So far in my travels, I’d say Viña del Mar is the most exotic beach city I’ve been to in South America. I’ve been to some really beautiful beaches in Colombia and Uruguay, but this is one place I’d especially like to go back to. In some ways it reminded me of an artsy beach town in California, but aside from that, the city was definitely unique with its own vibe that I can’t compare to anywhere else I’ve been.
Most of my sunny days here were lost to overcast skies that also kept the weather pretty cool, in the low 60s (around 17°C). Combined with some of the city’s steep inclines, Viña del Mar felt a little like San Francisco. Above you can see some of the hotels and apartments built directly along the beach.
From Aconcagua to the Beach
Viña del Mar was my immediate destination after climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America. Once I arrived in the city, all I wanted to do was eat ice cream, visit the beach, and relax with a drink in my hand. I easily accomplished all three along with my climbing partner from the mountain.
On the left is me celebrating with a margarita and in serious need of a haircut after three weeks on the mountain. On the right is me entering the water, fulfilling our vow to go to the beach once we got off Aconcagua. We went from nearly 23,000 feet (7,000 meters) to the ocean in only a few days!
Around Viña del Mar
What I liked most about Viña del Mar was the exotic feel the city had. It felt like a melting pot of influences from both Americas topped off with some European character. Lots of places throughout the city had interesting architecture and designs that caught my eye. On the left is an apartment building, with the city’s famous Flower Clock on the right.
Above is a photo of downtown Viña del Mar and the city’s main river just before it reaches the coast. On the right is Calle Valparaíso, one of the city’s main commercial streets, where all kinds of restaurants and shops can be found.
Unique Architecture
It’s pretty rare to see a boring building in Viña del Mar! The hotel on the right was actually shaped like a ship, but I was so close that I could only capture a corner of it. There are all sorts of unusual designs around the city, including ships, boats, futuristic buildings, and plenty of castle-like architecture.
The church above reminded me of a giant sand castle, while some of the other castle-style buildings were hotels. One even had an African theme once you stepped inside.
Restaurants and Cafés
I wish I had taken more photos of the things I did in the city. Most of my shots were from exploring during the day or going out for lunch. The photo on the left shows a restaurant, while on the right is an awesome café I went to almost every morning. I remember they had a coffee drink called the Mafioso that had liquor in it and was great for hangovers!
Wildlife and Beaches
Finally, here are some of the animals I found living around the city. I didn’t visit any dedicated wildlife areas in this part of Chile, so there’s nothing too exotic to share, but there were plenty of pelicans and cormorants along the coast.
The water wasn’t the best temperature for swimming at this time of year, but the coastline itself was beautiful. Viña del Mar has plenty of sandy beaches mixed with rocky stretches, giving the city a coastline that changes quite a bit as you explore it.
