Norte Chico People & Culture

A vivid city with a wonderful sandy beach! Many attractions on the beach like music, shows, different food, laughing and happy people all over! And a beautiful sunset...

Easter Island ! Lovely tiny island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Get a horse, do not rent a car! or bike around the island. It's so small. Enjoy the nature and the island mystics. There's only one supermarket/food store. Please check the expiring-dates of food. Its quiet common that some stuff are expired (like ketchup..hehe) don't worry, you won't die. There's only one flight a week. Try hang out with the locals (only 1000 people living there), hav fun with the kids on the island. Enjoy their hospitality and kindness. It's the most isolated island in this world with a fantastic history.

I was in Rapa Nui for a week last year and LOVED it!! Spectacular scenery, mysterious culture, great hiking and excellent SCUBA diving (did it every day, once or twice, and never repeated location!!). The islad never gets too crowded with tourists as there are maximun 2 flights per day during high season... People are relaxed, laid back, just talking to any local is an experience by it self. I recommend Hotel Manavai, really well located (one block away from Pea beach, few blocks from the main street) and proud owner of the town's only "cinema" where "Rapa Nui# movie plays 3-4 times per week (interesting to watch when you are there). Also, Te Moana restaurant on the main street. You can walk almost anywhere, yet renting motorbykes or horses is a good idea to go a bit further (i.e. Anakena). I loved this small island, in fact, I'm going back this year again!

One of the best ways of seeing Valparaíso is through its funiculars. These constructions scattered around the entire natural amphitheater surrounding the city enable people to admire the huge bay and the strong contrast of the houses painted in shocking colors from the heights. From up there, eyes usually stop on the horizon that dies into the Pacific Ocean.

There are twenty-two funiculars in Valparaíso. Here we present the main features of the most emblematic ones, whether for their history, their names or maybe because they are usually mentioned in poems or songs that refer to this particular city. We recommend that you tour around Valparaíso with all your senses by using the funiculars. It will be an unforgettable experience.

Algarrobo has some very nice beaches that are visited by many hip "Santiaguinos" who are always eager to get to know people from everywhere.
Also, the "World's largest Swimming Pool" is in Algarrobo, clearest water filtered from the sea. Worth looking at!

Valparaiso is a port city, 3 years ago was declared World's Heritage by UNESCO, because its unique natural landscape. Valparaíso has cultural activities and nightlife interesting along the year. It is located to 15 minutes from Viña del Mar, famous by the International Song Festival.

I was in Rapa Nui for a week last year and LOVED it!! Spectacular scenery, mysterious culture, great hiking and excellent SCUBA diving (did it every day, once or twice, and never repeated location!!). The islad never gets too crowded with tourists as there are maximun 2 flights per day during high season... People are relaxed, laid back, just talking to any local is an experience by it self. I recommend Hotel Manavai, really well located (one block away from Pea beach, few blocks from the main street) and proud owner of the town's only "cinema" where "Rapa Nui# movie plays 3-4 times per week (interesting to watch when you are there). Also, Te Moana restaurant on the main street. You can walk almost anywhere, yet renting motorbykes or horses is a good idea to go a bit further (i.e. Anakena). I loved this small island, in fact, I'm going back this year again!

Want to know the best time to visit Easter Island? Early February, to experience the Tapati Festival, which celebrates Rapa Nui culture.

A vivid city with a wonderful sandy beach! Many attractions on the beach like music, shows, different food, laughing and happy people all over! And a beautiful sunset...

The scuba diving in Easter Island is remarkable - up to 40 metres of visibility!  I dove with Orca Diving in Hanga Roa and was very much impressed - highly profession but still having fun.  The dive in the harbour has a great variety of fish and a "surprise" Moa (giant stone head) for tourist photos!

Easter Island ! Lovely tiny island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Get a horse, do not rent a car! or bike around the island. It's so small. Enjoy the nature and the island mystics. There's only one supermarket/food store. Please check the expiring-dates of food. Its quiet common that some stuff are expired (like ketchup..hehe) don't worry, you won't die. There's only one flight a week. Try hang out with the locals (only 1000 people living there), hav fun with the kids on the island. Enjoy their hospitality and kindness. It's the most isolated island in this world with a fantastic history.

I was in Rapa Nui for a week last year and LOVED it!! Spectacular scenery, mysterious culture, great hiking and excellent SCUBA diving (did it every day, once or twice, and never repeated location!!). The islad never gets too crowded with tourists as there are maximun 2 flights per day during high season... People are relaxed, laid back, just talking to any local is an experience by it self. I recommend Hotel Manavai, really well located (one block away from Pea beach, few blocks from the main street) and proud owner of the town's only "cinema" where "Rapa Nui# movie plays 3-4 times per week (interesting to watch when you are there). Also, Te Moana restaurant on the main street. You can walk almost anywhere, yet renting motorbykes or horses is a good idea to go a bit further (i.e. Anakena). I loved this small island, in fact, I'm going back this year again!

3 words: Waste of time. You get all the way there on the bus $8 day pass per person, and there is only 1 distillery in town and costs another $8 for a tour and measley tastings. Then it is a 3km hike if you want to visit another distillery. You can take the bus back towards La Serena, one distillery closes for tastings at 12noon (what, do only alchohalics go Pisco tasting??!!) Apparently the Capel distillery is in Vicuna but there is no direction, information, or signposts once you get there, so you are on your own, good luck. Anyways the valley itself is very beautiful but it was THE most unsucessful day on our 2 month trip so not exactly something I will reccomend. We also spoke to a guy who did the tour from La Serena to Elqui and apparently you only visit 1 distillery and get a choice between a measley sample of pisco OR a measley sample of dessert wine. So the tours are a bust and doing it yourself is a bust. As far as the saving money reccomendation goes, I would say skip it altogether. You will spend less money buying different piscos in bottles and tasting them for yourself.

Capital of the province of Elqui, Coquimbo lies only 12 kilometers South of La Serena and 462 kilometers to the North of the City of Santiago. This is one of the summer destinations par excellence due to its long coastline, whose beaches are suitable for bathing, nautical sports and recreational activities.
Situated 87 m.a.s.l., its climate is semiarid, typical of the steppe. It features moderate temperatures ranging between 15 and 25° C along the year, as a result of the influence of the Pacific Ocean, although in the summer, it usually reaches peaks of 34° C.
On the southern shore, Coquimbo is blessed with long beaches and bays of soft sand. La Herradura, Totoralillo, Las Tacas, Morrillos, Playa Blanca, Puerto Velero and Tongoy are the most outstanding bathing resorts, which invite visitors to sunbathe and enjoy the white sands, the temperate crystal-clear waters and the first-class service.

The best spot to go watch a sunset is by Ahu Tahai, while the best sunrise location is at Ahu Tongariki.

Go to see the "Rapa Nui" movie (with Bruce Lee junior) in the only one theatre at Manavai cinema.tel:5632-100670

The scuba diving in Easter Island is remarkable - up to 40 metres of visibility!  I dove with Orca Diving in Hanga Roa and was very much impressed - highly profession but still having fun.  The dive in the harbour has a great variety of fish and a "surprise" Moa (giant stone head) for tourist photos!

Valparaiso is an unic city. All these houses on hills are amazing

A vivid city with a wonderful sandy beach! Many attractions on the beach like music, shows, different food, laughing and happy people all over! And a beautiful sunset...