🇨🇱 7-Day Magical Journey in Santiago, Chile ✨

A week in Santiago + 5 days on Easter Island (which was absolutely incredible!), but Santiago... well, it’s complicated. Here’s my honest take on this surreal city: 🌆 Santiago Highlights & Lowlights ✅ Must-Do’s: Cerro San Cristóbal : 🚠 Cable car + panoramic views! Los Dominicos Handicraft Village: 🎨 Authentic artisan shops—highly recommend! Cajón del Maipo: 🏔️ Andes snow-capped peaks (2hr drive)—breathtaking! San Antonio’s Sea Lion Beach: 🦭 Harbor giants + pelicans + cargo ships = magical chaos! ❌ Skip These: Downtown (Plaza de Armas, seafood market): 🚮 Dirty, chaotic, armed guards everywhere. Baha’i Temple: 🙅‍♀️ Meh. Concha y Toro Winery: 🍷 Overrated (try Santa Rita instead!). 🌫️ The "Magic" (and the Sadness) Andes Mountains 🏔️: Should be visible everywhere, but smog ruins the view (even on sunny days). 😢 Contrasts: 2hr to Pacific beaches 🌊 / 2hr to snowy peaks ❄️. Luxury east side 🏙️ vs. decaying downtown 💀. Language: 🗣️ Almost no English—learn basic Spanish! 🏨 Where to Stay? 📍 East Side (Las Condes/Vitacura): Safe, modern, and close to nature. Avoid downtown! Final Thoughts 💭 Santiago is a city of missed potential: ✨ Gorgeous landscapes but choked by pollution. ✨ Rich culture but uneven urban care. Still, Cajón del Maipo and San Antonio’s wildlife made it worth it! #ChileTravel #SantiagoDiaries #AndesAdventures #EasterIsland #WildChile 🦙🌎