ZERO in Chile?
No, absolutely not. Chile is jammed packed from top to bottom with superlatives - the Atacama Desert in the north, the wine valleys in the center, the Lake District to the south, Patagonia to the far south - and Valparaiso to the west.
Valparaiso? Just 90 minutes from Santiago, it is known as the main port of Chile and as the sister city of Vina del Mar, Chile's main seaside resort. It has been largely overlooked in the past and is only now earning attention.
Valapariso's historic central district, a narrow plateau that hugs the bay, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. There are 45 hills creating a natural amphitheater looking to the port and ocean. The bay is busy with the comings and goings of fishing, cargo and cruise ships of all kinds and all sizes.
Two hills, Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion, are historic as well as hip. Winding streets snake uphill at challenging angles. Quiet streets, narrow alleyways, long staircases, and the old funiculars are the people movers.
Colorful houses, quaint corners, scenic viewpoints, inviting sidewalk cafes and restaurants and the panoramas are the magnets. The city has been an inspirational place for painters and poets, including the Nobel Prize winning poet, Pablo Neruda, with a home in Valparaiso and another down the coast at Isla Negra. For bohemians it has a lively night life with top notch restaurants and bars. It has great vistas of the bay, city and beach and walkable streets with a surprise around most corners.
And right in the middle of this undiscovered, untrammeled spot is ZERO Hotel, an old mansion converted into nine plush bedrooms, some with views to the bay and some with views of the colorful surrounding buildings; an Honesty Bar and breakfast room. Outside are terraces resplendent with colorful flowers and bushes, and a pool hugging the hillside.
ZERO is small, intimate and cozy. It is attentive service and comfortable rooms with all the amenities. And above all, it is the right location to discover the undiscovered, UNESCO World Heritage Valparaiso.
So when in Chile, don't forget that ZERO is indeed something - a great addition to your country explorations.
