The unforgettable colors of Valparaíso
I don't think there's a better city for Street Art lovers to visit in South America than Valparaíso, Chile. Every corner of this port city is instagrammable to the point you'll get tired of snapping so many pictures.
My one-month long stay happened in March/17, and boy do I miss this place. There's art everywhere, people from all over the world, great food, and overall one of the best vibes I would encounter anywhere in Chile.
How to get there: a bus from Santiago will take you to Valparaíso in less than two hours. Buses in Chile are cheap, comfortable, and you can buy the tickets online with Paypal. The bus stations can be a bit tricky, but you just need to keep your eyes peeled for every bus coming up.
What to do: you can choose your own adventure here. Graffiti tours, cultural gatherings, boat trips, club-hopping, empanada classes, political tours. Whatever you do, though, don't forget to pair it with a glass of pisco sour, a Chilean classic.
Where to stay: there's just so many good hostels. I volunteered at one for the whole month in exchange for accommodation, because, again, I wanted to save some money. But accommodation is pretty cheap ($15/night). When choosing a place to stay, keep in mind this city is all hills (Cerro Alegre being one of the best). The closer you get to the ocean, the less walking uphill you'll have to endure. The city has lifts and crazy-long stairs, but it's better to avoid them specially at night for safety reasons.
Safety: speaking of safety. Valpo has a bad reputation. Like any other city in South America (and world), there's always the danger of being robbed, but if you follow the basic rules of traveling, you should be good to go. On my month there I saw a lot of young tourists walking around at night, drunk, cell phone in hand. I mean, a lot. Don't live stream your going to the club. Avoid the empty streets. Keep your documents safe. You know. The basics.
Digital nomads: you can find high-speed internet all around the city. There's a Starbucks if you need something reliable and a bunch of cool coffee shops where you can try your luck (meaning sometimes the internet won't work or the owner won't be happy if you hang around for longer than ten to twenty minutes.)
Day trips: many people travel to Vinã del Mar, when visiting Valpo. I did it once and was not that impressed. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, go to Concón. You get there by a tiny bus (that costs literal cents) and you'll encounter gigantic sand dunes. You can see the colors of Valpo from the distance, practice your sand boarding skills and catch the beautiful sunset over the ocean.
Just remember to choose the right shoes as it's impossible to walk all the way up barefoot unless you want to toast your toes. Oh, and if you visit the place on weekdays, you'll have the place all to yourself. Like this dork you're reading right now did. :D
