1.
Walking Santiago Tour: link
to map
Downtown colonial Santiago is not very big, you can get around its most important landmarks on a walking tour. Start by attending the guard change at 12:00 hrs at (1) La Moneda (Presidential Palace), then visit the extraordinary (2) Museo de Arte Precolombino, take a look at the (3) ex-Congreso Nacional Building. The (4) Plaza de Armas, is a good place to sit and enjoy the rich colonial architecture surrounding you: (5) Catedral; (6) Portal Fernández Concha; (7) Correo, (8) Museo de Historia Nacional and the (9) Palacio Consistorial.

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Cerro Santa Lucía
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Iglesia
San Francisco
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Post Office
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Congreso Nacional |
Continue walking east towards the colonial art nouveau building of the (10) Mercado Central, where you might wish to try some of the delectable and divers seafood brought from the cold Pacific Ocean. Continue towards the (11)Estación Mapocho and on your way back walk along the river Mapocho and enjoy the cool avenue on (12) Parque Forestal. You can then take Mac Iver street and visit the (13)Manso de Velasco Palace, continue walking towards the magnificent (14) Museo de




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Sights of Downtown Santiago
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Metro Station
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Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum) which holds some
of Chile´s most important artists. After you exit the Museum, walk towards
the (15) Cerro Santa Lucía, take pleasure from its diverse autochthonous
vegetation. Pedro de Valdivia, founded Santiago in 1541 on this hilltop. On
the main downtown avenue, get a glimpse of (16) Iglesia San Francisco, the (17)
Biblioteca Nacional and the (18) Teatro Municipal a true colonial architectural
gem. Santiago has an excellent and safe Metro system (although still limited
in coverage) which you should attempt to use as often as possible.
2. Santiago by bus with visits to main monuments : US$25 per person (3 hours)
3. Excursion to Viña del Mar and Valparaíso:
US$48 per person (all day/includes lunch)

4. Excursion to Isla Negra and Pomaire: US$45 per person (all day/does not include lunch)
Chilean
Pablo Neruda and 1971 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature is the highlight of the
visit to Isla Negra. Neruda, was born in 1904 in the town of Parral and originally
given the name Neftali Reyes. At just twenty years of age he published his first
works entitled "Twenty Poems of Love and One Desperate Song." It was after this
first success that he began to use the name Pablo Neruda. Pablo Neruda's favorite
home, however, was the one he built at Isla Negra, a site which he purchased
in 1939. Neruda was enchanted by the sea, and he often dreamed of being the
captain of a great ship on the ocean. His home at Isla Negra was constructed
to remind him of the sea; even the outer stone patio facing the beach took on
the shape of the bow of a ship.
As one stands there and looks out at the sea, it almost seems
as though the entire house could somehow set sail. Even in Neruda's bedroom,
along side his bed, was a nautical telescope which he kept within reach so he
could sit up and look out over the ocean to guide his ship at any time of the
day or night. He was a self-proclaimed "admirer of things," and the objects
he admired from the various corners of the earth, sea shells, bottles, miniature
boats, masks, even shoes, fill every corner of the house. Afterwards, enjoy
the artistic town of Pomaire, a small town of artisans where black clay ornaments,
plates and other local craftmanship is developed. 
These excursions and several others are made available to you through Carlson Wagon Lit Travel Agency, if you have any questions or would like to reserve a tour, please send an email to:
Blanca Castillo
at magtour@eso.org
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