SANTIAGO custom travel guide made just for CruiseLuxurious.com from August until September ,
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Santiago. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Understand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Get In. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Get Around. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 See. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Do. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Buy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Eat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Drink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sleep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Stay Safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Top Top Top Top Top
Best Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Young couples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Italian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vegetarian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Sunrise/Sunset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Useful phrases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passport and Visa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emergency numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Useful info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2
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References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
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Santiago
Santiago
Santiago
Understand Santiago is the capital and economic center of Chile. With its museums, events, theaters, restaurants, bars and other entertainment and cultural opportunities, it is the political and cultural center of the country. Its central location makes it a convenient base point from where further explore the country. Due to its proximity to both mountains and the Pacific ocean, It is possible to ski in the nearby Andes and later be on the beach, all in the same day.
Santiago · Understand It gets progressively hotter towards the summer. Summers are fairly dry although you may experience some humidity at times. The temperature can reach as high as 35ºC. Due to the inversion effect in the Santiago basin and other factors, winter air quality in this area can be unhealthy, in large part due to high concentrations of particulate matter.
Talk The Republic of Chile is an overwhelmingly Spanish-speaking country, with the exceptions of isolated native and immigrant communities. According to Ethnologue, Chile has nine living languages and seven extinct. Of the 16 million Chileans, some 14 million speak Chilean Spanish as their first language. It is a Spanish dialect which is sometimes difficult for speakers of the Castilian variant of Spanish to understand. It is very similar to Andalusian Spanish in pronunciation but it does have a lot of local slang.
Get In By Plane
Santiago
Santiago is a fast growing city located in the central valley of Chile between the Andes mountains range to the east and the Cordillera of the Coast to the west. The metropolitan area has about seven million inhabitants.
Santiago Airport is the main Chilean gateway for international flights. The travel time to the city center has been drastically reduced recently, with the construction of a new tollway, the Costanera Norte.
History Founded in 1541, Santiago has been the capital city since colonial times. The city boasts a downtown core of 19th century neoclassical architecture and winding side streets, dotted by art deco, neo-gothic, and other styles. Santiago's cityscape is shaped by several stand alone hills and the fast flowing Mapocho River, lined by elegant parks such as Parque Forestal. The imposing Andes mountains can be seen from most points in the city. These mountains have caused it to develop a considerable smog problem, particularly during the winter months. The city outskirts are surrounded by vineyards, and Santiago is within a few hours of both the mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Climate
The ramp at Santiago de Chile
First and foremost, there is no local transport from Santiago airport, so that is not an option. There are however airport buses running on two slightly different routes operated by Centropuerto which both go to the city center, with Centropuerto. However, both buses also stop at the Pajaritos Metro station en route, and due to the heavy traffic east of Pajaritos it is a good idea to alight here and take the Metro line 1 towards Los Dominicos to the city center.
The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and very warm and dry summers. During winter, it usually only snows up in the Andes, which are an hour and a half from the city. Temperatures at night can fall to around 0ºC in the coldest days.
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Santiago
Santiago · Get Around
By Car
Bus
Entering Santiago by car, you'll probably find yourself on the Autopista Central. To use this freeway you need a device called TAG, or a day pass which you can buy from service stations. Its a one day passes. You can also buy it after accidentally passing through it without one.
Buses are mostly modern and run around the clock on the main lines. The only way to pay your fare is by bip!-card. You can buy this card and charge it in any metro station or in some stores. The card also allows for travel by metro.
By Bus There are bus connections to all major destinations on the continent. The bus ride between Santiago and Mendoza in Argentina has beautiful views and takes about eight hours, depending on the time spent at the Cristo Redentor checkpoint. The border crossing is at about 2800 m in the Andes. Note that fruit, vegetables or animal products are not allowed in either direction, all luggage will get checked at the border. One way fares are listed but are often cheaper if booked in advance. There are also buses to and from San Juan, Argentina, with one way fares listed. A little less safer than Turbus Terminal, yet not dangerous. Beware of pickpockets and people trying to sell you robbed goods (iPods and cellphones are a common target). Has a food court with local fast food restaurants and a McDonald's. Note that prior to national holidays, it may be extremely overcrowded.
Rent a Car Renting a Car is also a very good decision if you want to get around Santiago and its surroundings. You can find excellent cars, great service and cheap prices at Chilean Rent a Car. The company is conveniently located few blocks away from Metro Baquedano in Barrio Bellavista, a must visit in Santiago.
See Parque Metropolitano. This vast park is home to Cerro San Cristobal. From the top there is a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. The summit can be reached by funicular, cable car, or a 40-60 minute hike. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools. Pope John Paul II visited its summit in 1987.
Get Around Metro Santiago has a metro system with five lines and 94 stations, with many holding rotating art exhibitions. Each station posting the exact hours for the first and last trains. Buses run parallel to subway lines after hours. Tickets are good for a single ride with unlimited transfers, and there is no time limit. Parque Metropolitano - Santiago, Chile
Plaza De Armas. The capital's main plaza, also the site of the national cathedral and main post office. It's few blocks from the traditional Central Market and has its own Metro Station. During the last years, Plaza de Armas has been used as a meeting and recreation place for the community of Peruvian immigrants. This has lead to a lots of cheap international calling centers, traditional Peruvian restaurants and Peruvian spice and food stores, being an interesting place to walk during day hours.
