This article aims to present aspects of the gastronomy and tourism in Chile. According to Neto (2021), when it comes to vacation, South America is not a destination chosen by Europeans. One of the reasons might be that Europe has wonderful, paradisiacal places as mentioned by the Amantes de Viagem, and the most frequently chosen are Algarve, Porto Santo, Menorca, Sardenha, among others.
In this article, we would like to introduce you to a country in South America with beautiful places and gastronomy that will suit the tastes of the Europeans.
Located in the western part of South America, it is famous for the beauty of The Andes that extends throughout its land and six neighboring countries. The trip to Chile is worthwhile because of its amazing views.
Once your plane lands in Santiago – its capital – you will have the opportunity to visit two famous restaurants and several other places . Spanish is the official language spoken in Chile, which makes communication easier for Portuguese speakers, even though there are major differences between the two languages.
Chilean cuisine is very rich in fish and seafood. You can order them throughout the country because the ingredients are always fresh since they are the country’s main source of protein. The prices are reasonable: around 13 Euros in the restaurants mentioned in this article.
The first restaurant is the Ocean Pacific’s, in 2237 Agustinas, a six-minute walk from Cumming subway station. It is a family restaurant with a striking atmosphere inspired by the sea and navigation. Once there, you can take a tour of the themed rooms depicting the bottom of the sea with mermaids, manta rays, sharks, a pirate ship, a submarine, portholes rooms, among others.
The menu is extensive with a variety of fish and seafood but just one of the twenty-six pages is dedicated to the vegan/vegetarian food. Because of its theme, there are few meals featuring red meat. The dishes are well – served and harmonious. It also has an extensive wine list with sparkling wine and other alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
For couples, we would recommend Giratorio in 2255 Nueva Providencia, a minute-walk from Los Leones subway station. On the top floor – the 16th floor – this revolving restaurant has its tables on a rotating platform. At first, it may not sound a good idea – you may think that it may rotate too fast and make you feel dizzy – but when you are at your table, the movement will almost go unnoticed.
The menu has more meals featuring red meat and chicken when compared to the former and it offers vegetarian dishes as well. Albeit concise, the menu is well designed and there is harmony between the dishes and their presentation. It is an elegant restaurant that offers a unique experience to its customers. The prices are reasonable. The most expensive main dish costs 23 Euros and it is a red meat medallion covered with shrimp, mushroom ragu and potato cubes. To get the most out of the experience, check sunset time and make a reservation an hour in advance so you can enjoy the view from the restaurant. Even though families can also enjoy it, there is no room or a menu specially dedicated to the children. Due to its romantic and intimate atmosphere and soft background music, this is a place where marriage proposals take place.
We should not forget Embalse Del Yeso, a turquoise-blue lake with astounding background mountains. Nevertheless, we advise people not to go on their own. The best thing to do to enjoy it and be safe is to find a tourism agency, because the road can be tricky for those who do not know it well. It is a reversible road, so traffic flow is unidirectional. Besides that, there are no road shoulders and there is a certain time to go up and down the road. Most of the tourism agencies offer wine and a table of cold cuts while you take in the view. In the winter, the snow covers the mountains, and it is breathtaking. In the summer, it is still cold on the road, the snow has melted but the landscape does not lose its charm.
Getting around Santiago is easy because of its public transport and extensive subway system that will take you to the tourist attractions. It is important to remember that rush hour fares – from 7 am to 9 am and from 6 pm to 8 pm – cost 86 cents. During the rest of the day, it costs from 69 to 78 cents. If you are looking for something more comfortable you can use ride-sharing apps that are widely used.
Apart from the places we have already mentioned, Chile has many other sights worth visiting. On your way to Embalse del Yeso, in Cajon del Maipo, you can visit the thermal springs – this can be arranged with the help of a tourism agency as mentioned before. If you enjoy walks and beautiful views of the city, you cannot leave without visiting Cerro San Cristobal. You can reach its Summit by ‘funicular’ – a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope (check cost of the fare beforehand). You can also walk or ride a bike; it is a 1.400 steep slope and you will find benches and water drinker coolers on the way, but you have to be well-prepared and well equipped for the journey. When you reach the top, there are some places where you can eat and appreciate the panoramic view. You can go down by the other side of the hill, boarding the cable car, buy a one-way ticket or a two-way ticket - in case you decide to walk or take the funicular - to get back to the starting point. Once you disembark the cable car, you will be close to the tallest building in Chile, the Sky Costanera, that has an observation deck on its top floor and where you can see Santiago from a different angle. The ticket costs 18 euros and 5,40 euros for children. Another place famous for its view is Cerro Santa Lucia- located next to Universidad Católica subway station - which offers a panoramic view of another part of the city. The capital of Chile has many vista points in various locations, where you can admire its beauty from every angle.
