Going to Vina del Mar

What to do in Vina del Mar

by Michael T. Luongo

Viña del Mar (Viña) is a beach resort town about 75 miles northeast of Santiago, the inland capital of Chile, and is considered one of the premiere beach resort destinations in South America. The town was founded in the 1870's as a weekend retreat for wealthy vacationers from Santiago, and was made easily accessible with the arrival of the railroads. The area is comprised of several towns scattered over the Pacific coastline, from the main resort of Viña del Mar to Reñaca, Concón, Valparaiso, and several smaller towns and resorts. It is often referred to as the Chilean Riviera because of its warm Mediterranean climate—it's even pleasant during the rainy winter months—and also as the Orange County of Chile because it's full of high rise condos, surfing enthusiasts, and American-style...

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