Metro
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Santiago
Santiago · See Theatre & Dance. Santiago offers much in the performing arts, most offer discounts with student ID, even to foreigners, just ask. Centro Cultural Matucana 100. Inaugurated in 2002, Matucana 100 is an excellent exhibition venue for a variety of arts. From Metro Quinta Normal, walk south on Matucana (towards Alameda), M100 is on the left hand side. Teatro Municipal. Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside.
Plaza de Armas-Santiago de Chile
Santiago Centro. The Centro (Downtown) area is a nice place for a stroll down some of its major Paseos (streets turned pedestrian walkways), but be aware of pickpockets. La Chascona. One of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle haired woman, after his third wife) is in the artistic Bellavista neighborhood. The house is filled with lots of quirky artifacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends. Tours are given in English, French and Spanish. La Moneda Palace. Presidential Palace, guided one hour tours are free, unfortunately with a reservation of at least 7 days in advance. (Spanish only) Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda. An underground cultural center under the La Moneda Palace, with rotating art and cultural exhibitions all year. Local crafts and souvenirs are available at middle high prices in the local gift shop. A cafe is also within the facilities. Note that most exhibitions are not free of charge, however, prices are very affordable.
Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM). An impressive scale cultural center built on the former military Diego Portales building which was destroyed in a fire. The center has a art and film focused library with free WiFi, a theater, concert halls, a restaurant, a cafe, and public spaces for resting. Located on Universidad Catolica metro station (Line 1). Jazz Clubs. Santiago is home to an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city. The Club de Jazz de Santiago is arguably the best. Located in the northern part of the Nunoa neighborhood, this small club routinely brings in some of the best local, national, and international artists specializing in everything from latin jazz to blues to bossa nova. Check music listings in El Mercurio. Festival de Jazz de Providencia. A very good jazz Festival takes place during summer in Providencia. The Festival de Jazz de Providencia takes place each year in Mapocho's riverside and showcases the best local bands and some international guests. Tickets are cheap, so it's a good alternative for summer nights. Cerro Santa Lucia. Junction of Santa Lucia and Bernando O'Higgins (Santa Lucia metro station). A park with fountains and stairs leading up to a fort and viewpoint the top. The summit has a great view of all but the skyscraper obscured city center. Charles Darwin visited this peak at one point in his travels, his words are immortalized in a plaque at the summit. Free but registration at entrance required.
Centro Cultural Palacio De La Moneda
Parque Forestal. A long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art Museum.
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Santiago
Cerro Santa Lucia
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. (Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art). The well put together Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art houses various artifacts from Meso america and South America, featuring cultures such as the Olmec, Maya and Inca civilizations. Descriptions on the artifacts and the ancients way of life are well written and in both English and Spanish. Highlights include a Mayan stone stele and Andean mummies, which precede their Egyptian counterparts. Palacio Cousino. Old palace owned by a wealthy Spanish Portuguese family. The architecture is a mix of Spanish and french style. Guided tour only. No pictures inside. Parque Bicentenario. Bicentenario Avenue, vitacura. Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue. Beautiful park. Large extension of grass, children games, dog games, a very nice pond with black neck swans. There is also a restaurant, a cafe (Le fournil) and Vitacura's city hall. Trails for walking and bikes
Do Spicy Chile. Free Walking Tours. Great way to experience all that Santiago has to offer from local markets, old neighborhoods and the tourist spots. They have 3 different free walking tours that mixes tons of info with funny anecdotes. The guides are hilarious and knowledgeable, they are local and speak perfect English. Its all for free as they work for tips, you pay what you think the tour is worth! Can´t go wrong. Mountain Climbs. Many mountains are found in and all around Chile that are great for climbing. Cerro Provincia is a popular day trip that can also be turned into longer hikes. Skiing. Santiago is not too far, get some great skiing. Not too expensive and they hire out all the equipment you need at the resorts. Some of the tour companies offer the service. Wineries. At the end of line 4 (Las Mercedes and Puente Alto station) Alternative City-Tours. Try local food/drinks, get to know the most typical Chilean places and be sustainable, City Trekking Guide just uses public transportation and it's own feet. Small groups accompanied with guides who speak Spanish, English, German & even Italian. Free Tours Santiago. (Plaza de Armas, Santiago de Chile). English speaking guides, with average information and advice on food, museums, etc. One thing the restaurant they
Santiago · Do stop at for lunch allows you to eat your own food, but will charge a 10% service on anything you DO order. Paseos en Bicicleta. Off the beaten track bike tours around Santiago de Chile's hidden gems and typical neighborhoods! Foto Ruta Santiago (tours). Foto Ruta is a city tour with a twist. Offering a new and creative way to see Chile's capital. A set of clues will lead you on a journey of discovery around a selected neighborhood. Foto Ruta will give you a greater understanding of the city and teaching you how to take great photos along the way, its fun, sociable and a great way to see the city! La Bicicleta Verde (The Green Bicycle, Loreto 6, Bella Vista, Santiago). La Bicicleta Verde is a good way to see lots of Santiago in a short time, since you cover much more ground on bike than on foot. The tours involve low intensity biking, with stops along the way for the guide to explain. The morning tour is the best option, covering the Bella Vista neighborhood, Neruda's house, La Vega central market and more. Tours available in English or Spanish. The guides are super friendly, and the tours include a snack and drink which is a nice chance to chat with the guide and ask questions. You can also rent bikes to go on your own.
