The port of Valparaiso, located on the west coast of Chile, is the port for visiting Santiago. Valparaiso is a charming town that is worth exploring. Its colorful houses in the hills and the many murals on the city’s buildings are worth a visit. A municipal program commissions these murals from artists from different backgrounds. Santiago is located an hour and a half from Valparaiso, on the other side of the Cordillera de la Costa.
Santiago, founded in 1541, is the capital of Chile and its industrial and economic center. Its history was marked by the painful reign of Augusto Pinochet who seized power by force in 1973 and was ousted in 1988. Bordered by the Andes Mountain Range, the city has many museums and charming neighborhoods. If your cruise starts or ends in Santiago, you’ll probably want to stay an extra day there to explore the city.
