Valparaiso and Viña del Mar

The city of Valparaiso grew into an important stopover for vessels that sailed around Cape Horn but it drastically declined in importance when the Panama Canal opened in 1914. Today, it is famous for its elevators, connecting suburbs on the hill with the lower downtown, and its picturesque architecture.

The nearby Viña del Mar (only a couple of stops on the commuter train) is a nice mix between a city and a beach resort, often called the Garden City, referring to its many parks, trees and flowers. The Fonck museum features an original moai (enormous stone sculpture from Easter Island) together with some less interesting stuff like local birds and insects.

Pictures: 1) Valparaiso elevator; 2) Valparaiso; 3) Viña del Mar; 4) Viña del Mar