One can escape to Viña del Mar, the so-called sister town of Valparaiso, by either bus or cab; as it lies just nine kilometers from Valparaiso, the trip itself takes very little time.

If one can imagine Valparaiso to be like Cinderella, Viña del Mar are like her haughty step sisters. The city is all glimmer and glamour, built on pretension as an expensive, surreal playground for the wealthy.   Many affluent Chileans and other South Americans own large summer houses and apartments. Downtown is covered with chic and posh restaurants, bars and nightclubs where the beautiful and rich dance till late hours and smoke cigars.

The famous 1930s casino attracts gamblers from all over South America to strike a bet and gulp down a martini. Viña del Mar also has productions of theatre, ballet and other sorts of dance. It has fine gardens and idyllic hotels on the beach.   For those who wish to, they can rent horse carriages to travel around town. Most definitely, Viña del Mar is an escape from the blue-collared atmosphere of Valparaiso. However, one may find, if seeking a true ‘cultural’ experience, Viña del Mar is not the place to be. Here, the cuisine, the style, the culture, the ambiance, is all international and luxurious. There is not a sense of Chile on these pristine and glitzy streets. Thus, this city is only appropriate for a certain type of traveler, one seeking luxury and branding, spa treatments and champagne.

Another day trip is to the Casablanca wine valley 40km from Valparaiso with lots of great vineyards that mainly produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonny and Pinot Noir.

Also you can go to Isla Negra the House of Pablo Neruda the Noble price winning poet which is 40km from Valparaiso.