Valparaiso is a magical city and its corners are designed to be infinitely photographed.

No day is the same as another, the lights and colors change so much during the day that it is a delightful destination for any lover of photography.

Not only houses and the harbor view are the protagonists, but also dogs, cats, and people will make your memory card grow every second.

 

Practical Tips to Keep in Mind

Considering that you will be walking, you will walk a lot to find that perfect photographic moment! Consider wearing your more comfortable shoes.

Take a bottle of water with you and protect yourself from the sun during your photo walk in Valparaiso.

People in Valpo are friendly and will help you if you need to know something.
Like anywhere, respects the locals, talk and interact with people a bit before taking them a picture.

 

Valparaiso is a port. There are some sections of the port that are a little dangerous to go alone and at night, so it is better to go in a group and pay attention if they tell you to change your way.

Have your photographic equipment secure and under your eyes.

We have already read of many camera thefts to tourists, as well as in any public place in Chile, do not leave it on the table of the restaurant while you eat.

Not that Valparaiso is a dangerous place, but if it is super tourist and like any port in the world, it is better to have extra precautions with our things.

 

• Are you looking to eat in Valparaíso? My favorite restaurants and bars in the Chilean port

• Find more inspiration to plan the perfect weekend getaway to Valparaíso

Instameet in Valparaíso

We’ve shared several opportunities with the Chilean Instagram community and the photographic walks through Valparaíso have been unforgettable for everyone.

The best of all (and the most intense too) was the one in 2016, where more than 100 people gathered to explore the hills in search of the best Likes with a torrid rainy day.

 

Have you already experienced an Instameet in your city?

 

Photographic Route in Valparaíso

DAY 1

This is the route I often do when I go to Valparaiso.
From Santiago take a bus from the Bus Terminal that is located in the Pajaritos Metro Station.

* I always buy a return or ‘Ida y Vuelta’ ticket and leave the ticket open. So I can have the flexibility to stay one more day if I want, but also the good thing is that they allow you to use that ticket from Valpo as well as from Viña del Mar, which is doubly flexible.

 

1. Starting at the bus terminal, walk to the Trolley Bus Station and take one in the direction of Barrio Puerto. If you are lucky (or patience) you can get on one of the old ones, although the new trolleys even come with the stops announced in Spanish and English!

 

2. You can start your tour at the end of the port by visiting Paseo 21 de Mayo and the Naval and Maritime Museum by climbing the Artillería elevator, which can also be the beginning of a route through Playa Ancha, but that is the subject of another article.

 

3. If you decide to go back and start exploring the port and hills of Valparaiso, you can walk to the Port or take the trolley again to Plaza Sotomayor and explore the bay.

There are boats specialized in sightseeing tours where you can take walks of an hour or more with a beautiful view of the hills.

 

4. Then we go to the Alegre and Concepción hills to finish the day there with a beautiful view of the harbor bay.

 

To go up the hills there are several options, you can walk or take public transport, which in Valparaiso is an adventure as well.

 

 

5. You can walk up Urriola Street, where they sell some very good fried empanadas right at the start of the climb. In this street, you will be able to appreciate beautiful and entertaining graffiti and the colorful stairs characteristic of the city.

 

Almost all the streets and stairs are connected, so do not be afraid to change the route and follow your map, better if you have it connected to your cell phone.

You will see the colonial architecture with houses and churches of the early nineteenth century, graffiti on its walls, numerous cafes and restaurants, and viewpoints to appreciate the bay and the port.

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6. A good place, after visiting the walks, lookouts and streets are to end the afternoon at the Paseo Dimalow. At Casa Dimalow you can stop by to see the works of the talented photographer Sebastián Runner and then have a beer with a beautiful view of the port.

 

DAY 2

Cerro Bellavista and Pablo Neruda’s House

On a second day, you can continue through the center of Valparaiso and head toBellavista Hill.

Here you will find the Open Sky Museum, which is an art exhibition among the hills that has 20 murals and beautiful works of mosaics.

Visiting La Sebastiana, the house of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda is one of the must-sees and an experience. A house full of entertaining corners and all the memories and collections that had the poet in this house with one of the best views of the port of Valparaiso.

This is not the only house that can be visited by the poet, there are two in Santiago and, in my opinion, the most beautiful, Isla Negra, which can be another day trip from Valparaiso.

After visiting La Sebastiana you can continue walking along the hill until you reach the Ex-Prison that today is a spectacular cultural center and then head back to Cerro Alegre and have dinner there.

If you want to have a bit of adventure, take a local micro/bus on Avenida Alemania that goes in that direction and enjoy the speed and curves of Valparaíso’s Hills.

 

DAY 3

Viña del Mar and ConCón

If you want to explore the area further, on the third day you can go to Viña del Mar and ConCón.

There you will find the famous Clock of Flowers, Quinta Vergara – which is where the famous Viña Festival takes place -, the Casino and Avenida Perú are points that I like to visit.

If you want to go to the beach you can go to Reñaca and then continue to Concon where you can see the impressive dunes and there are also two of my favorite restaurants in the area: the empanadas “Las Deliciosas” and the restaurant “Donde Pedro y Fabiola”

 

I’ve created a map on Google Maps so you can guide yourself and use it directly on your cell phone during your visit. I hope it will serve you and help you to visit Valparaiso!

Tell me how your photo walk in Valparaíso goes!