Buy Santiago has a lot of shopping centers or Malls, as known by the locals. The main ones are: Mall Plaza Vespucio Mall Plaza Oeste Mall Portal La Dehesa Mall Parque Arauco Mall Alto Las Condes Mall Florida Center Mall Plaza Norte Costanera Centre In the malls you can find a variety of retail stores and Falabella, Paris and Ripley, the most famous department stores in Chile. The biggest ones are Parque Arauco and Alto Las Condes, they both have good restaurants and the former has a good agenda of free music and shows. You can get to the former from Escuela Militar metro station and to the latter from Los Dominicos, ask locals for directions if you're unsure of how to take buses. Alonso de Cordova Street and Nueva Costanera Avenue are very exclusive areas where you can find high fashion and luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Hermes or local designers. In this area you find great restaurants and art galleries. If you prefer buying handcrafts, the ones in the Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia are good and relatively cheap compared with
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Santiago
other handcrafts stores. Other handcrafts centers are in Bellavista (though a bit more expensive). Close to Los Dominicos metro station is Pueblito Los Dominicos steps from Los Dominicos metro station, it is more expensive but has a wide variety of local handcrafts and antiques, as well as a small exhibition room and a bonsai exhibition behind it. It is very pretty with an artificial stream in a colonial looking atmosphere. Half of the people there are usually tourists during the summer, so you won't be alone! Plaza Nuñoa has some small shops in the plaza where you can buy books from Latin America (Neruda, Allende, Cortazar) and also handcrafts. If you're already kinda familiar with Santiago, you can also go to Patronato which is located near to the downtown area and it's easy to reach by metro (Patronato metro Station). There you'll find cheap clothes, food and products of all kinds, as well as some foreign stores (mainly Chinese, Koreans, Peruvians and from the Middle East), thus allowing you to save quite a bit of money. It would be better to go alongside a local, though, since it's easy to get lost due to the very short and slim streets and the very high quotient of visitors.
Santiago · Eat Pastel de choclo is traditionally served in a paila (earthenware bowl) in individual portions, as is typical for many traditional Chilean dishes such as paila marina, pastel de papa and caldillo de congrio. The filling usually contains ground beef, chicken, raisins, black olives, onions or slices of hard boiled egg.
Chilean Cazuelas The cazuela is a typical dish of Chile. The most common types are made of chicken or beef, but there's also other types made from pork and turkey. One typical dish of Chilean cazuela contains a piece of meat (it can be a piece of ribor several pieces of bones, in the case of beef, or a leg of chicken), a potato, a piece of pumpkin, and the stock obtained from boiling all of them together. These are sometimes complemented with cooked rice (in the stock), small sized noodles, green beans, celery, sliced carrots, garlic, cabbage, among others. In summer the cazuela is accompanied by a piece of sweetcorn, cooked apart or in the same stock.
Similarly, those who want more surprises and know the basics about Santiago can go to the famous Persa Bio Bio located in the Franklin area, also not too far from downtown and near to the metro (Franklin station).
Eat Pastel de choclo (Corn Pie) Is a dish based on sweetcorn or choclo, the quechua word for tender corn, or the new corn of the season. It is a typical Peruvian dish, but is also eaten in Argentina and Chile with some variations in the recipe, sometimes using corn meal instead of fresh mashed sweetcorn.
Cazuelas
Empanadas Chilean empanadas can have a wide range of fillings, but three basic types are the most popular. One is baked and filled with pino, a traditional filling consisting of beef, onions, raisins, black olives, and a hard boiled egg. The second is usually filled with seafood and fried. The third type contains cheese and may be baked or fried, although the latter form is more common. Many variations on each of these basic types are found (e.g. pino without raisins and olives, all kinds of seafood such as mussels, crab, prawns, or locos (similar to abalone), and mixed shrimp/cheese, etc.). They are considerably larger than the Argentine type, usually with one empanada being enough for a meal.
Pastel de choclo
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Santiago
Santiago · Drink ier) side of the city. Although you can get there by bus, it will be hard to leave on anything but a taxi since buses don't run late. If you want a quiet bar/restaurant in Providencia try El Candil, Providencia. The traffic outside is noticeable but not excessive and drinking outside here has a genuinely pleasant urban flavor. If you fancy making a night of it, Bar Liguria is practically next door. Pio Nono in Bella Vista has an intense feeling, bars line the street on either side. The area has a very youthful quality but older visitors shouldn't be intimidated. One of the most lively areas of the city at the weekend.
