Valparaíso Archives • blueskylimit

Views from Isla Negra, Chile

When I decided to visit Santiago in 2013, I came with few expectations except that I wanted to get a feel for the city and think about moving to Chile (which I eventually did!). My friend Francisca took charge of my initial explorations and brought me to many of the most interesting neighborhoods of Santiago, including Bellavista, where we visited Pablo Neruda’s home, La Chascona, on a rainy day in August. When we headed to Valparaíso, we obviously had to visit the beloved Chilean poet’s other home, La Sebastiana, perched on the hill of Cerro Alegre.

Pablo Neruda’s House in Isla Negra, Chile

After taking in the quirky style preserved in these houses-turned-museums, I knew I had to visit Isla Negra, Pablo Neruda’s biggest and most beautiful home, located a couple of house south of Valparaíso on the Pacific coast. This was one of the top items on my Chile bucket list, so when Sara came to visit, I took advantage of our coastal adventures to get to Isla Negra.

Neruda’s House in Isla Negra, Chile

Despite its name, Isla Negra is not actually an island. If you know anything about Neruda, you know that he was fascinated with all things nautical, so he built his home in the shape of a boat, with views looking directly out to the ocean. Standing in his bedroom and taking in the views of the crashing waves from his bed was incredibly moving for me.

Best Bedroom Windows Ever, Isla Negra, Chile

The Fundacion Pablo Neruda does not permit photography inside any of the poet’s home, so you will have to head there yourself to get a sense of the extensive collections housed within its walls. It is totally worth it just for the views, inspirational in their own right.

Inspirational View Outside Neruda’s House, Isla Negra, Chile

I wouldn’t mind sitting at Neruda’s desk and spending a few hours a day writing, looking out towards the ocean every times I needed a break. Nor would I mind sitting in the breakfast nook and having a cup of tea, or sharing several bottles of wine with a large assortment of friends over his massive dining room table.

Neruda’s Collection, Isla Negra, Chile

For craft fans like me, the museum also celebrates the embroidery of a women’s embroidery collective that Neruda supported. Their creations are intricate and gorgeous, if beyond my budget, and if you’re interested in their techniques, the museum sells starter embroidery kits.

Una foto publicada por Kim Dodge (@blueskylimit) el 16 de Jul de 2015 a la(s) 11:02 PDT

Loving the Ocean in Isla Negra, Chile

Even though Isla Negra is a popular tourist destination, it seems most people arrive by car, and I found it a bit challenging to find information on how to get there. You can get there from either Valparaíso or Santiago, and it is worth the journey for a pleasant day trip. I would suggest going earlier in the day to enjoy some seaside empanadas or spend some time on the beach. Below, I’ve listed my other suggestions as well as tips on how to get to Isla Negra on public transportation.

If you weren’t such a fan of the houses in Bellavista or Valpo (like me), Isla Negra is a completely different experience. If you can only visit one of Neruda’s houses, make it this one.

Sunset En Route to Santiago from Isla Negra, Chile

Recommendations for Isla Negra, Chile:

Buses leaves for Isla Negra from the Valparaíso bus terminal, located by the Congreso. I did not see a posted schedule but they seemed to leave every hour. Make sure you tell the driver you want to get off in Isla Negra. The bus cost $4000CLP on my visit during busy winter vacation.
If you are staying in Viña del Mar, as we were, you will have to take a local bus to Valparaíso and then leave from there. There no buses from Viña to Isla Negra.
If you would like to head to Isla Negra from Santiago, this is totally possible! Pullman has a bus route through the Casablanca Valley that passes right through Isla Negra. The buses leave from the Pajaritos and Alameda bus terminals, both located on the Metro Linea 1 (red line). If you’re taking the metro, you might as well just go directly to Pajaritos as it is a brand new, beautiful terminal and the buses will go there after passengers board at Terminal Alameda. (It’s also a little safer, in my opinion.) Buses leave every 15-30 minutes and you’ll need to buy tickets before boarding.
We caught a direct bus back to Santiago from Isla Negra, right on the main street. There is a Pullman office in the center of town which offers luggage storage, which is a great option for those travelers like us who were just passing through but still had our luggage.
You can see more about the Pullman Bus routes here, but remember that you won’t be able to buy tickets online because these are regional buses rather than long-distance buses.
The Isla Negra museum has luggage storage in the form of free lockers, and we were able to get our medium sized backpack and suitcase into them.
Try to visit the museum on an off day. The number of visitors allowed into the house at a certain time is restricted and on weekends, holidays, or vacation weeks, this can mean an hour or two wait and a very crowded tour. Even though the tour is with an audioguide, you still move through the house as a group and it can feel a little clausterphobic.
Take some time to walk down to the beach and browse the artisan wares being sold along the beach path.
Entry to the museum costs $5000. There is an on-site cafe and gift shop, and if you are lucky, there will be a table selling the intricate embroidery from the artisan collective. Even though it is pricey, it is well worth a look to admire the detailed work.

