Walking Tour: Providencia Commune of Santiago (Self Guided), Santiago

Providencia is a commune in Santiago that includes the famous shopping and nightlife district of Bellevista. In this densely populated part of the city, you will see many mansions where the elite of Santiago once lived. The Metropolitan Zoo and Teleferico are also highlights of this area. This tour will take you to the most visited places of the commune:

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

The Chilean National Zoo (Zoológico Nacional de Chile) is a 4.8-hectare (12-acre) zoo that was founded in 1925 in Santiago, Chile. Located at the foot of San Cristóbal Hill in what is known as the Santiago Metropolitan Park (Parque Metropolitano de Santiago), the zoo is home to thousands of animals representing 158 species. Unique exhibits feature Chilean native animals and birds including rare and endangered species. The Chilean National Zoo has a dual focus: to conserve and research species held at the zoo, and to educate and provide activities for the visiting public. The Zoo is located in the metropolitan park on San Cristóbal Hill. Children will enjoy watching and learning about the many different animals that are featured here. The zoo can be reached by funicular, cable car or the stairs (if you go for the stairs you'll have to walk uphill since the zoo is over a mountain; if you use the cable car you get down on top of the zoo and work your way down).

Why You Should Visit:
Beautifully green zoo with a crazy number of animals like llamas, elephants, meerkats, bears and giraffes.
The bird enclosure where you are able to walk amongst the various species of birds is also quite impressive.
There is a play area for children and a couple of cafes in and around the site.

Tip:
As long as you don't mind a few minutes of a steep climb, try walking up to the entrance of the zoo (take the stairs to the right of the funicular), instead of taking the funicular as it's a lot faster, especially in high season when the lineups are long.

Teleferico begins in the middle of the Providencia neighborhood. It is the cable car that carries visitors up to the Virgin Statue that is at the top of Saint Christopher Hill.

This cable car ascends about 800 feet and there’s an intermediate stop for the swimming pool (yes, there’s a pool in this park accessible from the cable car!). It seems like a long ride as you gently bob your way to the top of San Cristobal hill. The views are very good, especially if it’s clear, but even if not perfectly so, you get an excellent sense of the spread of the city of Santiago. Highly recommended, but also quite popular so go earlier in the day and probably not on a weekend.

The Centro Mori or Centro Cultural Mori (Mori Cultural Center) is a cultural project founded in Santiago, Chile by actors Gonzalo Valenzuela and Benjamín Vicuña, together with their partner Cristóbal Vial. The center is located in Barrio Bellavista - a neighborhood of Santiago with a strong cultural heritage - in an old house at the foot of San Cristóbal Hill (street address Constitución 183), next to the Plaza Camilo Mori and near La Chascona (the museum and former house of Pablo Neruda). The property was restored in 2005 by the actors and a group of professionals to turn it into the Teatro Mori Bellavista (Mori Theater, Bellavista). Centro Mori runs theater performances in three spaces located around Santiago. The latest to open was the Mori Plaza Vespucio, inaugurated in 2012. At its opening, Valenzuela said “we want to do away with the idea that the theater is elitist, instead showing that it can be a place where people can come and have fun.” A wide range of theater styles are represented on the center’s bill, including a play commemorating victims of the 2010 San Miguel prison fire which opened in August 2012, a theater adaptation of Charlie Chaplin’s 1931 film City Lights shown during September 2012 and various works for both children and adults.

A traveler searching for a one-stop place where culture, art and cuisine combine should make their way to Patio Bellavista in the heart of Santiago. This beautiful patio is a meeting place with numerous delights: wine shops, restobars, restaurants, art, crafts, an ice cream parlor and art gallery. More than fifty shops, featuring the best quality of art souvenirs and handicrafts, can be found here, with jewelry, artwork, pottery, fine leather products, textiles and books all finding a home.

The place can be accessed from various major tourist destinations, including La Chascona, El Mercado Central and Cerro San Cristobal. This is a top destination for a nocturnal traveler who fancies some night entertainment, whereas those more active during the day could relax and enjoy this patio visiting its various shops and restaurants. There are usually several events on the go that are sure to catch the traveler's eye, including historical and cultural exhibitions, as well as traditional dances that will give you a better peek into the life and culture of the natives.

Why You Should Visit:
Despite being in the middle of a very busy and dynamic area, it has a bohemian atmosphere (especially in the afternoon or early evening), with a mixture of souvenir and craft shops, excellent restaurants (Asian, Italian, Spanish and Chilean cuisines – some have a 2nd floor with a view to the whole patio), bars, pizzerias, pubs, as well as plenty of dessert spots for crepes or the rolling ice cream that's all the craze at the moment. Great place for first-time visitors.

Tip:
Plan your trip to allow time to visit one of the open-air restaurants on the patio.

The Parish Church of the Guardian Angels was designed in neo-Renaissance architectural style. It is composed mainly of brick and the inside is finished in such a way that it looks like marble. Twin towers and a great dome characterize the outside of the church.

Bicentenario Fountain is a very beautiful old fountain that is illuminated at night. The fountain is located in Balmaceda Park, where you will find some nice bridges across the river and great cafes for dining.

Coco Le Grand, the famous Chilean actor, owns the Teatro Circus Ok Santiago. You can often find him performing in this theater. Locals enjoy his plays very much, so it is advisable to get tickets in advance to be sure you have a seat.

One of the best places for traditional Chilean cuisine, as well an excellent wine list that includes regional vintages, Bar Liguria can be found in the Providencia district of Santiago. This classy bar attracts a fair amount of both tourists and locals for expertly-crafted cocktails and to enjoy the sophisticated, relaxed atmosphere of the place. Locals found here tend to be friendly and enjoy conversations amongst a good mix of artists and intellectuals from all around the city. In addition to traditional Chilean fare, Bar Liguria’s exquisite menu includes an assortment of Italian dishes as well, also expertly-prepared.

Sculpture Park looks much like a botanical park that features many grand sculptures, some of which are colored. The sculptures are made mostly from stone and metal, but one of the most striking sculpture is a large iron bull.

Walking Tours in Santiago, Chile

Creating your own self-guided walk in Santiago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

It would be a pity to leave Santiago without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. We've compiled a list of gifts and souvenirs, which are unique to Santiago, that a visitor might like to purchase to reflect their visit.

The main religious buildings of Santiago were built in the 17th and 18th centuries and are set in the center of the city. These amazing buildings and monuments are mostly Catholic temples but there are a few Orthodox churches as well. The following self-guided walking tour will lead you to these sacred places:

Santiago nightlife usually begins rather late, as locals prefer to go out after 1 am. Bellavista, one of the most popular districts in the city, is full of clubs and pubs that offer a wide variety of music styles, from Latin and salsa to electronic. This self-guided tour will lead you to the most trendy night clubs of Santiago:

Santiago, the capital of Chile, was founded by Spanish conquerers. As most other capitals, the heart of Santiago is full of museums rich in the culture and history of the city and of Chile. This self-guided tour will lead you to the most visited museums of Santiago:

Santiago offers amazing views of beautiful mountains that surround the city. The hills that lie within the city have became landmarks due to the magnificent view of Santiago they offer and because of the monuments that sit upon them. This self-guided tour will lead you to the most popular landmarks of Santiago:

Vaticura is the most fashionable and the richest commune in Santiago. Citizens with a very high income are known to live in this area. The best shops, wineries, and many commercial art galleries are located here. This tour will take you to the most popular places of Vitacura Commune:

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

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