Valdivia has been called the “Pearl of the South” and the “Beer Capital of Chile". Thanks to its public spaces, order and cleanliness — in addition to nature, gastronomy and culture — it has positioned itself in the 21st century as one of the best cities to live in and visit in Chile.

Understand

Libertad Walk & Valdivia cathedral

Valdivia is capital of the Los Ríos Region and the province of Valdivia. It is 850 km south of Santiago at the confluence of the Calle Calle, Cau-cau and Cruces rivers, and 15 km from Corral Bay. In 2017, Valdivia had a population of 150,000 people.

It was founded in 1552 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, under the name of "Santa María la Blanca de Valdivia". It was one of the first cities to be founded in Chile. During the colonial era, it was considered "the key to the southern sea", a strategic enclave for access to the Pacific Ocean. Fortifications were built to protect it from enemy attacks or attacks by indigenous people in the area.

In 1960, the city, along with the rest of southern Chile, was affected by the most powerful earthquake recorded in human history, which reached 9.5 on the Richter scale. The event is known in Chile as "Valdivia earthquake".

Climate

During the summer months (December, January and February) the average temperature is about 17 °C (63 °F), while in winter the temperature descends to 8.5 °C (47.3 °F).

Get in

By bus

• A 3-hr ride from Puerto Montt for approx 7000 pesos.
• 10-12 hr from Santiago, 15,000-25,000 pesos.

By car

• If coming from Southern Chile (Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas or Osorno, for example), take Ruta 5 highway till you reach the town of Paillaco, then turn right on the cloverleaf exit that links the main road with Ruta T-206. You'll reach Valdivia after 1 hr of driving. If coming from Northern Chile, your best option is taking the exit to the right on the cloverleaf intersection that connects Ruta 5 to Ruta 202. All entry and exit points are signposted. Toll booths abound, so plan ahead.

By plane

• 1 Pichoy Airport (Aeródromo Pichoy ZAL  ^IATA) (about 35 km north of Valdivia). Daily non-stop flights by LATAM Express from Santiago for 34,000 pesos (one-way Internet fare, 1½ hr). Daily flights from discount airlines www.skyairline.com/english SkyAirline] and JetSmart are also available from Santiago for 22,000 pesos. Numerous shuttles await the flights and take you into the city for 5,000 pesos. (updated May 2021)

Get around

Plaza de la República

• Most of the city is fairly walkable, though if you need to go somewhere like Teja Island, it is recommended to take a cab. Fares start at around 50 pesos for most taxis. Uber, InDrive and Didi also operate in town.
• Buses have a regular schedule up until 20:00 for most destinations. Fare is 500 pesos (as of April 2024).
• "Colectivos" (or shared taxis with fixed routes) are also helpful for navigating the city. Always best to ask the driver for directions. Fare is 600 pesos during weekdays, and 650 pesos during weekends.
• The bus to Niebla is CLP$650 and goes hourly. The subsequent ferry for a passenger to Corral is CLP$800 with the car ferry and CLP$2,000 with the passenger ferry, which start at different places. Inquire with the bus driver.

See

Sea lions by the riverside market

• The town has a cool little fish market by the river side where you can feed sea lions and pelicans with titbits or snacks that you can buy from the fish mongers.

A German-styled house on General Lagos Street

• Take a stroll through General Lagos St. There's a nice selection of German-styled houses that have been preserved in the past years and most if not all of them, have a plaque indicating the erection date and the current usage of the house.

Do

• Loads of tour operators offering boat tours to various ruined 17th-century Spanish forts. The cruises stop and allow you to explore the ruins or walk in the forests. Most tours go to the Pacific Ocean at Corral and stop for a 30-minute visit here. Tour lasts about 5 hours. Ticket price includes a good quality meal and indoor seating. Tour guide narration in Spanish only. Beverages not included in the price. The boats depart from the same area as the fish market.
• FicValdivia. October. In October the city's annual film festival FicValdivia is held which is regarded internationally by many as more important than the Santiago Film Festival due to its diverse range of programming including quite a lot of experimental cinema. 
• Museum lovers have an impressive selection of places to visit while in town. Traditional museums for history and culture focused-folks would be the Museo Historico y Antropologico Maurice Van de Maele, located on Teja Island. Built in the site of the former Andwanter family house, its a good starting point to understand the history and culture of the region and the city as well. . If your interests lie on the subject of telecomunications and technology, a stop at the Museo de las Telecomuncaciones, might be of your fancy. Its a private museum run by the local telephone company, detailing the history of communication in the world, and the history of the company as well. . And if you feel like learning about the flora and fauna of the region, don't skip a visit of the Museo de la Exploracion R.A. Philippi, with its selection of information on those subjects, you're bound to find something new.