Sunset in Valparaíso, Chile

After spending an afternoon enjoying the sun and beaches of Viña del Mar, my Chilean friend, Francisca, and I headed to nearby Valparaíso. Over the years, I’d heard bits and pieces about Valparaíso, Chile, namely that it was a lovely city with a lot of character located on the Pacific, and I was ready to experience it for myself.

Our first stop was La Sebastiana, Pablo Neruda’s house in Valparaíso. Fran thought it would be fun to continue our tour of the private life of Chile’s most famous poet. Although you are not allowed to take photos inside the house, the windows of the quirky three-story house afforded an amazing view of sunset falling over Valparaíso.

Based on the clouds in the sky, I realized that the evening’s sunset was going to be a special one, so we found a good vantage point to take in the sunset.

Sunset in Valparaíso, Chile

We were not disappointed. The setting sun illuminated Valparaíso’s houses perched on the surrounding hills and painted the clouds pretty shades of pink and purple.

Sunset in Valparaíso, Chile

How could you not fall in love at first sight with a colorful seaside city like this?

Sunset in Valparaíso, Chile

After watching the sunset, we decided to explore some of the galleries scattered about Valparaíso. Valpo (the city’s nickname) is famous for its bohemian atmosphere and support of the visual arts, including the murals and graffiti art that decorate nearly every available surface in the city.

Nighttime in Valparaíso, Chile

We lingered over some screenprinted representations of the distinctive Valpo hills, and I ended up buying a handpainted canvas directly from the artist. I loved the way that all of the art celebrated the special characteristics of the city, like its small houses, ascensores, and churches perched at the top of the hills. As we were leaving Valparaíso, we both lamented that we hadn’t been there long enough for me to really take in the full character of this artsy city. We hadn’t even been able to wander around in search of interesting street art! We quickly decided to spend another night at Fran’s parents’ house in Curacaví and return early the next day to continue exploring.

Murals in Valparaíso, Chile

Luckily, we were blessed with another gorgeous sunny day, perfect for walking through the streets of Valparaíso. I was amazed at the talent evident in the colorful murals and how they were often adapted to match their surroundings.

Streets of Valparaíso, Chile

I was also surprised at how much the city felt like a smaller, more compact version of San Francisco, with its steep cobblestone streets.

Street Art in Valparaíso, Chile

We started our day at Cerro Alegre, then headed to nearby Cerro Concepción, two of the most touristic hills of the city (there are over 40!). These photos were shot in both locations as they are within walking distance of each other.

Street Art and Interesting Buildings in Valparaíso, Chile

The photographer in me was overwhelmed by all the eye candy. Even the buildings that weren’t decorated with murals had character!

Views of Valparaíso, Chile

Since it was a clear day with a brilliant blue sky, I really wanted to get a nice shot of Valparaíso surrounded by the cordillera with its snow-capped peaks showing in the distance. We walked for a little while to a stretch of sidewalk that was unobscured by houses, and were rewarded with this awesome view.

Views of Valparaíso, Chile

From the top of this hill, you could see the tall industrial buildings and the colorful residential buildings. Walking through the streets of Cerros Alegre and Concepción, Valparaíso seemed small, but the city clearly sprawled far off into the distance.

Views from Valparaíso, Chile

As a student of Latin American culture, I was particularly drawn to the art that celebrated Chilean and Latin American identity. Of course, I also appreciated this reference to biking culture, going strong throughout Chile!

Posing in Valparaíso, Chile

This giant mural illustrated Chile’s many landscapes and cultures, including that of Easter Island, as you see above. By this point, I was completely enchanted by Chile, so I couldn’t resist posing with my guidebook and commemorating my visit to this amazing country!

Graffiti in Valparaíso, Chile

I have always been drawn to graffiti that carries a message. The graffiti on the left are lyrics from “Cantata de Puentes Amarillos” by Luis Alberto Spinetta, a well-known Argentine rocker. Loosely translated, the lyrics read, “Even if they force me, I’m never going to say that all that time in the past was better, tomorrow is better.” The stencil on the right says, “Let life fly!”

