Price: $25.000 p/p. Schedule: from 09.30 to 14.00 hrs. Includes: Guide, local rider, Chilean horses, mount, transportation and picnic lunch. Estuaries, wetlands, dunes and beaches are in Mantagua sector where we ride and discover the natural environment this route has. Starting at the stalls with a brief introduction, we will then put in practice by a surprising landscape of dunes and soft gallop rhythms on the beach. Agro Tourism & Eco Farm Price: $28.000 p/p. Schedule: from 09.00 to 17.00 hrs. Includes: Guide, transportation, Chilean barbecue and the farm experiences. Equipment: GPS, radios, AID kit, Maps and Picnic Box. Activity in direct contact with nature, local agriculture and livestock from the region. Visit an organic farm dedicated primarily to producing gourmet goat cheese. We interact with animals or graze milk processes. Learn about the homemade cheese and organic compost. In addition, to orchards and farm animals. At lunch we will enjoy a typical Chilean Barbecue with vegetables and ingredients from this rural town. Adventure Circuit! Price: $35.000 p/p. Schedule: from 09.00 to 17.00 hrs. Includes: Guide, transportation, picnic lunch. All equipment for Kayak, Canopy, Surf and Rapel. Important: it is DEMANDATORY to be able to swim for surfing and kayak. Adventure, adrenaline, speed and exciting experiences. Adventure sport circuit to merge activities Rapel, Surf, Kayaking and Canopy. Creating a multi and intense and unforgettable adventure day. Neruda’s House Isla Negra with Vineyard and Quintay Price: $30.000 p/p. Schedule: from 09.00 to 17.00 hrs. Includes: Guide, transportation, ticket, picnic lunch and wine taste. Neruda is art: a unique way to understand Chile. Collector, designer, poet. Bohemia and loves. Isla Negra, a small coastal town share front the sea and a secluded Beach where Neruda wrote a unique construction of objects brought from different and distant countries that blend smoothly under the commands of a sea captain who preferred the land. Walking and fresh air the path of Punta Tralca to then follow a vineyard path where we will enjoy wine tasting with organic and biodynamic principles. Quintay, is another attraction that integrates the circuit. La Campana Trek in National Park Price: $25.000 p/p. Schedule: from 08.00 to 17.00 hrs. Includes: guide, transport, ticket, picnic lunch and trek sticks. This Biosphere Reserve is the largest park in central Chile. Placed in Cordillera mountain range on the coast, south of the Aconcagua Valley, famous for its walking trails. Native sclerophyll forests (peumos, boldos, quillayes) Chilean palm and oak groves. Birds, such as: eagles, pigeons, finches and condors. Indigenous remains and cultural expressions reflected in stone cups, mortars, projectile points, marais and ceramics.

