Experience in Valparaíso, Chile by Andrea

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What is it like living in Valparaíso? Would you recommend it? What is it like?

Yes, I came to study in Valparaíso and I quite liked it. There is a little bit of everything in this city; I study, carretes (parties), the landscape, different panoramas. I recommend it as a university city.

What is student life like in Valparaíso?

It is good as there are a lot of universities, so if you are sociable you can meet people from different universities and courses at parties and bars.

How much does it cost to live in Valparaiso?

It depends on the option that you select. The cheapest thing to do is to rent a room or take a pension, which is when you pay to live in a room inside a house or it can be a room with an en suite bathroom. There are rooms that you can rent from 100, 000 to 200, 000 Chilean pesos, depending on the location, if they include WiFi, light, gas, weekly cleaning, among other things, or not.

Also, you can rent an apartment with one or two other people. Renting an apartment is usually between 270, 000 and 340, 000 on the 'Placeres' hill, depending on if there are two or three of you for the shared bills (it is good to ask about this before because sometimes they charge you separately). Also, the accounts for services such as internet etc.

Did you have any trouble finding accommodation in Valparaíso? Can you offer any advice?

No, not at all. I arrived in January to start looking for accommodation (term time is from March until December, normally), however, there are also lots of offers for rent in July which is when the first semester ends. I recommend looking on Facebook pages for the federation of the Universities, such as UTFSM. I would recommend looking for a place to rent on the hills since they are generally cheaper.

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How is the local food? What are your favourite dishes?

I am from Chile so, naturally, I am used to the Chilean food, I find it very tasty. Some typical dishes are the 'pastel de choclo'(dish based on sweetcorn or choclo) and empanadas, personally I like them a lot. I also like the seafood and fish, although these are usually more expensive. The universities have a Casino with a menu of the day anyway. Also, the 'Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María' (Central building), on the 'Placeres' hill, has numerous places where you can have lunch and do your shopping at a good price.

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Which places do you recommend visiting in Valparaíso?

It depends what you like. In general foreigners like to see the painted walls and colourful houses, I would recommend getting to know the different hills, like the 'Alegre' (happy) hill for example, take the trolley. Also, you can get to know the dunes of Concón and go sand boarding in the summer. A little further, in Olmué, there is the National Park 'La Campana', which I was lucky enough and dared to get to know this year and although it was difficult to reach the peak, the landscape was worth it.

And to eat in Valparaíso? Can you name your favourite places?

During the week, Monday to Friday, I prefer to eat in the University or in those surrounding the 'Placeres' hill (my university is located there), which is cheap and I don't have much time to go any further. I usually go to Met or to Casa Lila, where they sell lunch at a student friendly price (2, 000 to 3, 000).

In Valparaíso there is a large variety of places, with sushi, fast food, Chorrillanas (Chilean dish consisting of a plate of sliced beef with French fries, scrambled or fried eggs, and fried onions), fish restaurants etc.

Which places do you recommend for going out in Valparaíso?

Again, it depends what you like. There are places where they play electronic music, there are other places where they play Cumbias (a kind of dance music of Colombian origin, similar to salsa) and Pachanga (a genre of music which is described as a mixture of son montuno and merengue), reggaeton places etc. I don't have a special favourite because it depends on the group of people that I go with; I like Karma, Mero, Área universitaria, Murano (on Viña del Mar), the Proa and there is also the beach. If you don't like dancing and you prefer bars, there is Matiz, Coyote and lots of other places on 'Subida Ecuador'.

Do you have any advice you would like to offer to future students in Valparaíso?

If you come to study you should live near the university because it saves you having to take transport. In general, there is good trasnport during the night from Valparaíso towards the hills, so you can go out to party and not have any problems getting home. Saying that, it is recommended going accompanied when you go out partying, nothing has ever happened to me, I have never been assaulted or anything like that, but it is because I am cautious and I don't walk around alone at night. Why expose yourself if you can pass the 'Raja' (very good) and everyone is happy :)