Chilean empanadas
Sweet empanadas can also be found, though they are less popular. Of these, the best known is a small pastry filled with a pearpaste (empanada de pera).
Drink Nightlife choices vary widely across the city and their location usually reflects their price and style. Bellavista has a wide range of choices from popular places to upscale, such as a jazz bar. In addition, there are discos with all kinds of music, from contemporary eletro-pop to salsa and merengue. This is probably the only barrio where you can find a disco that has a predominately gay audience. It is a fun atmosphere and features drag-queen shows during Saturday nights. Plaza San Enrique is a park located in Lo Barnechea (at the far north-east of the city) which is surrounded by nightclubs. Most popular one is Sala Murano (it can get very crowded!). People who attend are mostly 18-25 and it is one of the safest places to party. Most people there are from upper-middle to high class, so it is more expensive than other neighborhoods. Typically, females get in for free. You can get there by micro, but though buses do pass later on, you might have to wait up to an hour for it. In La Casa Club, Santa Filomena 11 (Providencia). A five level club with each floor catering to different musical tastes, laser show, bar and special events, highly recommended. The Santiago Pub Crawl, is a night is planned out for you so you don't have worry about where to go, you meet people from all over the world, cover a lot of ground and it's great value for your money. Vitacura is located pretty far east (towards the Andes). It is composed of bars and some places where you can dance. The places are nice and although they certainly lack cohesiveness as nightlife (since bars only recently started opening there) it can be fun to go. It is more expensive that other areas of Santiago and frequented by people that live in the eastern (wealth-
The Bar Liguria, Av Providencia 1373 (metro Manuel Montt). This is bar looks like a 1950's American diner and plays music ranging from classic 1950s rock to what you'd hear in a mid-2000's London pub. For all that, it's clearly no tourist trap and the clientele are mainly local. It is also a great restaurant during the day! It serves many local dishes and drinks, including great wines.
Sleep In a quiet residential district in the central Santiago chile, there is a bed and breakfast style accommodation perfect for business travelers, students, or guests who want to get a good night's sleep in order to discover the fascinating city of Santiago's attractions during their stay. Some Hostel is close to bars, restaurants, clubs and both the bus and subway station. Newly remodeled rooms are cozy and colorful, large common room with lots of places to hang out and TV and DVDs, the terrace is a great place for a BBQ and views of the city. The water temperature in the showers here can be a bit temperamental. And also there are hostels run directly in a old building in the middle of Neighborhood Bellas Artes, it has high quality infrastructure and also has a very nice coffee shop next door where the breakfast is served. The drawback is the 6 lane road outside which is rarely quiet and the early morning reveler returning home. Sleep is at a premium here. Good points are the staff, the location and the nearby park areas. A popular business hotel in the city, is the Santiago Marriott Hotel is in the Las Condes district, near excellent dining and shopping. Offers comfortable accommodations, a Lobby Bar, two first rated restaurants, meeting space and other modern amenities and services. While Elegant hotel located in the center of the city is the NH Ciudad de Santiago, a short distance from the primary metro line. The hotel contains 122 suites with private bathrooms, and separate bedroom and living room. Rooms contain sofa, minibar, television and Wi-Fi while the hotel itself offers a gym, sauna and swimming pool.
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Santiago
Stay Safe Santiago's air quality can decline during the winter (MaySeptember). The locals welcome the rain which falls during winters as it cleans the air. Be sure to carry bottled water with you during the summer and avoid food or drink from street vendors. Be prepared for sauna heat on the metro during summer. By South American standards Santiago is a safe city, but visitors should be aware of pickpocketing and other petty crimes. Avoid parks at night and don't wear expensive looking jewelry or watches even during the day, unless you are in Las Condes or Vitacura. If you're alone, avoid large crowds of people, especially downtown. If you happen to have bad luck and get robbed, do as you're told by the criminal and if you don't understand Spanish, give away your false wallet. Thieves in Chile are often impatient and don't read very well. They are likely to beat the bejeezus out of you if you don't give them something that at least appears to be valuable. Don't flash your cell phone or camera. Carefully hide such valuable when not using them. If you're getting robbed and the criminal has spotted the camera expect to give it away too if you want to stay out of hospital. If someone approaches you on the streets and promises to get you better chances at changing your dollars/euros into Chilean pesos, NEVER accept their deals. They're con-people who take advantage of foreigners not knowing the details about currency and confuse them with big words to take their cash away. Only change your money in legal currency exchange centers, which may take more time but are much more trustworthy. There's one in the Airport but it has poor exchange rates, and there are many more downtown and in financial areas or in the malls. If you are going to see a football match (soccer game), be careful with the barras bravas who are the most fanatic but also dangerous fans. They are often involved in troubles with the police both inside the stadium and outside. Avoid buying tickets in the sections where the bravas dominate which it often does behind the goals. The middle section is the safest but if you have a friend who wants to support Colo-Colo and another Universidad de Chile for example, avoid showing it. Even if the middle section is safe, showing different shirts can cause you trouble. Either go with the same shirts or dress neutral. Other football matches not being the Superclasico between Universidad de Chile against Colo-Colo should be pretty safe. Walking to the stadium you will find people begging for some pesos so they can see the match. Avoid giving them if you want to stay out of trouble. The barrio where the Estadio Nacional