Things to do: cheap or free

- Caleta Abarca beach and Flower clock: Caleta Abarca it’s the nearest beach to our Hostel (two blocks away from here), located in España Avenue. In front of the beach you will find the famous Flower clock. Free entrance. - Wulff Casttle was built the beginning of 1900. Nowadays, it’s a cultural Heritage and it works as a place where expositions take place. Located in 37, Marina Av. (4 blocks away from the Hostel app.) Schedule: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 to 13:30hrs and from 15:00 to 17:30hrs. Free Entrance. - Art and Handcraft Fair in San Martin Avenue: this is one of the biggest art and handcraft fair in the city and it has things coming from different places in Chile. Located in San Martin Avenue (near Ex Vergara Dock). Free Entrance. Souvenirs are sold at different prices. - Sunset at the beach: Viña del Mar is the perfect place to enjoy a beautiful sunset by the beach. You can choose any beach, all of them will give you a magical sunset you can share with that special one or on your own. TIP: Don’t forget to take your camera with you, and a jacket may be needed too. - Quinta Vergara: One of the most well-known spots of the city, this is the place where the International Song Festival takes place every year in February, hosting singers and artists from all over the globe. The anfitheater is surrounded by unique tree species and the beautiful paths lead you to an art museum which was and still is one of the most beautiful palaces in the region: Palace Vergara, the house where José Francisco Vergara lived with his family. Address: 563-596, Errázuriz St. Opening time: Mon-Sun from 07:00 to 18:00 hrs. Free Entrance to the park. Art Museum: $300 kids & elderly, $500 general. - Fonck Museum: Archaeology and Natural History Museum. It holds important pieces and features of Chilean Cultural and Eastern Island. Address: 784, 4 Norte St. Prices: $1.500 general, $500 kids & elderly. - Walking around Valparaíso: you can reach the city either by bus or subway and you’ll be there within 15 minutes. Once you reach Valparaiso you’ll get the choice of walking up the hills or taking a lift, visit the museums and be fulfilled by the magic of this bohemian city. Warning: you’re going alone visiting the city on daytime will be the best, if you know a local person to take you and show you around you could also enjoy sunset and night life in Valparaiso. Prices: Bus ticket - $600 Return (>USD 1). - Visiting Reñaca: the Beach everyone want to visit in summer time! This is where the most popular Beach of the region is! The beach is not only a place for sunbathe but also a place full of fun where you can do everything from playing beach volley to surf, from eating at a restaurant by the beach to dance all night long. Address: Borgoño Av. Price: Bus ticket $500 Return (USD 1). - Visiting Jardin Botánico de Viña del Mar: Botanical Garden full of species from all over the globe and green life. The place also has Canopy circuits the whole family can enjoy. Opening time: Mon-Fri from 10 to 18 hrs, Sat-Sun from 10 to 18:30 hrs. Address: Camino el Olívar - El Salto. Prices: Bus Ticket - $400 ida y vuelta (<1 USD), entrada - $1.200 general $700 kids, elderly & national students (2 USD, app.). - Visiting La Sebastiana (Pablo Neruda’ house): one of the 3 houses Neruda owned and lived in during his life. Located in Cerro Bellavista in Valparaíso about 30 mins away from the hostel you can reach it by bus. Opening Time: from 10 to 18 hrs Address: Ferrari 692 – Bellavista hill. Price: Bus ticket $600 return app. (>1 USD) museum ticket: $3.000 (6 USD). - Be a King/ Queen in Viña del Mar: Fancy carriages pulled by horses, recalling ancient times in Viña del Mar where these carriages where a symbol of aristocracy. Definitely the best way to go around the city! Availability: Everyday from 10:00 to 19:00 hrs. on Peru Avenue. Price: $6.000 app. (11 USD).

Things to do at night:

o Where you can eat and drink? Restaurant: Divino Pecado. Address: 180, San Martín Avenue. Specialty: Pasta, Meat and Fish. Price per person: USD 15-25. Remarks: Fancy restaurant, good attention and cuisine. Restaurant, pub y café: Buffalo Address: 147, 4 Norte – 147, 5 Norte. Specialty: Snacks, pizzas and sandwiches. Price per person: cocktails $2700. Happy Hour (USD 5, app.) Remarks: a place for all those who enjoy comfy and friendly places. Irish style. Pub: Hollywood Address: 5 Norte between Perú Av. and San Martín Av. Specialty: Japanese cuisine and cocktails Price per person: $3000. (USD 7, app.) Remarks: the perfect place to enjoy delicious Japanese food and dance all night long!! Pub: Tutix Address: 132, 5 Norte Avenue, reaching the corner of San Martín. Specialty: Internacional cuisine. Prices: $4500 p/p dish. Remark: one of the best after-office from Monday to Friday and the best place to hang out with friends on weekends! Club Bar: Kamikaze Address: 112, 2 Norte St. Specialty: Pizzas and Snack Bar. Prices: $4000 (USD 8, app.) Remarks: Wonderful bar and pizza!

Where to go to out at night:

