Barefootford.com - Locals, gringos and lovers share a spot on the concrete bench at a viewing spot at Cerro San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile.
“I sold my piano, It couldn’t come with me. I locked up my bedroom And I walked out into the air.” Washington Square – The Counting Crows
It’s really, really difficult to comprehend how big Santiago is from the ground. Unlike Boise, where in order to see a tall building you have-ta’ look downtown, Santiago’s skyline and population (more than five million) is scattered through-out the city, all 250 square miles of it.
You could try and guestimate the boundaries of Santiago from a balcony, but your only going to see a fraction of Santiago. Your best bet is to join the locals and get up to city of Santiago’s second biggest hill, Cerro San Cristobal.
How to get there:
Take the red or green Metro lines to the Baquedano stop. Leave the Metro station and cross the big nasty brown river, Mapocho ( Not something to show when your parents are in town. It’s as contaminated as it looks.) Once you cross the river take Pio Nono to the base of the mountain.
How to get up:
To get up to the top, you’ve got three options:
1. Slow and steady (Tram)
This is probably the quickest way, and you also get great views as you go up the hill without having to huff and puff. Buy your tickets
Cost: 900 Pesos ($1.80 US)
2. Walk
You can walk it. Theres a relatively well marked trail going up the Northwest and Southwest side of the mountain. You’ll weave through mostly shaded areas and get up there a little sweaty, but definitely the most affordable route.
Cost: Free
3. Take a taxi up
I haven’t taken a Taxi here yet but they’re just like those tiny Sentra’s that are everyone in Mexico. One small caution though: If you’re dealing with large bills say what the bill is before giving it over to them. If you don’t confirm what you give them before hand, a very very small amount of scammi’ taxi drivers have been known to flip a 10,000 peso bill for a 1,000 and then try and convince you of needing to still pay whatever is left. Anyway, it doesn’t happen often but confirm what bill you’re giving before you give it to them and it won’t be an issue.
Cost: 800-1000 Pesos Up, ~ 600 Down ($4 US roundtrip with a smal tip)
At the top you’ll get some of the best views of the city, a ton of options for Chilean vendors (though like Disneyland, you’ll pay a little more for ice cream then you would in the city) and as many dogs as you could ever hope to take home.
Barefootford.com
Barefootford.com
BarefootFord.com
Cerro San Cristobal: Santiago from a Catholic bird's eye view
Barefootford.com - Locals, gringos and lovers share a spot on the concrete bench at a viewing spot at Cerro San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile.
“I sold my piano, It couldn’t come with me. I locked up my bedroom And I walked out into the air.” Washington Square – The Counting Crows
It’s really, really difficult to comprehend how big Santiago is from the ground. Unlike Boise, where in order to see a tall building you have-ta’ look downtown, Santiago’s skyline and population (more than five million) is scattered through-out the city, all 250 square miles of it.
You could try and guestimate the boundaries of Santiago from a balcony, but your only going to see a fraction of Santiago. Your best bet is to join the locals and get up to city of Santiago’s second biggest hill, Cerro San Cristobal.
How to get there:
Take the red or green Metro lines to the Baquedano stop. Leave the Metro station and cross the big nasty brown river, Mapocho ( Not something to show when your parents are in town. It’s as contaminated as it looks.) Once you cross the river take Pio Nono to the base of the mountain.
How to get up:
To get up to the top, you’ve got three options:
1. Slow and steady (Tram)
This is probably the quickest way, and you also get great views as you go up the hill without having to huff and puff. Buy your tickets
Cost: 900 Pesos ($1.80 US)
2. Walk
You can walk it. Theres a relatively well marked trail going up the Northwest and Southwest side of the mountain. You’ll weave through mostly shaded areas and get up there a little sweaty, but definitely the most affordable route.
Cost: Free
3. Take a taxi up
I haven’t taken a Taxi here yet but they’re just like those tiny Sentra’s that are everyone in Mexico. One small caution though: If you’re dealing with large bills say what the bill is before giving it over to them. If you don’t confirm what you give them before hand, a very very small amount of scammi’ taxi drivers have been known to flip a 10,000 peso bill for a 1,000 and then try and convince you of needing to still pay whatever is left. Anyway, it doesn’t happen often but confirm what bill you’re giving before you give it to them and it won’t be an issue.
Cost: 800-1000 Pesos Up, ~ 600 Down ($4 US roundtrip with a smal tip)
At the top you’ll get some of the best views of the city, a ton of options for Chilean vendors (though like Disneyland, you’ll pay a little more for ice cream then you would in the city) and as many dogs as you could ever hope to take home.
Barefootford.com
Barefootford.com