Santiago · Stay Safe is located is a place which is normally peaceful, except during football matches, when football fans tend to get rounded up. You have to walk with precaution and keep your eyes on other people when it's crowded. It's better to take a taxi to the arena, or a rental car if you can find a place to park it (but beware of breakins). There are some neighborhoods/barrios that should be avoided. Even if few carabineros and locals speak English, they are the ones who know which areas are to be avoided since some of them are accessible by metro. If you see fewer tall buildings and more houses with barred windows and entrances, then turn back. The changes happen very slowly, unlike some other Latin American cities, so you'd have to travel quite a lot from a wealthy safe neighborhood to a dangerous ghetto. Avoid especially La Legua (not to be confused with La Ligua in the V Region or La Lengua on sale at the carniceria) which is famed in Chile for its high crime rates and single police cars won't even enter the area. When police have to enter this area they sometimes use armored cars. When it comes to nightlife, avoid goings to trendy places such as Bellavista, as it is a frequented place by criminals and fights involving stabbed people are common on public streets. Try staying away from the following comunas, Lo Espejo, La Pintana, Puente Alto (especially the Plaza de Armas), La Cisterna, San Joaquin, El Bosque (not to be confused with a neighborhood located around metro El Golf, which is in Las Condes), San Ramon and La Granja unless you know exactly where you're going. Though these places are not completely unsafe for the most part, they can have a few unsafe spots and don't have much touristic significance. The safest comunas are Providencia, Vitacura and Las Condes. All of them have lots of local security guards, besides Carabineros, and locals are more likely to speak english, especially young people. They are not completely safe, though, petty theft still takes place, so keep your eyes open. Lo Barnechea can be tricky as it is the only comuna that has both extremely wealthy and extremely poor neighborhoods, La Dehesa is wealthy and safe, Cerro Dieciocho is as dangerous as Cerro Veinte and La Legua. The metro is regarded as safer for traveling amongst the locals, even though security has increased in the buses after the introduction of Tran Santiago. But some locals still prefer using the metro especially when it gets darker, since almost all the stations have guards. Don't expect the staff to speak much English. Pickpockets are very active on the metro cars, esp during peak travel hours. You can usually trust in the Chilean Police (Carabineros). Although you can hardly find one who can speak English, they will try to answer your questions, solve your problems or give you orientations. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BRIBE Chilean Police.
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Santiago
History Founding the City Santiago is the capital of Chile. It was founded by Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia on 12 February 1541, with the name Santiago de Nueva Extremadura, as a homage to Saint James and Extremadura and in relation with the first name given to Chile, Nueva Extremadura. Extremadura was Valdivia's birthplace in Spain. The founding ceremony was held on Huelen Hill (later renamed Cerro Santa Lucia). Valdivia chose the location of Santiago because of its climate, abundant vegetation, and the ease with which it could be defended, the Mapocho River then split into two branches and rejoined further downstream, forming an island.
Santiago · History harsh months until de Monroy returned from Peru with reinforcements, ending the isolation and demoralizing situation of the soldiers in Santiago. The uprising ultimately failed and the indigenous population moved south.
Colonial Santiago Despite threats from Indian attacks and natural disasters such as earthquakes, and floods, Santiago was rapidly settled. Of the 126 blocks designed by Gamboa in 1558, 40 were occupied by 1580, while nearby lands supported tens of thousands of livestock. These early settlers constructed the first important buildings in the city, including the first Cathedral in 1561 and the Church of San Francisco, built in 1618. Both structures were built primarily of adobe and stone.
The bridge Calicanto over the Mapocho River was the main symbol of the city after its completion in 1779.
1541 founding of Santiago
The Inca ruler Manco Capac II warned the new rulers that his people would be hostile to the occupiers. The Spanish invaders had to battle against hunger caused by this resistance. Pedro de Valdivia ultimately succeeded in stabilizing the food supply and other resources needed for Santiago to thrive. The layout of the new town consisted of straight roads of 12 varas (14.35 m or 47.1 ft) width, in equal intervals of 138 varas (165.08 m or 541.6 ft) perpendicular to each other. With nine roads in the east-west direction and 15 in the north-south direction, there were 126 blocks that formed the so called manzanas, or square cut.
Attempted Destruction Continued resistance by the indigenous population resulted in a series of further conflicts. On 11 September 1541, the Picunche chief, Michimalonco, led an attack on Santiago, beginning a three year long war. At the time, the Conquistadores were in a precarious situation, suffering persistent food shortages in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world.
In 1767, the corregidor Luis Manuel de Zañartu began construction on the Calicanto Bridge, one of the most important architectural works of the entire colonial period in Chile. The bridge was completed in 1779 and linked the two halves of the city across the Mapocho River. In 1770, Governor Agustin de Jaureguihired the Italian architect Joaquin Toescato design, among other important works, the façade of the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral and La Moneda, the presidential palace. The government of Ambrosio O'Higgins opened a major road to Valparaiso in 1791.
