Santiago Metropolitan Region

Family trip, 2005, my father is originally from here so we visited relitves.

There was a serious political disturbance when I was there earlier this year. All outbound international flights were cancelled except mine. I’m so glad I was flying a Chilean airline. I could see the fires and riots and tanks on the television and hear miltary planes taking off outside the airport, but I didn’t understand enough Spanish to know whether we were in any danger at the airport or not. Anyway, we took off and had a pleasant flight back to Sao Paulo.

Hey everyone. I will be in Santiago for 2 days approximately. What would you do if you had this little time? What places would you go to hands down? I know it is winter and snow may be a problem, but I am trying to take a bus from Santiago to Mendoza, Argentina…would you recommend this? Hope to hear from someone soon! Thanks!

I studied abroad here for a semester and it was incredible. I love the public transportation, the soccer, las micros (buses), the crazy form of Spanish that they speak, the people (que carinoso!), the clubs and salsotecas, the towering mountains in every direction, the parks, los cerros, the skiing, the country.

I grew and was stretched here. It’s not just Santiago… it’s asking a country to let you live and grow there. It’s gaining your world view and realizing we’re not alone. The USA is not the end-all and the only hope of the world… or far from it. It’s engaging a culture.

From Santiago you can explore the vastness of Chile and S. America. I took trips to Patagonia, Easter Island, the Atacama Desert, Vina del Mar & Valparaiso, Pichilemu (surfing capital of S. America!), Mendoza Argentina, Buenos Aires, & Machu Picchu.

Nice city, very clean (even though the smog is bad). People are very friendly.

I just visited Chile in November and had an amazing time. The climate was very similar to LA in May/June, and there’s even a little bit of smog – so I felt right at home! The whole country is mountains and ocean, which makes for some amazing views! While there is plenty to do in Santiago (don’t leave without visiting Bellvista or riding the teleferico in the city’s Metropolitan Park), I would reccommend spending a few days outside of the city to get better idea of the different people and culture in different zones. We drove up north, through the beach cities (Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Zapallar, Cachagua, La Serena) to Valle del Elqui where we stayed a night. Valle is a small town in the middle of the mountains with some of the most beautiful views (see photo). It’s a little bit of a hippie town – there are a lot of palm, tarot and chakra readers.

I loved it so much I’ve been looking for jobs in Chile ever since I came home!

• Eat an alfajore
• Drink a pisco sour, a cafe helado and try some local wine

Despite the general thought of Santiago as a dirty, horrible, polluted and boring city, which is true sometimes, I love to live here. I really do, and believe me, I have live in better places.
Santiago worth it, specially to visitors I think. I know that Americans are always amazed of the mountains sorrounding the city, and I can’t believe how locals aren’t! I mean look at the Cordillera in winter, full of snow, and in summer, with all the shades of colors it has…and it’s only one part of the good things the city has. Downtown is great. El Parque Forestal is nice, cool and always full of things to do; Lastarria street is incredible, as well the Palacio de la Moneda, specially with the new gallery beneath it. Even the “folk” places like La Vega or Patronato or Paseo Ahumada are fun. Santiago is improving every year; new and exciting cultural things are developing, is getting cleaner, nicer…I recommend it, I really do.
Where I would go? Downtown, first (Cerro Santa Lucia and all those places). If is winter, to the skiing centers. Summer, to the hills sorrounding the city, or to the Cajon del Maipo, Maipo river is beautiful. To the museums, some are not very known but great (like the Militar Museum). To Mercado Central (good food). Some places in the “rich” part are cool too, Vitacura is nice. Just…wander around, it worth it!
Of course, Chile it self is not Santiago, go south :P

I am going to Santiago in January with my family. We are doing this trip because everyone said that is great, funny and very beautiful. We expect to visit all types of places, eat all type of food and also do shopping.

I took a bus from Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago de Chile. Santiago has a bad reputation for its dirty air, smogg. But I enjoyed the difference between Argentina and Chile. Chile is by far the most organized country in South America, bus departs one time, people are orderly.

As polluted as it’s supposed to be, I want to visit it. Maybe do some studying abroad there someday. Just want to check it out.