- Café Journal: Bar – Restaurant. Definetely the place you cannot miss! Well-known by its unique style, playing music from the ’80 till recent hits! You can’t miss the Electronic Tuesdays! FREE ENTRANCE. Cocktails and beverages: Beer 1 L - $2.000 app., Rhum (longdrink) $4.000 app., Pisco (longdrink) $3.000 app. Address: Agua Santa 4-10 (2 blocks away from the Hostel). - Bar 89: Bar – Discotheque – Restaurant. A good option to change a bit the ambiance you’re used to! Restaurant: international cuisine and seafood. Discotheque: Electrónic, Pop, Dance, Latin, etc. Happy hours everyday and good special offers. Prices: if you’re on the list you can enter for free until 00.30. (sign up at the Hostel). After 01.30 hrs. $3.000. Drinks: Pisco, Rhum and Vodka Smirnoff $2.000 (until 2 AM). Address: Caleta Abarca (3 blocks away from Hostel). - Goose: Discotheque. This is the best option to those who love dancing all night long in Viña del Mar. Good offers when talking about longdrinks and Happy hour. Music: Dance, Electronic, Latin, Pop etc. Prices: if you are part of our list you can enter for free until 00.00 hrs (sign up at the hostel) otherwise you will need to pay $5000 Longdrinks: catch up with the promos! Others: $2.000 and up. Address: 961, Viana Av. - Stingray: Discotheque. Another good option to hang out in Viña del Mar. Near the Casino, where you will find some other places where you can go and “warm up” before getting to Stingray. Inside, you’ll find 2 ambiances, the first one specially made to chitchat and have a drink and the other one is the dancefloor.Music: Dance, Latin, Pop, etc. Price: $4.000 w/ cover. Longdrinks: desde $2.000. Address: 5 Norte 209-231. - Divino: Gay Discotheque. The only one of its kind in Viña del Mar. Música: Dance, Electronic, Latin, Pop, etc. Prices: Free Entrace if you’re part of the list (sign up at the hostel). If not $5.000. Address: 537, Camino Internacional, Reñaca Alto. - El Huevo: Discotheque. The best place ever, 8 ambiances in a 5-story building: terrace, viewpoints, main stage, pub, lounge, beerbar, attic and events. Music: Pop, Reggaeton, Latin, Brit Pop, Rock, etc. Prices: $4.000 w/cover. Longdrinks: $1.000 and up- Address: 1386, Blanco (half a block from Bellavista Subway Station). - La Sala: Discotheque. Alternative Discotheque. It’s got 3 ambiances: Drum & Bass, Dance hall and Indie & Pop, Live Dj’s. Music: 80’s Wave, Brit Pop, Funk, Hip-Hop, House, R&B, 90’s etc. Prices: $3000 w/cover. Longdrinks: $1000 and above. Address: Errazuriz 1054, Valparaiso - Pagano: Gay Discotheque. One of the 2 of its kind bars in Valparaiso. It’s got 2 ambiances. Music: Dance, Electronic, Latin, Pop etc. Prices: $3.500 w/cover Longdrinks: $1.000 and above Address: Blanco 236, Valparaiso (2 blocks away from Sotomayor Square).

