Central Coast

Introduction

As anyone can see from looking at a map, Chile has an exceedingly long coastline, all of it adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. What we aim to do here is introduce you to the Central sector closest to Santiago. To all intents and purposes this is the area most easily accessed from Santiago, and the sector where the main places of coastal interest are located.

Below, we will cover these destinations, briefly and then expand on the more relevant destinations in separate menu pages:

Central Coast Destinations North to South
Papudo
Zapallar – Chachagua – Maitencillo
Viña del Mar
Valparaíso
Pichilemu

Description

The central Pacific Coast of Chile is an area that runs roughly from between 100km north of Santiago to 200 km south of Santiago. The overall climate here is Mediterranean, offering hot and dry summers with little rain; short, cool and changeable winter weather with rain and occasionally snow falling in the higher mountains. However, in the summer it is not uncommon for there to be a coastal fog in the mornings that then burns off by midday. During the summer months the entire Central Pacific Coast offers wonderful beaches, sunshine, and outdoor activities.

We will cover a stretch of coast covering in a direct north to south distance of approximately 240km. Within this stretch we will describe only the few places that merit a visit along with suitable accommodation according to our criteria.

This sector of coastline, from the natural, geographic element, is primarily sandstone cliffs, interwoven by contoured hills that end at the meeting point with the Pacific Ocean. At the base of some of the cliffs, or between the hills that peter down to the ocean there are, often, long, sandy beaches that are incredibly inviting on a clear sunny day. This scene, especially when backed up by the supporting act of a blue sea dancing with the sandy beaches by way of curled, white crested waves can be “picture postcard perfect”.

So far, so good. However, there are two factors the visitor needs to be aware of if coming to the “ideal looking” Chilean beaches. One is that the ocean currents can be very strong, so do not venture too far in and, the second is that the water temperature can be incredibly cold.

This “icy” cold is caused by the very cold current that originates from the snow-covered Antarctica and runs south to north up the entire Chilean coastline. It is called the Humboldt current. Having said that, on a hot day getting into the Pacific can be very refreshing, and many people do just that.

Apart from the beaches there are some places that offer great food, nice restaurants, history to appreciate as well as great hotels too.

A trip to the coast can be just a day outing, or perhaps for a few nights before or after the rest of your South American itinerary. It is one of the ideal ways to relax, that is for sure.

ExperienceChile.Org will be pleased to include any of the destinations mentioned below in your travel itinerary.

How to Get Here from Santiago

Drive time approx. 3hrs
North on Ruta 5 from Santiago to La Ligua (154km), then it is 15km west to the coast and Papudo.

Description
This is a small “seaside” village with a small plaza, around which are some shops. The village comprises a number of modest residential houses and some modern apartment blocks.

There is a fairly long, sandy beach and a yacht club at one end.

Papudo is 12km north of Zapallar and draws in mainly the lower, middle-class Chileans, but it is becoming more frequented by those who are not ordinarily associated with that social group, but cannot afford to “get into” the more exclusive and expensive Zapallar, its southern neighbour.

Papudo has a lot of life during the summer and is a great option for a full day, maybe coming here for lunch. There are no “quality” hotels here, but there are apartments to rent as well as a basic hotel, which is not in our partner collection.

The drive from Papudo heading south, is like the Southern Pacific Highway hugging the contours of the natural coast offering splendid views down to the Pacific (on the right) as well as sights of some spectacular Hollywood-style houses in-between the plants and fences.

How to Get Here from Santiago

Drive time approx. 2.5hrs
North on Ruta 5 from Santiago to Nogales 115km, then turn west to the coast towards Puchuncavi 24km. Do not go in to Puchuncavi, but just past the turn off to this village turn right and follow the coast road north to Maitencillo, La Laguna and Zapallar. Zapallar is 23km north of Puchuncavi.

Description
Zapallar is 181km north-west of Santiago by road and 75km north of Viña del Mar. We tried to keep this place a secret when Charles Hallifax, the owner of Experience Chile, visited for the first time over 30 years ago. Akin to when Bridget Bardot put St. Tropez on the map, which slowly transformed that sleepy Mediterranean fishing village into a destination magnet for the rich and famous, something similar has happened to Zapallar.

Because Zapallar is unique in Chile, and a very nice place, it has become “known” both nationally and internationally over the years, which has resulted in it becoming very populated in the summer months resulting in its original “innocence” being diluted.

