Valparaiso, Chile.

Valparaiso is a vibrant and artistic town situated in Chile on the pacific coast. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive there from Santiago.

Our Chilean friend drove us up to the top of the town to the fashionable and cultural area 'Concepcion'. This is where all the gorgeous shops,cafes and hotels are located.

Visually, It's the most amazing place to visit and the graffiti is outstanding as you will see from my photos.

Graffiti.

These photos say it all...

This is the street where we parked and it was so exciting to get out of the car and see this beauty.

and so witty too!

Beautiful!

So colourful and imaginative.

Shopping.

Here is a guide to the shops situated in the area of 'Concepcion'. They are all very artistic, individual, colourful and thoughtful shops with very friendly staff.

Plus.

Miramar 240, Carre Alegre, Valparaiso.

Small boutique selling innovative clothing labels, quirky stuffy toys and gorgeous jewellery.

Del Rio Almar.

San Enrique 338, Cerro Alegre, Valparaiso.

Handmade wooden seagulls and colourful, traditional Valparaiso houses.

Guina.

Lautaro Rosas, 449 A, Valparaiso.

Sells unusual Fairtrade gifts, some sourced from Vietnam and Indonesia.

La Consentida.

Lautaro Rosas, 593 Cerro Alegre.

Quirky clothes, colorful and fun gifts. Felt corsages, handmade brightly coloured hats, flowers in tea cups and pretty flower lights.

Hey Mira.

Urriola 664 B, 2 Piso, Cerro Alegre.

Floral pincushions, handmade jewellery in bright glass and perspex.

A Mano.

Almirante Montt, 454, Cerro Alegre.

Specializing in Knitted garments and accessories. Also, rugs and blankets from Peru / Bolivia.

Art in Silver Workshop.

Pasage Templeman 8, Valparaiso.

Beautiful handmade Silver jewellery, also uses local Lapis.

Paraiso Del Arte.

Templeman area, Valparaiso.

I don't remember the exact location of 'Paraiso del Arte', but I bought this little handmade house. 

They also have an art studio and cafe. Very cool.

Places to eat.

I didn't eat at all of these places but it will give you an idea of what is there.

Restaurant Cafe Turri.

Templemann No 147, Cerro Concepcion, Valparaiso.

Famous restaurant with terrace that has panoramic views of valparaiso and the sea.

Food is fairly expensive and was quite disappointing. Worth going for the location and I'm sure the food is usually fine, we were just unlucky.

There is a craft shop upstairs that sells postcards and handmade local gifts. 'Emporio Artesano'.

Restaurant Cafe Turri's terrace.

Cafe Hoy Almuerzos.

Papudo, Concepcion.

Small, cosy, earthy, vegetarian cafe with a fixed 3 course menu. Very good prices.

Front view of Hoy Almuerzoz.

Pastis.

Somewhere in the Concepcion area.

I didn't eat here but walked past and thought the menu looked tempting.

Creme Brulee sounds good...

Places to Stay.

I didn't stay in Valparaiso but I did notice a lot of very nice looking hotels / B&B's as follows:-

Hotel Casa Thomas Somerscales.

San Enrique 446, Cerro Alegre, Valparaiso. 

www.hotelsomerscales.cl

Beautiful hotel that was once the home of the painter Thomas Somerscales. 

8 luxurious rooms.

Rates from $USD 125 to 220 including breakfast.

Hotel Thomas Somerscales.

Hotel Latitud 33 Sur.

Pasaje Templeman 183, Cerro Concepcion, Valparaiso.

www.hotellatitud33sur.cl

Colourful architectural hotel, perched on the hills in the cultural district of Concepcion. 10 modern and bright rooms rooms, some with views of the town and coastline.

Hotel Manoir Atkinson.

Paseo Atkinson 165, Cerro Concepcion, Valparaiso.

www.hotelatkinson.cl

A French, boutique hotel located in Concepcion. There are 7 rooms, all containing a classic European essence mixed with the cultural feel of valparaiso.

Places to Visit.

Ascensor / Funicular,

Concepcion, Valparaiso.

An easy way to get from hectic down town Valparaiso, up to the top area of Concepcion. It's a steep but very short climb to the top. A great experience and very much part of the life of Valparaiso.

Hope you like heights.

Ascensor at the bottom. Lovely views of Valparaiso.

Beautiful hand made glass ascensor, made by the talented Lorena. You can see more of her brilliant work at www.vidriofundido.cl