120km (74 miles) NW of Santiago; 8km (5 miles) N of Valparaíso
Viña del Mar is Chile's largest and best-known beach resort town. The city was founded in 1874 as a weekend retreat and garden residence for the wealthy elite from Valparaíso and Santiago, and it has remained a top destination for Santiaguinos ever since, although the ultra fashionable are now electing to build their second home in less-developed and therefore more exclusive coastal areas such as Tunquen and Quintay. Most Chileans call Viña del Mar simply "Viña"; you'll call it "chaos" if you come any time between December and late February, when thousands of vacationers arrive, crowding beaches and snarling traffic. On the other hand, there exists a heightened sense of excitement during these months with so much activity happening in the area.
Viña's manicured lawns, towering apartment buildings, and golden beaches filled with sunbathers are an extreme contrast to the ramshackle streets of Valparaíso. Along the coast of Viña are plenty of fine beaches, but the beach to see and be seen is in Reñaca, about 6km (3 3/4 miles) north of Viña. Unfortunately, the Humboldt Current that travels up the coast from Antarctica makes for chilly swimming conditions, even during the summer, but regardless of the season, Viña is a wonderfully relaxing place to spend 1 or 2 days.
The city is divided into two sectors: downtown and the beachfront. Travelers are happiest lodging near the beach, however the downtown area is a tad more "Chilean," and you're really only a 15- to 20-minute walk from the beach.
