Santiago is more than a stopover, it’s a serious bucket list hot spot

HOME to 18 million people, this place has struggled to seduce tourists. But those who do venture inside may be stunned by what they find.

REVERED for its idyllic location — you can see the snow-capped Andes Mountains from just about any part of the city — Santiago is morphing into a serious holiday destination.

The Chilean capital (and it’s pronounced Chil-ee not Chile-aay) hasn’t always been a spot that has jumped out as a travellers ‘must-do’. Usually, it has been the first entry point to South American tourists who then transit to Peru, Lima, to Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires or to the 2016 Olympics city, Rio. But I’ve got a big surprise for you: it is one of the world’s most colourful and diverse cities. And it’s home to some surreal sights. With its signature Spanish-inspired architecture, sleek hotels and cafes with coffee waitresses showing off their legs as they serve espressos, Santiago is also a very short distance to snowfields, to horseback rides up the Andes, a buzzy night-life and a heap of vineyards. It’s well worth scheduling 3-4 days of Santiago sightseeing into your South American bucket list trip and here’s why. You can have a day or two seeing Santiago; take day trip to the historical town of Valparaiso; have a day at a winery then a day to immerse yourself in the Andes — whether you’re on the ski slopes or riding a horse. Or you could venture a bit further and trek their UFO trail, or head over to Easter Island. YOU MUST SEE: • Valparaiso The historic port city of Valparaiso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and shows what a once exquisite and wealthy merchant town now looks like. Sure, it’s a little worn around the edges but it is an example of late 19th century architecture with its hills are dotted with thousands of multicoloured houses, homes. And lots of graffiti. In Valparaiso, all of the houses are brightly coloured and one of the rules of the town is that you cannot paint your house the same colour as the one next to you. La Sebastiana, the former home of Chilean Pulitzer Prize winning poet Pablo Neruda is also open to the public and is one of the most popular tourist stops in the town. • Plaza de Armas This is Santiago’s main hub in the centre of the CBD and perched off the plaza are various historic buildings, including the exquisite Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (its richness and sumptuousness took my breath away), the main City Hall, a very cool-designed central Post Office and the National History Museum. • San Cristobal Hill The summit of this hill offers spectacular views of the city, and it can be reached via a funicular railway and up the top is the famous giant statue of the Virgin Mary In fact, it’s the biggest statue of the Virgin Mary in the world. Oh, and Catholicism is the overriding faith of many Chileans. • Vineyards We visited the Bodega RE vineyard which is part of the Casablanca Wine Valley (recently named one of the great wine capitals) when we visited we dined at the cellar door, taste-testing some killer wines. Did you know that Chile is the fourth biggest producer of wine? Even beating Australia, which comes in at 5th place? They also do some very interesting ‘mixed’ wine blends like ‘Chardonnoir’, ‘Pinotel’ and ‘Cabergnan’. • Graffiti It’s hard not to see it, because it is, literally everywhere. Some of it is pure street art others bits are, well, just tedious tags that don’t contribute much to the look of the city at all. Some of the best, though, can be found in the bohemian neighbourhood of Barrio Bellavista which is also the coolest place for funky eateries and a buzzy night life. • Valle Nevado ski resort The ultra popular ski and snowboarding resort is literally a one-hour drive out of the city of Santiago. It is in the El Plomo foothills in the Andes Mountains and the best time of year to be there is about the same time as an Australian winter. It has also just received its first ski resort gondola and had an easy 30cm of snow last week. • Museum of Memory and Human Rights Wow, this is one of the best museums I have ever entered. I wish there was a word that wasn’t as sterile as ‘museum’ as it doesn’t do justice to this architecturally exquisite space that traces the rise, brutality and the ultimate fall of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship from 1973-1990. The Museo de la Memoria los derechos Humanos uses audio, visuals and in a spectacular and extraordinary way to retell history. A REAL must-see. • Horseriding on the Andes Seriously, this was the best fun ever, A troupe of us were given a horse each (mine was a slow little chomper named Pistachio) and we slowly made our way up the Andes Hills. A company called Andes Riders had organised a brilliant BBQ and a glass of Chilean red that awaited us once we arrive up top. The vista was spectacular with the snow-capped Andes never far from our eyesite as our horses led a well-trodden path up the mountain. Total heaven and made even more fun by the trip back DOWN the hill ... • Coffee With Legs Yup this had to be done. One of the most funs ways to have a coffee. Served by gorgeous girls showing off their legs while serving you a macchiato? I mean, coffee with sex appeal, why not! South Americans aren’t shy! WHILE IN CHILE You can also venture out of Santiago to the San Clemente UFO trail, a 30-kilometre stretch that takes in sites of alleged extraterrestrial activity. And don’t forget Easter Island, a remote island that’s home to a mysterious and infamous series of statues. HOW TO GET THERE: We flew Qantas who is increasing services to Santiago from November 2015 to January 2016 with the 5th service running on Sundays, adding to the existing Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday services. Being the only airline that flies a non-stop service from Sydney to Santiago Qantas also uses codeshare services operated by LAN from Santiago to six destinations across South America, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Lima. The QF Business Cabin to Santiago featured Skybed sleeper seats, a self-service refreshment bar and mood lighting with additional ground services including dedicated check-in counters in all ports, priority baggage with additional allowances, priority boarding and disembarkation and express customs and immigration in selected ports. The restaurant-style menus were ‘designed’ by Australian chef and restaurateur Neil Perry and business customers could choose from a range of menu options and refreshments throughout the flight. WHERE TO STAY: We were invited to test run the Novotel Santiago and it was worth every minute, and best of all, the tariffs are seriously affordable. The Novotel is in a ‘nice’ end of town, in Vitacura, and is just a street away from the smarty pants ‘designer’ fashion strip of Santiago. The hotel, which is part of the Accor Hotels group has a slight business feel to it, but that said, it is immaculate, has a killer breakfast buffet and the sunset (below) would greet me each night on my stay. Bliss ... There is a ‘Stay and Chile’ at Novotel Santiago with three nights from $640 (plus VAT 19 per cent) (two people twin share) while six nights start from $1300 (+VAT) (two people twin share) These packages include buffet breakfast, free internet, UG parking, heated pool, jacuzzi, and late check out of 4.30pm. Full board packages are also available including breakfast lunch and three course dinner plus a glass of wine or soft drink, at Restaurant 365 at Novotel, from $850 for two people (twin share) for three nights, or from $1,700 for 6 nights. Valid for bookings and travel from now until to December 31, 2016. To book — Email: [e-mail] specifying the package type required. *Melissa Hoyer was a guest of Qantas,Tourism Chile and Accor Hotels