Chilean Escapade: Santiago’s Buzz & Valparaiso’s Coastal Whimsy

Chile, the first place I understood the language as a Latina travel blogger but if a local started speaking to me I would only understand half of what they were saying. This says a lot for Chilean “Spanish” as Spanish. I do have to hand it to Chileans who have mastered the way of shortening 2 words, combining them and creating a new word for something. For example, pisco and coke is called “piscola” and “peso”, their currency is “lucas”. My Chilean Escapade: Santiago’s Buzz and Valparaiso’s Coastal Whimsy was a success and highly advise Latina travelers or aspiring Latina solo travelers to visit.

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Plan YOur Chilean Escapade

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Why Visit Chile

I started back again my Latina travel adventures after my short pause in the good ole US of A. I attended bachelorette parties, weddings, reconnected with family and friends but most importantly, spend time with my paw baby Montana.

Chile was a country that has been in my “To Travel” list for quite some time.

Latina Travel Blooger Tip: If you don’t already have one make sure to start a travel list. It’s the perfect way to guide you on your next holiday/vacation but it can double up as a vision board of where you want to go.

Come to Chile for the Andes, its rich culture, for visiting a country with a dark history under Pinochet, for its wine. Especially since wine here is cheaper than beer and as I learned from the wine seller, no Chilean wine is a bad wine.

Where To Visit In Chile

During my 7 day trip in “Chile” aka the part I actually consider Chile since I know Easter Island is “technically” part of Chile. Personally, I think it really shouldn’t be but let me not open that can of worms. Any-who, in Chile I was able to visit Santiago and Valparaiso. I would have added Vina Del Mar as it’s a short 20 minute bus ride from Valparaiso but as I’ve learned with my traveling habits that I’m not about checking a place off especially when the weather isn’t right. Visit Vina Del Mar for its beach.

Valparaiso’s Coastal Whimsy

In Valparaiso, the highlight that no one in Valparaiso would let us miss was the rubber ducky in the port. Street vendors sold everything from rubber duckies, duck balloons and any other duck related items. Locals and expats would offer it as a Valparaiso tour stop and it even showed up in the national Chilean television. Yes, this was quirky but it’s nice to see how a city can make something a thing.

Additionally, we checked out an art exhibit on a rainy day to discover that the artist was visiting the exhibit and discussing his pieces. It certainly added to Federico Assler’s, “Taller Roca Negra” exhibit.

But if I could give any advice about Valparaiso is to just walk. The street art is amazing and you will find it everywhere. Grab a map and start seeing the places highlighted on the map. But don’t try to venture off those spots, especially at night. It’s nooks and crannies can turn grim at night. My mates and I personally learned this in the day when I was questioned and scolded by a mom who told me we were walking in a bad neighborhood and to return to the main touristy area.

Visit Valparaiso, it’s worth the trip. It’s only an hour 1/2 away via bus from Santiago so you are doing yourself a disservice to your Chilean Escapade if you don’t go.

Santiago’s Urban Energy

My highlights in Santiago had to be walking up the Cerro of San Cristobal not once but twice, feasting in the seafood market, checking out the Human Rights museum, getting a free walking tour from Mateo a street dog who was not only entertaining but owned the city, having ice cream from “Emporio La Rosa” 1 of the top 25 ice cream parlors in the world by Daily Mail, checking out the Italian neighborhood and street art in Yungay, trying the infamous “teremoto” aka “tornado” drink from “La Piojera” and trust me when I say that you only need 1 to feel good but also being amazed with how many vegetarian options were available in this city (unlike Australia).

The most exciting part of my trip though was knowing people in Santiago from my most recent travels aka the first part of my Girl Takes Mundo Latina solo travel sabbatical. I had the opportunity to meet up with Fran and Mau whom I met in Sofia in Bulgaria. This was the first country in part 1 of this trip.

Then I met up with Mauri, one of my yoga instructor from the Ubud Yoga Center in Bali and his wife Marce. After 9 years of living abroad, they decided to return to live in Santiago.

Bonus: Easter Island

I knew that I couldn’t visit Chile and maxamize my Chilean Escapade, without making my way to Easter Island, which is the easiest way to get to the remote island.

More on Easter Island in this post HERE.

Final Latina Traveler Thoughts

It was simply wonderful to start this segment of my Female solo travel journey for Girl Takes Mundo with some familiar faces. More importantly, I was able to see them in their own back yard. As this is where they call home and where they are locals.

Chile was truly a great place to start my 2nd segment of this trip. Visiting a Latin country as a Latina solo traveler helped ease me back. Speaking Spanish helped make it easier to speak Chilean “Spanish”. And with that said, let’s continue this #GirltakesMundo adventure!

Want to discover where else you can visit in Latin America by a Latina travel blogger?

See my TRAVEL GUIDE SECTION for tips and recommendations for other bordering countries. Learn how to get there, where to stay, eat and what to do!