I was completely unprepared for how much I would adore Valparaiso. Situated two hours north of Santiago on a gorgeous coastline near wine-haven Vina del Mar, Valparaiso makes a great day trip or, if you have the time, an overnighter at least. When you come out of the bus station, head towards the hills and climb. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views of a glistening harbour. (We were lucky and had a blue sky day which made the sea sparkle more and the colorful houses seemed more electic against a blue backdrop.) Tip- if you do make it a day trip, sort out a return bus ticket straight away. We were caught off guard when it came time to leave Valparaiso as every single ticket booth displayed “sold-out” signs. Luckily we managed to snag two tickets, but boy that was a heart-stopper for a few minutes.