Independence On 12 February 1817, the Battle of Chacabuco was fought a short distance north of Santiago in the town of Colina. Argentine and Chilean armies, led by Jose de San Martin and Bernardo O'Higgins, fought Spanish royalists. On the same day, Chile proclaimed its independence. During the authoritarian era of the so called Republic, from 1830 to 1891, the school system was introduced and cultural life started to flourish. In 1843 the Universidad de Chile was founded, followed by the Pontificia Universidad Catolica in 1888. By 1885, the population of Santiago had reached 189,322.
In January 1542, Pedro de Valdiviasent an emissary, Alonso de Monroy, to Peruto request help. The Conquistadors suffered 20
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Santiago
Santiago · Culture
Nineteenth Century
there were 1,107 cars in the city, while 45,000 people used tram services on a daily basis.
During the years of the Republican era, institutions such as the University of Chile (Universidad de Chile), the Normal School of Preceptors, the School of Arts and Crafts, and the Quinta Normal, which included the Museum of Fine Arts (now Museum of Science and Technology) and the National Museum of Natural History, were founded.
Culture Only a few historical buildings from the Spanish colonial period remain in the city, because Santiag as the rest of the country is regularly hit by earthquakes. Extant buildings include the Casa Colorada (1769), the San Francisco Church (1586), and Posada del Corregidor (1750). The Cathedral on the central square (Plaza de Armas) is a sight that ranks as high as the Palacio de La Moneda, the Presidential Palace. The original building was built between 1784 and 1805, and architect Joaquin Toesca was in charge of its construction.
The National Museum of Chile
Created primarily for educational use, they also became examples of public planning during that period. In 1851, the first telegraph system connecting the capital with the Port of Valparaiso was inaugurated. A new momentum in the urban development of the capital took place during the so called Liberal Republic and the administration Mayor Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna. Among the main works during this period are the remodeling of the Cerro Santa Lucia which, despite its central location, had been in very poor shape. In an effort to transform Santiago, Vicuña Mackenna began construction of the Camino de Cintura, a road surrounding the entire city. A new redevelopment of the Alameda Avenue turned it into the main traffic artery of the city. Also during this time and with the work of European landscapers in 1873, O'Higgins Park came to existence. The park, open to the public, became a point of interest in Santiago due to its large gardens, lakes, and carriage trails. Other important buildings were opened during this era, such as the Teatro Municipal opera house, and the Club Hipico de Santiago. At the same time, the 1875 International Exposition was held in the grounds of the Quinta Normal. The city became the main hub of the national railway system. The first railroad reached the city on 14 September 1857, at the Santiago Estacion Central railway station. Under construction at the time, the station would be opened permanently in 1884. During those years, railways connected the city to Val paraiso as well as regions in the north and south of Chile. The streets of Santiago were paved and by 1875 and
Correo Central
Other buildings surrounding the Plaza de Armas are the Central Post Office Building, which was finished in 1882, and the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, built between 1804 and 1807. It houses the Chilean National History Museum, with 12,000 objects that can be exhibited. On the southeast corner of the square stands the green cast iron Commercial Edwards building, which was built in 1893. East of that is the colonial building of the Casa Colorada (1769), which houses the Museum of Santiago. Close by is the Municipal Theater of Santiago, which was built in 1857 by the French architect Brunet of Edward Baines. It was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1906. Not far from the theater is the Subercaseaux Mansion and the National Library, one of the largest libraries of South America. The building of the Justice Palace (Palacio de Tribunales) is located on the south side of the Montt Square. It was designed by the architect Emilio Doyere and built between 1907 and 1926. The building is home to the Supreme Court of Chile. The panel of 21 judges is the highest judicial power in Chile. The building is also headquarters of the Court of Appeals of Santiago.
