Visiting Santiago

Above is a panoramic view of Santiago, Chile, one of South America’s most beautiful capitals. Santiago is located near the center of the country and is famous for its modern skyline, including the high-rise apartments seen on the left.

Getting Around Santiago

Santiago is one of the most modern cities in South America, alongside cities like São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Above are two photos of Santiago’s subway system, which is used to transport millions of people throughout the metropolitan area. The subway here was cheap and efficient, but what surprised me most was how clean it was.

Santa Lucía Hill

Chile’s capital was founded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1541. Santa Lucía Hill played an important role during the city’s early history and today is one of the most popular places to visit in Santiago. The hill has memorials, parks, fountains, and several vantage points overlooking the city. On the left is a large fountain near the main entrance, while on the right is a view from farther up the hill.

Santa Lucía Hill is rocky and steep, with unique plants and many memorials throughout the park. On the left is a strange flower I saw growing from a tree branch, while on the right is a statue of a soldier I came across while exploring the hill.

Plaza de Armas

Above are photos from Plaza de Armas in Santiago. Plazas de Armas are found in many South American cities and traditionally serve as central squares surrounded by government and religious buildings. On the left are two policemen on horseback with Santiago’s Metropolitan Cathedral in the background, while on the right are shoppers and tourists going about their day.

Historic Santiago

The church seen on the left is the San Francisco Church, one of Santiago’s oldest surviving colonial buildings. Although it has been damaged by earthquakes throughout its history, the church has repeatedly been repaired and restored. Its origins date back to the 16th century, and today the complex also contains a museum with religious art and artifacts.

Shopping in Santiago

The purpose of my second trip to Chile was to climb Aconcagua, South America’s highest mountain, located a few hours away in Argentina. After the climb, I returned to Santiago and did some shopping with a friend I had made during the trip. We went to one of Santiago’s nicest districts, which almost felt like entering an amusement park with signs pointing toward different areas and attractions.

Nightlife and Hostels

The downtown area had plenty of bars and places for nightlife, and I did go out with some friends I met later during the trip. Honestly, though, I felt like some of the hostels in Chile were crazy enough on their own. The photo on the left is from a hostel where I spent a lot of time. Each night they had a different theme and an overwhelming amount of alcohol being served.

One thing they certainly lacked was ice cream! I took the photo on the right in a shopping district of Santiago, and for whatever reason, a young man working in the store didn’t want me taking photos of their ice cream.