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After voyaging to the Antarctic aboard the Ryndam (29 Jan 02 article) , I spent three days touring the Valparaiso/Santiago area in a rented automobile before flying out. Valparaiso, where the Ryndam debarked almost all of its passenger, is the principal port and naval base of Chile and is a busy, growing city of over 300,000 inhabitants which makes it the second largest city in the country. Local portenos call Valparaiso the cultural capital of Chile but I like the Port of Valparaiso's slogan "Happy Passengers Are Our Most Prized Cargo" (with emphasis on the word Cargo). Rather steep hillsides surround the central area and a multitude of steps and funiculars are to be found everywhere. After exploring the urban area with its many attractions, I drove east along the coast to the neighboring city of Vina del Mar, an attractive seaside resort area that is famous throughout South America.

A night was spent in Vina del Mar and a morning stroll north along the beach as far as the recreational (Muelle Vergara) pier found a very large number of people enjoying their holiday. Leaving Vina del Mar/Renaca towards the north and after reaching Con Con, I turned east to cross the 100-mile wide narrow waist of Chile and head for the Andes and Portillo the winter ski capital of South America. The great central valley of Chile opens to the sea north of Valparaiso and the Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and moist winters is in full sway. One sees fruit production in the Aconcagua Valley and vineyards throughout the area and, as you know, Chilean wine is very good indeed.

The road up the Andes is in excellent condition with little roadside development which permits uninterrupted views of the valleys and mountains as one climbs up to the pass which is in excess of 9,000 feet of elevation. The Portillo Hotel is nestled along a very small lake and is not opened in the summer except for a few chalets and lodges. Its location at the Chilean/Argentinian border is almost exactly 100 miles northeast of Santiago. It is also due south of Aconcagua the highest mountain (28,829 feet in elevation) in the western hemisphere. The road descent is easy enough and the night is spent in Los Andes at the base of the mountains.

The direct route south is a comfortable toll road to
Santiago, the country's capital, which is some 70 miles to the southeast of Valparaiso. It is a large city of some five million inhabitants and reminiscent of European cities expecially in the downtown areas.

Santiago has a number of attractions, the usual array of museums and theaters, plus some parks that are worth looking into such as the Metropolitan and Santa Lucia. Its central area can be negotiated on foot although a car does come in handy. The subway, however, is the way to go on busy weekdays if it fits your itinerary.

Fortunately, the rental car company from Vina del Mar sent a driver to the new and stylish airport to retrieve the car (a drop charge was applied, of course) and I made my getaway as planned. All in all, it was an excellent post-cruise experience.

References. Click on any of the selected items below for travel-related information:

Valparaiso/Mar del Vina Travel Information.

Valparaiso Port Information.

Valparaiso Naval Museum.

Valparaiso Funicular Map.

Valparaiso Hills.

Santiago Travel Information.

Santiago Map.

Santiago City Information.

Santiago/Valparaiso Travel Information.

Santiago Times.

Santiago Tours.

RSSC Shore Excursions.

Santiago Climate.

General Cruise information.

WORLD PORT DIRECTORY.

ALOHA CRUISES Front Page.