My 3 favorite parks in Santiago
One thing I really enjoy about living in Santiago is the variety of parks. It may be a big city, but the Latin culture prizes the maintenance of plazas and parks where residents can sit and enjoy a quiet moment. As a dog owner, I’m especially greatful for areas where I can let my pup run around to her heart’s content. After a fun outing yesterday afternoon, I started thinking of some of my favorite spots to enjoy a weekend afternoon in Santiago.
1. Cerro San Cristobal/Parque Metropolitano
Photo taken by author
If you’ve ever been to Santiago, you’ve seen this place. A large hill in the middle of the city topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary that’s lit up at night, it’s a bit hard to miss. It’s also a popular tourist spot – take the funicular up to Mary and enjoy the view. However, there’s more to this park. The zoo’s depressing, but the many trails and picnic spots as well as public pools and even a Japanese garden make Cerro San Cristobal a convenient place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city below.
Accessible from entrances on the streets Pio Nono (Bellavista area) or Pedro de Valdivia (Providencia), more information in English and Spanish here.
2. Parque Bicentenario
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pviojoenchile/ / CC BY 2.0
This is probably the best dog park in Santiago, but humans can enjoy it too. A project taken on by the municipality of Vitacura for Chile’s bicentennial in 2010, this park has Chilean flora and fauna (check out the black-necked swans) complementing its attractive design. There’s a playground area for kids, but my favorite is the dog agility course. Anyone can use it, and on weekends it’s the place to see and be seen for Santiago’s canines – plus my dog actually does most of the agility stuff, and it’s adorable. This park also hosts some fun cultural events. If you get hungry, Mestizo restaurant at the far end of the park is supposed to be good.
From the Perez Zujovic round-about, take the Bicentenario exit.
3. Parque Padre Hurtado/Parque Intercomunal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seo2/ / CC BY 2.0
This park sits on the border between the municipalities of Las Condes and La Reina, hence its former name (the name was changed after Padre Hurtado was cannonized in 2005). It’s huge and offers all sorts of activities for kids, from pony rides to a train that circles the park. Grown-ups will likely enjoy the fact that there’s plenty of place to play soccer, and there are barbecue areas with covered benches to escape the sun. From Nov. 25-29, this park is hosting the Expomundorural, a fair celebrating rural life and products (and food!).
The park is at the intersection of Francisco Bilbao and Padre Hurtado. The main entrance is on Bilbao.
There are, of course, more good spots. When we lived near Plaza Italia downtown, I loved Parque San Borja because it was an enclosed area right by our apartment where dogs could safely be off-leash. Parque Inés de Suárez is another good spot. And of course in some ways the best park in Santiago is always going to be the one that’s closest to where you are, the one that provides the most immediate relief from city life and offers a moment of respite and relaxation.
What are your favorite quiet spots in your town?
Emily Williams is a US gringa living in Santiago, Chile. She writes about expat life at AffordableCallingCards.net and on her personal blog, Don’t Call Me Gringa, and loves hearing from readers!