Back to the ground, you can visit La Chascona museum, one of Pablo Neruda’s homes – a Chilean poet, diplomat and politician who published several books and was awarded the Literature Nobel Prize in 1971.
If you plan to stay longer, leave the city and go to Valparaiso beach. Its beautiful and colorful architecture attracts many tourists and there you can visit Pablo Neruda’s beach house, La Sebastiana, where the poet liked to spend his time, a refuge from the hectic pace of Santiago. Neruda used to spend the holiday season there and watch the fireworks. You will see curious pieces – such as maps and paintings – which he purchased in Valparaiso. In El Quisco, a little distant from Valparaiso, you will find the oldest of Pablo Neruda’s homes, called Isla Negra. According to Livia and Gabriel Lorenzi, creators of the website Dicas Chile, he named the house after the black rocks that faced the ocean. There, he wrote most of his books, and it is where his grave is. All his houses served as inspiration for his poetry; their architecture and decorations are unique because he spent most of his time remodeling them.
For those interested in adventures, there are the Atacama Desert tours. Some of them include daytime walks and camping in the desert at night to see the stars – as there is no pollution, you can see the stars and all the constellations. For those who enjoy astronomy, we recommend bringing your own telescope to have a better view of the celestial bodies. Besides that, the guides on these tours usually provide further astronomy information. In the desert, the temperatures vary greatly throughout the day. It can be very hot in the morning,35 degrees Celsius (in the summer), and it can get down to -4 degrees Celsius at night. Most of these tours are organized by tourism agencies, with pre-established routes that take into consideration natural phenomena. The city of San Pedro of Atacama is the starting point of this adventure. As it is a small city in the middle of the desert, it has no public transport, so you must ride a bike, have a car or travel in groups organized by tourism agencies. It is advisable to buy a travel package including transfers and the return to the hotel. For the seasoned traveler who knows how to camp, itis possible to rent a car and with the help of a tour guide, do it on your own - in accordance with Lara Nogueira from the site "O mundo é pequeno para mim" (transl. - The world is small for me). As the area is the border between Chile and Bolivia, you must know how to avoid any kind of trouble, like getting lost in the desert, for example. A major part of the way is well-marked, but some tourist attractions, like Salar de Tara, can be a little more dangerous.
Like any other place in the world, Chile does not have only good gastronomy and beautiful views. One must remember that the political issues in the country may cause protests.
It is important to mention that places where the food is very cheap, the quality may be poor, and you will spend the same amount of money in a small restaurant.
Also, it is important to know that bars in Patio Bella Vista do not sell alcoholic drinks unless you order something to eat, in an attempt to avoid problems with customers who have had too much to drink. There are several places to have lunch or dinner in Patio Bella Vista where you can eat Japanese, Italian, Chilean and many other kinds of food. Besides restaurants, you will find coffee shops, candy stores and stores where you can buy accessories and handmade objects. Itis an exciting place where you can enjoy your evening - sometimes with musical presentations.
We would like to emphasize that just like Portugal, Chile has many wineries like Concha Y Toro, Casa Silva among others. You can go to Concha Y Toro – one of the most famous wineries and its wine is sold in 140 countries – by subway, bus, or car - provided by the winery or a travel agency. Located one hour from downtown Santiago, it offers wine tasting experience of 3, 6, 7 or 8 glasses, a tour of the place and tells the story of the famous brand Casillero Del Diablo. The ticket costs 22 euros. Furthermore, there is a restaurant and a store where you can buy every type of wine they produce as well as accessories to improve your experience at home.
To summarize, we hope this article has piqued your curiosity about a new place to visit soon or on your next vacation, as well as about South America and its beauty. The world is full of new places to be visited and discovered, bringing new knowledge, new cultures, and new flavors.
author:
Mônica Maiztegui Rossini
Alumni of Pastry Arts at the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Porto
Note:
Additional information and bibliography available in the article originally published in LOBBY magazine No. 02.
