Green Toad Bus Chile Bus Passes

Valparaiso - or Valpo, as it's otherwise called is located about one hundred twenty kilometers towards the northwestern region of Santiago. The city can be defined by two areas: the quiet 45 hills (or cerros as they are known in Spanish) where the locals reside; and the streets that run along the coastline that host government buildings, the docks and all the hustle and bustle associated with city life. The city is well known for its bohemian culture, vibrant colored houses, and delightful coastline vistas.

Valparaiso stems from the Spanish words Valle Paraiso meaning Paradise Valley; yet to some visitors it appears less than paradisiacal with its run-down and dirty streets and visible shanty towns. But others see the city as a cultural hub and delight in walking the labyrinth of streets that contradict architectural rationale. Roads distort whimsically as if having am imagination of their own, prompting the visitor to explore it's network of multi-colored buildings and graffiti-blanketed walls. 

The historical past of Valparaiso tells a story of large numbers of immigrants coming to the city, mostly from Europe, in which created a unique mark on the municipality's architecture. The most significant immigrant communities originated from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, and each established their particular hillside neighborhood; these are conserved nowadays as National Historic Districts. Through the second half of the 20th century, Valparaiso encountered a great decline when prosperous households moved to Santiago or to close by Vina del Mar. However, Valparaíso was rediscovered by an influx of young artists which provided the city with a new image by masking walls and structures with complex graffiti and reinvigorating the existence of the arts in the area.

Declared a World Heritage Site in 2003, thanks to the city's historical inportance, natural splendor and unique architecture; Valparaiso is particularly well-known for its distinctive system of funicular elevators, which are fundamentally cable cars which help tired legs get up the many steep hills. There are numerous historical places found in the city like Latin America's earliest stock exchange building, the oldest fire division in South America, and the very first public library of Chile among others. Valparaiso also features several art galleries and cultural centres, including the Municipal Art Gallery, La Sebastiana, as well as the Museum of Natural History.

Valparaiso is renowned for its night life; particularly it's bohemian pubs and bars - where poets, writers, tango aficionados, sailors, university students, and just about everybody else consumes, dances, and mingles at night. In daylight hours make sure to check out the Muelle Prat Wharf at the base of the Plaza Sotomayor; here you?ll discover the handicraft markets, or perhaps you will enjoy a boat trip round the harbour. Numerous clubs and pubs are also found in Viña del Mar and with public transportation and taxis running throughout the night between the cities, its possible to stay in one city while venturing out for the night in the other. Situated just 9 kilometers northeast of Valparaiso, Viña del Mar is among South America?s top beach front resorts. The relaxing and charming Viña del Mar might not exactly possess the charm of Valparaiso, however it is an enjoyable destination should you favor relaxation and soft sand beaches to the maze-like, busy streets of Valparaiso.