Valparaiso Info needed

[Brahmama]

We will arrive at the port about 1:00 PM but have some time as our ship sails late (9:00 PM). We would like to check in and leave our bags and then catch a taxi (big enough for 4) to explore Valparaiso a bit - visit a Neruda home - and have some seafood in a nice restaurant with a great view!

 

Can we catch a taxi at the port since we are arriving at a different time than usual disembarkation? Has anyone done something like this before?

 

Thanks for any help.

[owl61]

Have you ascertained when you may board? Chances are it's right after your 1 pm port arrival. There should be taxis waiting near or at the pier if you are arriving there by bus. You'll probably be able to check your bags (and maybe even board to leave your hand luggage and freshen up in the cabin). A taxi to Neruda's home/museum will not be a lot (probably less than $10) - it's situated on a hill right in town with a view of the port. A nice place to visit. You should access the Valparaiso forum of www.tripadvisor.com to inquire about restaurants. Probably a decent one with a view near Neruda's home.

[Brahmama]

Hi Owl,

Thanks for responding. We are taking a van from the airport in Santiago to the Pier. We just want to drop off our bags at the terminal. We can check-in later, but we will have limited time to enjoy Valparaiso. We're used to dropping off bags at the pier, so not worried about that.

 

I was wondering about where to catch the taxis, as it's different from port to port. In Buenose Aires, you drop off your bags but if you want to embark the ship you must take shuttles. Is it the same way in Valparaiso?

 

But I do think we have contacted a guide who will be waiting for us at the pier and will take us around in a car/walking tour. We will include La Sebastiana (Neruda's home) and also some good Chilean seafood and wine. If this works out well, I will post it so that others may benefit.

 

I must say that the TripAdvisor Forum for Valparaiso is almost all full of comments about Santiago and was no help at all. I have posted a query there, but no luck so far. I guess most people visit Vino del Mar and not Valparaiso; however we enjoyed Valp and wanted to spend more time there just looking around.

[BCHappyGal]

When we visited Valparaiso here is what we did - make sure you ride the "Ascensores" as that was lots of fun and at the top there were vendors with stalls selling all sorts of neat souvenirs.

 

Be aware that the trip from the terminal building where you will check in to the ship by port/ship shuttle bus along the very busy working cargo facility will take you about 20 minutes. So going to the ship to drop your hand luggage and then back out to catch a taxi will take you about an hour. I think you will be best to keep your van and driver that is providing you your transfer from Santiago to Valparaiso and do your sightseeing before you check in for the cruise.

 

The entire town of Valparaiso seems to precariously hang on precipitous cliffs crisscrossed by narrow, twisting footpaths, stairways and the city’s time tested rapid transit system of funicular cars called “Ascensores”

 

A major port, Valparaiso, with a population of over 300,000, is the second largest city in Chile. It is also home to the Chilean navy. This blue collar city is a jumble of colorful clapboard houses and Victorian mansions balancing precariously on a circle of 44 steep hills. This majestic panorama is backed by the distant snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera. Its unique scenery is matched only by its raucous nightlife, as sailors’ bars and bordellos line the winding, hilly streets. Valparaiso is a great contrast to its twin sister, Vina del Mar, as they sit side by side along the Pacific coast. Vina del Mar was founded as a weekend retreat and garden residence for the wealthy of Valparaiso and Santiago. This coastal resort with its wide tree lined streets, lush gardens, expensive hotels and restaurants, and grand casino remains today the preferred beach destination of Chileans

In Valparaiso ride one of the funiculars (ascending railways), like Ascencer Artillera. The cable car will pull you uphill to Paseo 21 de Mayo, for absolutely awesome views of the city and port below.

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Take the ship/port shuttle bus from the gangplank to the main terminal/reception building to meet our guide who will be waiting just outside the terminal building. Allow yourself at least a half hour to disembark as the bus ride from the ship along the dock to the terminal building takes about 20 minutes – yes it is a long ways!

 

Here our tour included a visit to 2 wineries and tours of the 2 cities Vina del Mar & Valparaiso. My advice would be to visit only 1 winery unless you are a real wine bluff. And I would go for the Indomita Winery as I found the tour of the winery much more interesting and in more detail.

 

The best part of the tour was our time spent shopping in the stalls at the top of the Ascencer and the ride down.

 

Hope this helps

 

Ann

[mpbmark]

Ann,

 

Great information.

 

We are on the same cruise as Brahmama (Carol, hi) and would be interested in doing as you suggest. It would appear you are quoting from some type of pre-arranged tour. Can you provide specifics on the tour or point me to a webpage to see what is available?

 

Thanks again.

[Copperdog]

We are on the Insigna whic will depart on March 8. We are taking the ships transportation from Santiago. We can check in at 11an which we plan to do and then we wanted to do a quick looksee at the city - iout ship leaves at 5pm. How far is it to get to the Ascensor - sounds like a fun thing to do. Do they take US money. Anyone else onthe Insigna?

 

Thanks