'''Vina del Mar''' [http://www.vinadelmar.cl/] is in Central Chile and is a beach resort town close to Santiago de Chile. It's the most important beach in country. It plays host to a famous music festival every year in mid-February.

Get in

By bus

Beyond frequent coach bus service between Santiago and Vina. Numerous operators, abundant seating, about a 90 minute ride for approx 3000 pesos one way. The buses depart from Santiago at Pajaritos Station (Line 1 of Metro Station) or Universidad de Santiago Station, is recommendable to do it from Pajarito Station if you want to avoid the stop over from Universidad de Santiago and the ride within the City. The 2 main lines that travel to Vina del Mar are Turbus and Pullman Bus. The bus will drop you at Vina del Mar Station, which is 3 blocks east of DownTown. Taxis are available at this point, but if you want to save some money, walk east to Plaza de Vina, and ask for transportation to your destination.

By train

Merval has frequent service to/from Valparaiso and from/to other destinations in the country side of Vina del Mar such as: Quilpue, Villa Alemana and Limache. Is not recommendable to take a train between Vina and Valparaiso since the many other options to travel from/to. For using Metro/Train Services you have to purchased a Metro/Train Card, available at the Kiosk in the Stations. Once you get the card you have to slide it when you get in and when you get out to station (destination), there is not flat rate, each route has a different price. In Vina del Mar you will find 5 Stations. From Valparaiso to the Country Side are: Recreo (main residential area), Ecuador (Southern DownTown), DOWNTOWN close to Quinta Vergara, Hospital Station and El Salto (Industrial area)

Get around

Colectivo

Small cars that run routes throughout the city charge around 500 pesos for a ride. They are quicker and more comfortable.

Bus

(Called La Micro) Buses go to all parts of town for 350 pesos. There's not really a guide with all the routes and their destination so the best way to find the one you need is to ask around.

See

  • La Quinta Vergara - a beautiful garden with trees from China and Canada for example. In the same place the "Festival de Vina" takes places every year in the last week of february.
  • Plaza del Reloj - near the beaches there is a clock where the numbers are made of flowers.
  • Near the beaches the hotel Miramar is located and if you continue to walk you can see Castillo Wulf, an old castle built by German immigrants and for the locals the famously Paseo Arabe. Bu if you ask any of the locals why it's famous, surprisingly few of the can answer the question.
  • Near the north end of the beach there is an open air museum of naval artillery. Avoid taking pictures at free, ask the staff if you can do that. Many will think that photographers can be foreign spyes.
  • Do

    Spend time on the numerous beaches found along the coast. They are quite pretty but not very friendly for swimming.

    There are some casinos in some of the hotels and other buildings around Vina del Mar.

    The Festival de la Cancion is held on the third week of February, good international artists are invited and a great atmosphere during the shows. The festival is held on the grounds of La Quinta Vergara a couple of blocks away from the the city centre.

    The local football team Everton de Vina play their home matches in Estadio Sausalito. The fans are really passionate about their team and less problems are reported from Evertons matches than from the bigger clubs of Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile. A ticket can cost 3.500 pesos or more if bigger teams will play.

    Buy

    Eat

    One of the very famous treats in Vina del Mar is a sort of cookie called an ''alfajor'', which can be purchased in several small pastry shops around the downtown area. Usually, ''alfajores'' are filled with caramel, fruit, or other sweets and then covered in chocolate. They are a traditional sweet of the region and a delight for the visitor. Boxes with large quantities make memorable souvenirs, if they make it home.

    An excellent seafood restaurant, located in Camino Costero, is "La Gatita" ("The Kitten"). It specialises in such typical dishes as ''Machas a la parmesana y Reineta'' (Clams with fried Reineta - a local fish).

    Sleep

    Good and cheap accommodation is available throughout the city in residenciales (the local B & B). Early reservations are highly recommended during the summer months when the city gets flooded with holiday makers from Argentina and Santiago.

    Stay safe

  • Avoid walking in the parks alone when it's dark
  • Vina del Mar has a big problems with street dogs and many are born in the streets which means that they carry diseases. Avoid touching or giving them food. It can cause you more trouble.
  • When it comes to swimming in the beaches here is some advice:
  • There are some guards at the beaches but from March to November the beach season is officially over
  • Stay near the beach when swimming, most of the people who drown are those who can actually swim. Many of them go out too far and the power of the waves have surprised many of them unfortunately.
  • Bathing during off-season from March to November is not forbidden, '''but you're doing it at your own risk'''. Authorities won't take responsibility if something happens to you or any related.
  • Cope

    If you want to use a toilet there are some public ones in the streets and in the beaches but also in restaurants. They charge a fee but most of them are dirty. If you can, ask the staff in the casino if you can use the toilet. Being a foreign tourist or somehow well-dressed compared to the locals, will make it easier. This is not very likely because, in order to get into a casino in the first place you have to be formally dressed.

    Get out