Special remarks and suggestions

o What to wear: The clothes you should wear obviously depend on the season. In summertime (December- March) the best option is light clothes, however you’ll need a jacket when going out at night. In Spring (September-December) and Autumn (March-June) warm clothes will be definetely needed to avoid colds! Nevertheless, you can also enjoy eventual sunny and warm days so we suggest you to bring a couple of t-shirts In Wintertime (July-September) raincoats and warm clothes will be necessary. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. o Weather Viña del Mar ‘s got a Mediterranean weather/subtropical, Summer is dry and hot while Winter is rainy and temperature never goes below zero. Ocean influences Viña del Mar weather making our mornings a bit cloudy and foggie (even in summertime) and clearing up the sky after noon. Nights are a bit colder than daytime during the whole year including summer. Temperature flows between 14º and 26ºCelsius in Summer and 5ºand 15º Celsius in Winter. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. o Others o If you’re planning to visit Viña del Mar between November and March don’t forget to bring sunscreen (min 30 factor) to avoid sunburns, since Chile is one of the places where the ozone lay had been damaged the most in the World. o Even during Summer nights might be cold, so don’t forget to bring a jacket, or a warm sweater. o In Winter time an umbrella is gonna be really handy, since it can rain very profusely sometimes and we don’t want you to get wet! …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Reaching Viña and other places • How to reach Viña del Mar? From Santiago: you can take any bus coming to Viña del Mar at the Santiago’s Main Bus Station. You can choose either Tur Bus, Pullman Bus, Condor or Linea Azul services to reach Viña del Mar, they leave every 15 minutes and you can get on the bus at Alameda Station or Pajaritos. You need to get a ticket before you get the bus at any of the Desks placed on the station. Prices: One-way ticket $2.800, Return: $5.500 (if you buy a Return ticket you’ll be able to use it within one month) Lenght: 1 hour and a half app. From Mendoza: You can take a bus straight to Viña del Mar. Prices: $13.000 one way $26.000 return Length: 8 hours app. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… • How to get to the hostel form the airport and the station - From Viña del Mar bus station: On foot: The station is 14 blocks away form the hostel on Valparaiso Avenue. To reach the hostel from the station you need to take a right when you come out of the station and walk straight on till you get Von Schroeders street. Once you reach Von Schroeders take a left and walk straight to the corner, then turn right. In that corner you’ll see a tall red Building with the name “CAFÉ JOURNAL” on top of it. Reach that corner and walk up the hill for half a block till you see the UVM sign in the next corner up the hill. At that point on your right you’ll be on Diego Portales, walk up the hill till you reach the curve and walk straight down about 50 mts. On your left you’re going to see the “CHE LAGARTO HOSTEL” sign. Length: 30 mins app. Address: 131, Diego Portales St. Colectivo (Shared taxi/cab): Go out of the Station and get to Quilpué St. (the street is on the right of the station when you go out from the main door) once you are on Quilpue street walk to the right until you reach ARLEGUI, cross the street and take colectivo (black shared taxi with a number on top) number 7 or 97 and ask the driver to leave you in the corner of Agua Santa and Diego Portales where UNIVERSIDAD VIÑA DEL MAR is. Once you get to destination start walking up the hill for 1 block and a half. We’re on the left at 131, Diego Portales St. Shared taxis pass every 5 minutes. Price $450 (<1 USD). Lenght: 7 min. app. Taxi: Outside the bus station you’ll find many taxis parked. This is the most expensive way to reach the hostel, but also the fastest. If you get to the bus station between 00.00 and 07.00 am this is the safest way to come. Price: $3.500 (7 USD). Length: 7 min. app. - From Valparaiso’s Bus Station: Subway/Tube: Get out of the bus station walking through the front door, take a Leith and reach the corner in Argentina Avenue, in that corner take a Leith again and walk straight on until the very end of the street, at that point you’ll be at BARON METRO STATION, take the subway leaded to LIMACHE and get off at MIRAMAR station. Once you get off at MIRAMAR get our of the station on the side of VIANA-ALAVAREZ ald walk on the way to the big red building with the “CAFÉ JOURNAL” name on it. Go up the hill on Agua Santa (that street starts where Café Journal is) for half a block, you’re going to see a big UVM sign. Take a right there and go up for another block and a half. We’re on the left side of the street on Diego Portales 131.. Prices: Metro Card $1.000 (2 USD) + recharge $400 p/p (<1 USD). Lenght: 10 min. Bus: Go out of the station walking through the side door, take a right and walk straight until you reach Chacabuco. You can take any bus that reads “ALVAREZ-PZA VIÑA” on front of it. Get off on Agua Santa in the corner of Café Journal. Once you have reached Café Journal (a big red building) take a right and wal up the hil for half a block, you’ll see the UVM sign on top of a building, take a right on that corner and walk up the hill for another block and a half. We’re on the left side on Diego Portales 131 del Mar),

How to reach the 3 most popular cities near Viña del Mar

• Santiago: You can take a bus headed to Santiago from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar at any of their Main stations, where you’ll be able to buy a ticket and take one of the buses going to Santiago every 15 minutes. Tickets can be bought at any of the desks: Tur-Bus, Pullman bus, Condor, Linea Azul. Prices can vary depending on the company you decide to travel with and the season., however it costs between $2.700 and $3.000 CLP to buy a one way ticket. The journey takes 1 hour and a half app. • Mendoza: To reach Mendoza you need to buy a ticket and book a SEAT at least 12 hours in advance at any Tur-BUS, ANDESMAR or Cata desk at the bus station in Valparaiso or Viña del Mar. Length: 7 hours. • La Serena: Just as all the other destinations we have mentioned before, you need to buy a ticket at any desk in the Bus Station. We suggest you to get the ticket at least 4 hours before the departure to avoid delays in your journey since La Serena is a highly demanded destination. Usually there are at least 3 services from each company headed to La Serena from Viña del Mar. Nevertheless, remember to check and confirm the timetables and services available in advance. We suggest you to travel during the night since the trip can be a bit tiring because it will take you 6 hours to get to La Serena.

3 musts of Viña del Mar

1- Casino de Viña del Mar: If you like gambling and to feel the adrenaline of gaming at the casino, this is the place for you!!!... one of the best Casinos of the country! Address: 199, San Martin Avenue. 2- La Campana, National Park: If you’re the kind of person who enjoys nature, exploring and trekking you must visit the National Park La campana. Location: Quillota Province, 60 kms away form Viña del Mar. 3- Isla Negra, Neruda’s House: Do you like Neruda? Do you lke places full of history, culture and magic? Then you cant miss Neruda’s most beautiful house ever!.. this is the house where Neruda wrote many of his masterpieces and the place where he spent his very last minutes and will never leave again. Location: about 70 kms. away from Viña del Mar