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Restaurants
place Pedro de Valdivia 210, Santiago 1, Chile
Restaurants
Restaurants
Top Best Restaurants
Top Young couples
California Cantina
cuisine American, Mexican, Hamburgers, Pizza, Chicken Wings, Gastropub, price $8 - $19 place Las Urbinas 56, Santiago, Chile
California Cantina
Le Bistrot
cuisine American, Mexican, Hamburgers, Pizza, Chicken Wings, Gastropub, price $8 - $21 place Las Urbinas 56, Santiago, Chile
Tiramisu
cuisine French place Santa Magdalena 80 | Local 7, Patio del Sol, Providencia, Santiago 05033080, Chile
Ichiban
price $11 - $21 place Isidora Goyenechea 3141 Las Condes, Santiago 05033080, Chile
Del Cocinero
cuisine Japanese price $26 - $99 place Padre Hurtado Norte 1512, Santiago, Chile
Baco Vino y Bistro
price $11 place Av. Pedro de Valdivia 041, Santiago 7501012, Chile
Osaka
cuisine Bistro price $19 - $101 place Nueva de Lyon 113 | Providencia, Santiago 05033080, Chile
NRG Plus
cuisine Peruvian place Isidora Goynechea | W Hotel, Santiago, Chile
cuisine French place Santa Magdalena 80 | Local 7, Patio del Sol, Providencia, Santiago 05033080, Chile price $11 - $21 place Isidora Goyenechea 3141 Las Condes, Santiago 05033080, Chile cuisine Japanese price $26 - $101 place Padre Hurtado Norte 1512, Santiago, Chile price $11 place Av. Pedro de Valdivia 041, Santiago 7501012, Chile cuisine Bistro price $19 - $99 place Nueva de Lyon 113 | Providencia, Santiago 05033080, Chile cuisine Peruvian place Isidora Goynechea | W Hotel, Santiago, Chile price $4 - $11 place Monjitas 467, Santiago 8320083, Chile
Boulevard francesa)
Lavaud
(aka
peluqueria
place compania de jesus 2799, Santiago, Chile
La Mar
cuisine Peruvian, Seafood price $26 - $69 place Av Nueva Costanera 3922, Santiago, Chile
Liguria
place Av Providencia, 1373 | Providencia, Santiago, Chile
Astrid & Gaston
cuisine International price $26 - $71 place Antonio Bellet 201, Santiago, Chile
Puerto Fuy
cuisine Seafood, Chilean price $24 - $101 place Nueva Costanera 3969, Santiago, Chile
Borago
place 8369 Av. Vitracura, Santiago 7530078, Chile
Fuente Alemana cuisine Sandwiches price $6 - $9
Restaurants · Top Best Restaurants
Le Bistrot
Tiramisu
Ichiban
Del Cocinero
Baco Vino y Bistro
Osaka
NRG Plus
price $2 - $11 place Monjitas 467, Santiago 8320083, Chile
Boulevard francesa)
Lavaud
(aka
peluqueria
place compania de jesus 2799, Santiago, Chile
La Mar
cuisine Peruvian, Seafood price $24 - $69 place Av Nueva Costanera 3922, Santiago, Chile
Top Italian Nolita
price $14 - $21 place Isidora Goyenechea 3456, Santiago, Chile
California Cantina
price $8 - $19 place Las Urbinas 56, Santiago, Chile
Squadritto
price $24 - $101 place Rosal 332, Santiago 8320158, Chile
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Restaurants
Golfo di napoli
price $5 - $13 place Irarrazaval 2423, Santiago, Chile
rivoli
price $24 place Nueva De Lyon 77, Santiago, Chile
Trattoria da Carla
price $19 - $31 place Mac Iver 577, Santiago, Chile
Trattoria Calypso
price $11 - $21 place Camino al Volcan 9831, El Manzano, Santiago, Chile
Restaurants · Top Asian price $6 - $9 place Carmencita, Santiago, Chile
otai sushi
cuisine Japanese price $4 - $11 place japonesa, Santiago 775039, Chile
Top Vegetarian El Naturista
place Moneda 846, Santiago, Chile
Wallo"s Pizza
El huerto
La Signoria
Origen Organico
Le Due Torri
La Chakra
place Simon Bolivar 3761, Santiago 8320000, Chile place Bellavista 211, Santiago, Chile place San Antonio 258 | Santiago Centro, Santiago, Chile
place Orrego Luco 54, Santiago, Chile
place Av Mariano Sanchez Fontecilla 534, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
Oh! Salad Garden
Top Asian Anakena
cuisine Thai price $21 - $71 place Av kennedy 4601 - las condes, Santiago, Chile
place Tobalaba 477, Santiago, Chile
El Vegetariano
place Huerfanos 827 Loc 18, Santiago, Chile
cafe cronopios
price $4 - $11 place barrio brasil (frente a plaza), Santiago, Chile
Ichiban
cuisine Japanese price $24 - $101 place Padre Hurtado Norte 1512, Santiago, Chile
Zabo Restaurant
cuisine International, Japanese, Peruvian, Sushi price $19 - $27 place Jose Victorino Lastarria 307 | Plaza Mulato Gil, Santiago 8320126, Chile
Kintaro
cuisine Japanese price $9 - $16 place Monjitas 460, Santiago, Chile
Japon
cuisine Japanese price $14 - $61 place Baron Pierre de Coubertin 39, Santiago, Chile
Danubio Azul
cuisine Chinese price $26 - $101 place Reyes Lavalle 3240, Santiago, Chile
Lung Fung
cuisine Chinese place Agustinas 715 / Subterraneo, Santiago, Chile
Kitcheng
cuisine Chinese, Japanese price $19 place Cristobal Colon 5930, Santiago, Chile
Akai Sushi
cuisine Japanese
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Useful info
Useful info · Sunrise/Sunset
Useful info
Useful info
Sunrise/Sunset Sun will rise at 07:45:04 and will set at 19:55:00 in local time.
