Viña del Mar

For its part, Via del Mar is referred to as the Garden City due to the abundance of parks and other natural places there. Chileans see it as the best city in the nation to live and work in, and it is only a short distance from Valparaiso. Playa Reaca, the Salinas, and Concon are a few of the region's alluring resorts. Due to its popularity among tourists, it is able to host numerous retail malls, restaurants, and pubs as well as large international hotel chains.

Santiaguinos have traveled in droves to Via's beaches to escape the summer heat since the 1800s. The beach and adjacent boardwalk provide a variety of attractions if you don't mind the crowds (or the tall condominiums): tanning on a length of sand, a coastal artesana (handmade crafts) market, and smaller stands with refreshments and ice cream.

Along the beaches, vendors sell dulces and cuchuflis. You can watch sand sculptors transform small grains into creatures like octopi, buffaloes, and even Simpsons characters. The easiest way to travel is by bus from Santiago because the roads can be crowded. After an hour and a half of travel from the University of Santiago station, you arrive at Via, which is close to the beach.

Location: near Valparaiso