Viña del Mar - a hidden gem

One of the key beach destinations in Chile is Viña del Mar. This is a place with loads of cheap accommodation and fantastic white beaches that a lot of foreign tourists miss because they do not recognise the name. But because it is hugely popular with South Americans, make sure you book any hotel accommodation early if you intend to arrive in summer. Which of course would make sense since it’s a beach holiday resort. So as you are relaxing on the luxurious beaches, try one of the local delicacies - an alfajor. These are sweet cookies that usually contain fruits or caramels and are covered in chocolate. Great tasty and exotic gifts for anyone back home. Timing is essential for getting the most out of a trip to Viña del Mar, as on the third week of February the Festival de Cancion is held. This is a huge musical event that attracts many famous music artists and creates a fantastic atmosphere. When the festival is not around, the location – La Quinta Vergara, is a fantastic and beautiful garden with trees from all over the world including some from China and Canada. It is also a good idea to drop by the Plaza del Reloj, which is near the beaches and has several clocks containing flowers in different decorations for the numbers.