Useful phrases English
Spanish
Welcome Hello Hello(on phone) Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Good night, Night night, Nighty Night, Good night, sleep tight, hope the bedbugs don't bite! Goodbye How are you? Reply Long time no see What's your name? My name is ... Where are you from? I come from ... Pleased to meet you Good luck Cheers! Bottoms up! Down the hatch! Mud in your eye! Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal! (frm) Enjoy! Tuck in! Get stuck in! Eat already! (inf/slang) Happy eating! Get your laughing gear round this! (inf/slang) Bon voyage / have a good journey Excuse me Sorry How much is this? / How much does this cost? Please Thank you Thank you very much Thank you kindly Thanks a lot Many thanks Thanks Cheers Ta (used mainly in northen England) You're welcome Don't mention it My pleasure No problem No probs Not a problem No worries No big deal Where's the toilet / lavatory / bathroom / restroom / powder room / gents/ladies? Where's the loo / bog / dunny / little boys'/ girls' room? (inf/slang) Have a nice day Get well soon Would you like to dance with me? I love you I don't understand Please say that again Please speak more slowly
Bienvenido (sg) Bienvenidos (pl) ¡Hola! ¡Diga! ¡Dígame! ¿Sí? ¿Bueno? ¡Hola! ¿Aló? Buenos días Buenas tardes Buenas tardes / Buenas noches Buenas noches Adiós, Hasta luego, Hasta la vista, Hasta mañana ¿Cómo está usted? (frm) ¿Cómo estás? (inf) Bien gracias, ¿y usted? (frm) Bien gracias, ¿y tú? (inf) ¡Cuánto tiempo! ¡Tanto tiempo sin verte! ¿Cómo te llamas? (inf) ¿Cómo se llama Usted? (frm) Me llamo ... Mi nombre es ... ¿De dónde eres? (inf) ¿De dónde es usted? (frm) Soy de ... Mucho gusto Encantado ¡Buena suerte! ¡Salud! ¡Buen provecho! ¡Buen apetito! ¡Que aproveche!
¡Buen viaje! ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Discúlpe! ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Lo siento! ¿Cuánto cuesta? ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? Por favor Gracias Muchas gracias
De nada No hay de qué ¿Dónde están los aseos ¿Dónde están los sanitarios? ¿Dónde está el baño? ¿Dónde está el cuarto de baño? ¡Que pase un buen día! Que te mejores Que te mejores pronto ¡Recupérate pronto! Pronta recuperación ¿Querría bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Querrías bailar conmigo? (inf) ¿Quisiera bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Quisieras bailar conmigo? (inf) Te amo / Te quiero No entiendo No comprendo ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor? ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? Por favor hable más despacio
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Useful info
English
Useful info · Passport and Visa Spanish
Can you please write it down? How do you say ... in english? Do you speak english? Yes, a little Leave me alone! Help!
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? ¿Cómo se dice ... en español? ¿Habla usted español? (frm) ¿Hablas español? (inf) Sí, hablo un poquito de español Sí, un poco ¡Déjeme en paz! ¡Ayúdame! ¡Socorro! ¡Auxilio!
Passport and Visa
Passport required
Return ticket required
Visa required
Australian British Canadian Other EU USA
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No/2 No No/2 No/1 No/2
Passports: To enter Chile, a passport valid for at least six months is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above. Passport note: Passports issued to children must contain a photo and state the nationality. Entry with children: Minors travelling alone or with one parent must have a letter of consent from both parents or the other parent when entering and leaving Chile. If alone, a birth certificate with both parents' names is also required. Visas: Visas are not required by the nationals referred to in the chart above for stays in Chile of up to 90 days, except the following: 1. Nationals of Greece for stays exceeding 60 days. 2. Nationals from Australia, Canada, the US and Mexico do not require a visa; however, they must pay a reciprocal tax before entering Chile. 3. Transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding required travel documents for onward destination and not leaving the airport transit lounge. Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Types and cost: Visitors from Australia, Canada, the US and Mexico pay a reciprocal tax when entering Chile. The fees respectively are: US$95, US$132, US$140 and US$23, payable in cash.
Emergency numbers Police: 133 Medical: 131 Fire: 132 Notes:
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References
References ·
Reasonable care has been taken in creating this personalized travel guide by combining information from the sources identified under the section 'references'. However, the information is provided 'as is' and there is no warranty about the information in the guide being accurate, complete or up to date. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, all liability arising from the use of this guide will be denied. Verifying critical information (like visas, health and safety) before you travel is recommended. References
References
Santiago data is from Wikitravel, urls: – http://www.wikitravel.com This page was last edited at 20:57, on 8 July 2011 by Wikitravel user Felix505. Based on work by Wikitravel user(s) Ikan Kekek, Llywinda, Titiva and Zepppep, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. City info data is from Wikipedia, urls: – http://www.wikipedia.com Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. Weather data is from Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation yr.no, urls: – http://www.yr.no/place/Chile/Santiago/Santiago_de_Chile/ Sunset data is from Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation yr.no, urls: – http://www.yr.no/place/Chile/Santiago/Santiago_de_Chile/ Currency data is from Xavier Finance Api, urls: – http://finance.xaviermedia.com/ Maps data is from Yahoo Local Maps, OpenStreetMap, Qype, urls: – http://maps.yahoo.com – http://www.openstreetmap.org – http://www.qype.com
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Notes
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Notes
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