There is one, boutique style hotel here which is one of our partner establishments, and we will arrange transfers to and from this hotel, or a rent a car, and include it in your overall travel itinerary.

How to Get Here from Santiago

Description
If we head south from Zapallar the adjacent village is Cachagua. This is nearly all residential with a smattering of small shops only. It enjoys a very long and inviting, sandy beach which is overlooked by some fantastic-looking, large houses embedded into the cliff side.

Looking directly down to the beach, if you turn right, or come down from the elevated car park, you will come across a great little restaurant right on the beach. From here you can enjoy good food and have a front row seat to watching the waves crash onto the sand.

From this restaurant if you walk to the right, therefore the sea is on your left, you will pick up a great coastal footpath. This walk will take you past “Penguin Island” where there are, unbelievably, Humboldt Penguins standing upright as well as cormorants and pelicans. Further along you will pass, once again, lovely beach—side homes, and then arrive to a small, “Caribbean-like” bay with turquoise-coloured water. The path picks up the other side of this small beach and continues on to Zapallar. For those with the stamina and ability to arrange pick up transport, it is a great walk from Cachagua all the way to Zapallar.

Cachagua is a great place for the beach, to eat at the restaurant and spend the day here.

How to Get Here from Santiago

Drive time approx. 2hrs
Take the Ruta 68 directly west out of Santiago. The drive to Viña will take you directly through the Casablanca wine valley where there are various wineries offering tours and tastings. ExperienceChile.Org can, of course, include a stop off at any of these places on the way to Viña.

Description
Viña is Chile's principal sea-side city located 126km to the north-west of Santiago, offering beaches, night life and an all-night casino. It is a proper city, as opposed to a village, with all that you would expect from a city by the sea.

In the summer months it is very popular and consequently packed with holiday makers, and we mean “packed”, including many Argentineans who come over from Mendoza.

Further along the coast from Viña del Mar heading north, up the coast, there are what used to be independent villages such as Reñaca and then Con-con, however, these days there has been so much construction along the water front it is like Viña has just expanded along. Nevertheless, there are also a few hotels along this coastal stretch that we will include in our partner program in the future. In the meantime, if there is a hotel that you want to have included in your itinerary that is not in our partner program please just ask.

We work with one hotel in the Viña area, and this is Hotel Sheraton Miramar. This is a property right beside the Pacific offering fine views directly to the Ocean, a nice outdoor terrace and indoor and outdoor pools. We will include this hotel in your

How to Get Here from Santiago

Drive time approx. 2hrs
Take the Ruta 68 directly west out of Santiago. The drive to Valparaiso will take you directly through the Casablanca wine valley where there are various wineries offering tours and tastings. ExperienceChile.Org can, of course, include a stop off at any of these places on the way to Valparaiso.

Description
Valparaiso is the southern neighbour to Viña del Mar, actually adjacent to one another. This is the only historically interesting coastal city close to Santiago. However, this is not the place to come if you want the beach, but it is the place to come if you appreciate older buildings and walking through streets that look more or less as they did 150 years ago. It is picturesque and has “got something to it”, although it is also “shabby” in parts.

Valparaiso is a port city. It is active commercially, but in a few of the hills that look down on the port there are some nice hotels, boutique “arty” shops, restaurants, and overall good vibe. However, this area is only a “bubble” within a much larger area covered in a sprawl of poor housing. To some the view of the simple, crowded homes packed together on the hills could be seen as “interesting”, but to others it can be seen as shocking.

As far as we are concerned Valparaiso merits a visit, even a stay for a couple of nights. However, it is “not so quaint” anymore, and run down in some sectors.

How to Get Here from Santiago

Drive time approx. 4hrs
Take the main ruta 5 directly south from Santiago all the way to San Fernando 191km. Turn off the ruta 5 just past San Fernando and follow the signs to Nancagua 23km approx., and on to Santa Cruz 18km approx. From Santa Cruz you follow the road Peralillo 22km, then Marchihue 12km and finally to Pichilemu 54km.

Description
We are including Pichilemu in our information of the coastal destinations for the benefit of any surfers reading this. Pichilemu is a surfers delight due to geological formation of the seabed and angle of the oncoming waves which creates, more often than not, long, surfable waves.

The village is like a sea-side place, the beach is black sand. If you are a surfer then Pichilemu will be all you need, but if you seek any more sophisticated delights, you will be disappointed.

We do not have any accommodation partners here, but there are various options for those wishing to visit, mostly of a simple nature.

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