Valparaíso and Viña del Mar

Chile's biggest port, serving Santiago. Steep slopes rise above the harbour with tiers of brightly painted houses and a web of narrow streets. Access to the top of the surrounding hills is either by road or a network of funicular railways. In the nineteenth century, the port lay in a strategic position on the sea route via Cape Horn between the West Coast of South America to Europe. The port declined when the opening of the Panama Canal shortened the trade route eastwards.

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Containers at the dockside



The port also provides the Chilean navy with its main base



The Naval Headquarters in Plaza Sotomayor



Another view of Plaza Sotomayor



House of Pablo Neruda, Chile's most famous poet and former Marxist politician.
The house is now a museum with views of the ocean from every room



One of the many narrow streets.



Street art flourishes in the town.



One of the many stepped streets, a resting place for a local vagrant.



The bustle of downtown and the queue for shoe shines



The colourful newer part of town



Part of the city seen from the harbour



Part of the old town #1



Old town #2



Old town #3



Old town #4



Old town #5



Old town #6




Old town #7



Funicular railway - hopefully disused!

Viña del Mar

Chile's favourite beach resort lies adjacent to Valparaíso. It becomes busy in the high season, December to March, but otherwise is a relatively tranquil place.



One of the many seafront condos



A quaint beachside summer house



More condos

Cap du Cal restaurant, built like a ship
at the water's edge 

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