FREE TOUR Valparaíso Highlights 15:00 Hrs
This 3 hour walking tour from port to high hills will help you find your feet and lose your mind as you discover the Heritage Site of Valparaiso.
In Valparaiso it is easy to get lost in the maze of alleyways and street art. We lead you around not only enhancing your sense of direction but filling you with our knowledge and wisdom of locally named “Valpo”. An adventure that takes you through your senses of taste, smell, vision and laughter (ok that last one might not be a sense, but if it was it’s going to be tickled).
Today you will ride an over 120 years old funicular, learn about Chileans’ favorite foods and sweets, and meet the most popular stray dogs in town. Find your local Wally guide at Plaza Sotomayor at 3pm everyday, rain or shine! If that wasn’t exciting enough for you to read, then get this: it’s a pay-what-you-feel tour. The pressure is released, get your kicks on and enjoy discovering the “Jewel of the Pacific”!
To make sure everyone has a good experience on our tours, we aim to keep groups relatively small. In our experience, big groups traveling together have a higher than average no show rate, and can commandeer the tour and make other guests feel unwelcome. To be fair to all of our customers, we ask groups of over 8 to reserve a private tour or contact us on [email protected]
Why take THIS tour, Why THIS us? Taking a wander with your freelance Wally guide is like hanging out with your older brothers cool friend, they know all the cool places in town! Find out where to eat, drink and party along with the little quirks of Valpo only a local would know. All this along with the town’s cultural, political, architectural and religious background.
It’s impossible to discover Valpo by bus or vehicle, walking is the only way to see the hidden gems. We choose our freelance guides on the basis of how much they love Valparaiso. If they convince us of this as well as making us laugh and feeling comfortable we know they can make you as passionate as Valpo as we are. If you aren’t convinced yet you can check us out on TripAdvisor, we have maaaad references! And if you still ain’t satisfied by the end, you don’t have to pay a single peso!
Who should NOT take this tour? If you hate meeting new people or seeing controversial if not a little offensive art then you are in the wrong place completely. Now that you are in a bit of a smaller town we like to be more interactive and friendly. In our tours people get to know each other and learn each other’s stories. If you are a more traditional type that likes a bright white clean house then you may not like Valpo. All the houses here look like they have been sprinkled on by a concoction of colour and art.
TOUR DETAILS
PRICE
Pay-What-You-Like (Prefer private?)
TIME
Departs at 15:00 Hrs Finishes at 18:00 Hrs
MEETING POINT
Start/Finish Location: Plaza Sotomayor
WHAT TO BRING
Only yourself and comfy clothes, maybe slap on some sunscreen and some loose change for the funiculars
THE PORT 15:10 HRS
THE PORT 15:10 HRS
Find your red and white striped Wally guide waiting for you at 3pm at Plaza Sotomayor. Once we have all met one another we’ll make our way to the port. Here, we’ll get to know the origins of the city, from the arrival of the Spanish to the Indigenous population and the reason for the (pretty cool) name “Valparaíso”. Get your mind going and imagine Valpo as the most commercially active port of South America during the mid and late XIX century as the European communities started showing up and settling during the city’s “Golden Era”. We’ll talk a bit more about the buildings around the Pier and then head back to the square.
PLAZA SOTOMAYOR AND ITS SURROUNDINGS 15:30 HRS
PLAZA SOTOMAYOR AND ITS SURROUNDINGS 15:30 HRS
Talk about an eclectic combination of architecture! Plaza Sotomayor is the place to be when it comes to some of the most important buildings in the country. They’re not just a pretty face, though. These constructions have really interesting (and controversial, at times) backgrounds. Wally will let you know all about this, the extremely important role of the firefighters for the city, the reason to have a German firestation and what led Chile to have a street, alley or square in every city named after Arturo Prat, y’know, that big guy on top of the monument.
EL PERAL FUNICULAR 15:50 HRS
Time go up the hill and leave behind the flat area and bank district of Valpo! To do so, we’ll use a historical means of transportation, well older than your great-grandparents. We think it’s safe to say your legs aren’t as strong as Valpo locals, therefore El Peral elevator will do the trick. It won’t be just us phisically going up, but also the levels of fun go up from here on.
CERRO ALEGRE, CONCEPCIÓN 16:00 HRS
CERRO ALEGRE, CONCEPCIÓN 16:00 HRS
Together, we’ll dig deeper and deeper into the hearts of the two most popular hills of the city, Alegre and Concepción. Along the way you’ll see some really cool and bohemian hostels and hotels, fancy restaurants and really eye-catching art galleries. Valparaíso sits as a natural ampitheater of 45 hills (well, depending on who you talk to), each one bordered by narrow streets and all connected by a maze-like layout, all perfect for amazing views. Lucky for you, your Wally guide will lead the way to make sense out of all this as you take in the colors and views.
16:30 HRS
We completely understand if by this point you feel a bit tired. But worry not! We’ll stop right outside a charming house to introduce one of our favorite locals who has a sweet surprise for you (it’ll definitely cover your sugar fix for the day!)
GRAFFITI RICH WALLS 16:45 HRS
GRAFFITI RICH WALLS 16:45 HRS
In a very smooth transition, we’ll cross to Cerro Concepción and it’s time to see some of the absolute best murals the town has to offer. What in the past was residence to some pretty wealthy European families have now become true open air art galleries for every visitor to enjoy. Sure, many of these murals are extremely colorful and just fun to look at and take pictures of. However, quite a few of these carry a strong social and political message at times difficult to interpret, but Wally will help explain and make sense of what you’ll see on these walls.
CITY'S BEST VIEWPOINTS 17:15 HRS
Almost at the end of our route (I know, we wish it’d be much longer), Wally will take you to several walkways offering panoramic views of the bay and the hills. Places that show collections of colorful houses and the crazy structure of the city, where locals and tourists alike gather to enjoy the sights and the atmosphere. One last stop right outside the imposing and historical Lutheran Church before we head to the end of the tour.
END OF THE TOUR 17:45 HRS
END OF THE TOUR 17:45 HRS
We’ll finish our tour right at the limit of Cerros Alegre and Concepción. Follow us inside the beautiful “Templo Silbante” community center where you can find all kinds of workshops. From yoga to different types of dancing classes, this place also offers a wonderful view and a real zen-like feel. Stop, smell the flowers (literally and figuratively) and then ask your Wally guide all the questions and doubts you might have for the rest of your stay in Valpo. The evening approaches and the city is ready to offer fun (LOTS of fun), live music and long-lasting memories you will never forget!
English 
Spanish