Colorful Mural in Valparaíso, Chile

I am always impressed by artists who can make art seem 3-D, as in this colorful mural.

Paseo Atkinson, Valparaíso, Chile

Pisco Sour at Cafe Brighton in Valparaíso, Chile

After spending a few hours wandering through the streets, Fran suggested we have lunch at Hotel Brighton, one of the best-known restaurants in the city. Built into the hill, it has amazing views of the water, the surrounding city, and the mountains. Above the cafe/bar is an exclusive hotel with incomparable views.

After eating lunch and sampling a pisco sour, we poked around in more of the cute shops lining the streets of Cerro Concepción and admired some more artwork, and then decided to head down to the business district at sea level, below.

Artistic Representations of Valparaíso, Chile

Valparaíso is famous for the ascensores, or funiculars, that provide cheap, easy transportation between the business district below and the residential hills above. These ascensores are more than 100 years old and represent the working class past of this port city. In the past, Valparaíso had more then 20 ascensores, but now only seven are currently in use. Riding these rickety wooden train cars is a full body experience with a visual reward.

Views from the Business District of Valparaíso, Chile

Stepping off the ascensor and into the business district of Valparaíso is like entering a completely different city. Suddenly, you’re surrounded by people walking around at a brisk pace and buses, trolleys, and cars passing by on crowded streets. The buildings around the main plaza are impressive, particularly the two pictured above!

Views from Cerro Artillería, Valparaíso, Chile

After wandering around for a bit in the busy downtown, we took another ascensor to Cerro Artillería. (We visited in August 2013, but, unfortunately, this picturesque ascensor is currently under construction and is no longer operational.) On Cerro Artillería, the ambiance is a little different. Instead of being geared towards the more affluent tourists who pass through Cerros Alegre and Concepción, the amenities seemed aimed at locals, which made browsing and lingering over the views much more comfortable for me.

Views from Cerro Artillería, Valparaíso, Chile

When you leave the ascensor, you immediately see the giant building which used to house the Escuela Naval (Navy School) and has since been turned into the navy’s museum. You can also walk along the Paseo Mirador 21 de Mayo, which affords great views of the cordillera in the distance and overlooks the constant movement and noise of boats being loaded with shipping containers in the port below.

Views from Cerro Artillería, Valparaíso, Chile

We spent some time chatting with a few local artesanas (artisan women) who were selling their jewelry nearby. I still get compliments on the jewelry I purchased from them!

Views Heading Down the Cerro Artillería Ascensor, Valparaíso, Chile

After watching the pretty sunset from above, we headed back down on the ascensor and found a bus to take us towards the other ascensor back to Cerro Alegre. The port area of Valparaíso is not known for being particularly safe, and Fran was especially protective of her American friend with her fancy camera. 🙂

Tea and Treats at Mercadito Alegre, Valparaíso, Chile

Back on Cerro Alegre, we decided to stop in at an adorable small cafe called Mercadito Alegre. I was excited to find loose-leaf tea to warm me up, and couldn’t resist a sweet treat. I also loved the adorably decorated cupcakes, including various characters from the World of Nintendo and Winnie the Pooh.

After such an awesome day, I was officially in love with Valparaíso and its street artists, photographers, and artisans. I felt like the city combined the best aspects of my favorite cities around the world, with a distinctively Chilean spin. I also sensed that the people of Valparaíso took great pride in their city, and their enthusiasm made me love it too! 

Recommendations for Valparaíso, Chile:

Spend as much time in this fun city as possible! We were only there for a day and a half and I could have easily stayed for a week exploring the vibrant streets and poking my head into all the shops and restaurants in the area. To get a real sense of the city, you should venture beyond Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción and visit some of other hills, like Cerro Artillería.
Make sure to ride at least one of the famous ascensores that used to be the primary mode of transportation between the business district and the residential areas. A ride costs $500CLP (about $1 USD).
Stop in to have a warm drink or a snack at Mercadito Alegre! This was the cutest cafe I visited in Chile.
Although I did not have a chance to explore them on my quick visit, Valparaíso is also known for its many churches.
Check out this comprehensive list of things to do and places to stay in Valparaíso!

Category: Valparaíso

Isla Negra, Chile: How to Get to Pablo Neruda's Beautiful Seaside Home from Valparaíso and Santiago

Valparaíso, Chile: Coastal City of Street Art, Amazing Sunsets, and Ascensores

[Valparaíso, Chile: August 4-5, 2013]