Fortunately, Valparaiso was my final stop on my Chilean adventure. Had I visited it first, I might have mistakenly assumed that Chile was a backward, dirty, and impoverished country 😅. In contrast, places like Punta, Pucon, Natales, Puerto Varas, and Atacama were pristine and picturesque. However, Valparaiso and parts of Santiago’s old city are shockingly grim, even more so than San Francisco’s Tenderloin.
Stepping off the bus, I was utterly stunned by the sight of garbage, spittle, and dog poop scattered throughout the city. The locals seem to live contentedly in this environment, which is truly remarkable. No wonder the other Chileans I met before spoke about the capital area and Valparaiso with such disdain, and everyone warned me to be cautious.
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The graffiti in Santiago is also worth a look, especially around Italia and Cerro Santa Lucia, which are absolutely stunning. There’s really no need to come to Valparaiso; it’s a waste of time. Some people compare it to Guanajuato 😅, but I’d say they need to get their eyes checked. The two cities are worlds apart. Guanajuato is far cleaner and its houses are much more charming. Additionally, the security in Guanajuato is significantly better. Comparing them is simply unfair.