Hiking

To see the trails of the region, consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use.

• A good opportunity for a day or 2-day hike is the nearby 1 Oncol National Park and Cerro Oncol.

• Reserva Costera Valdiviana Trail (green). Distance: 40-50 km, mostly flat. Duration: 2-3 days. Grade: Easy to medium. Recommended: comfortable boots and strong cloths against the spike bushes along the trail.
  This is a picturesque trail which leads through lush and beautiful eucalyptus forests for most of its first half along Sendero del Diablo and Sendero Colun. Later you will cross the dune towards Playa de Colún and along the beach there. The last 10-20% of the trail is along the beautiful coast with cliffs and grassland. There exist many camping opportunities along the way, see OpenStreetMap.
  To get in, take the bus from Valdivia to Niebla for AR$600, the vehicular ferry to Corral for AR$730, and a local bus or hitchhike to Chaihuín.
  Download coordinates: GPX, KML.  

Buy

• Marzipan and German desserts at Chocolateria Entrelagos (downtown-at one block from the central square). Another good option is Chocolateria Peumayen, located almost next-door to Entrelagos
• Charming trinkets with illustrations of the cities Sea Lions. You can find those at the Mercado Artesanal, right across from the Feria Fluvial in Arturo Prat Av, nearby the river and Schuster Pier.
• Beer lovers have a nice option at BeerStore Valdivia (302 Los Robles Av, at Isla Teja) for some local beer souvenirs and brews.

Eat

During January and February there's a feria at Niebla on the coast. Seafood stalls and folk music and dancing until 23:00. Delicious empanadas de mariscos and other asado and seafood. 40 or 50 food stalls and free entry provide a great evening of entertainment. Buses run to and from Valdivia and at closing there are several buses available.

A typical dish is Curanto. This is a large serving of steamed shellfish served with a boiled sausage, boiled chicken leg, and potatoes. It is not always on the menu but try looking for restaurants with a large sign on the sidewalk or in the window that states "HOY CURANTO".

Budget

• 1 Restaurant Pastas Trigo, Cochrane 375. Home cooking (updated Mar 2023)
• 2 Zona Zero, Cochrane 194. Fast food (updated Mar 2023)
• 3 Restaurant Comidas Caseras Caupolican, Coronel Santiago Bueras 1476. (updated Mar 2023)
• 4 Antojo Valdiviano, Coronel Santiago Bueras 1211. (updated Mar 2023)
• 5 El Pewen, Av. Simpson 1000. (updated Mar 2023)
• 6 El Rincon de la Abuela, Italia 1710. (updated Mar 2023)
• 7 La Calabaza, Tornagaleon 919-999. (updated Mar 2023)
• 8 La Ruta Culinaria, Arauco 434 (at the corner between the streets Arauco and Esmeralda). serves simple but excellent lunch. (updated Jan 2022)

Mid-range

• 9 Restaurant Yang Cheng, Gral Lagos 1118. Long-established Chinese restaurant with an extensive menu. (updated Mar 2023)
• 10 ChileGüey Restaurante, Carlos Anwandter 288b. (updated Mar 2023)
• 11 Restaurant Guacamole, García Reyes 658-686. (updated Mar 2023)
• 12 Cava Del Buho, Walter Schmidt 660. (updated Mar 2023)

Outside of town

• 13 Villa Santa Clara Restaurant, Carlos Duce niebla (follow the big signs to Villa Santa Clara from the bus stop Puelche). A really nice and secluded place in Niebla. "Parillas", fine wines, fresh fish and a very fair priced "Buffet de Mariscos" (shellfish) on Friday nights. The restaurant is situated in a pleasant garden with Cabañas nearby. (updated Mar 2023)

Splurge

• 14 Mercato, Los Robles 100. (updated Mar 2023)
• 15 New Orleans, Esmeralda 682. (updated Mar 2023)
• 16 Parrilla de Thor, Av. Arturo Prat 653. (updated Mar 2023)
• 17 Sello de Raza Restaurant, Las Encinas 191. (updated Mar 2023)

Drink

Valdivia is popular in the region and throughout Chile for its draught beer, cerveza artesanal. Some of these beers are famous beyond the borders of the city. So, the city is a good place to go to a pub. A pint costs 3,000 pesos as of Mar 2018.

• Ultima Frontera is an alternative/student bar, always packed, great decoration in a building under very big trees and wide food menu. Located on the corner of Pérez Rosales and Yerbas Buenas 787.
• Cervecería Kunstmann for those who love beer you can visit the restaurant in the factory, 10 minutes from the centre.
• There are. dozen places for dancing or drinking in "Calle Esmeralda", a short central street.

Sleep

Accommodation in Valdivia is generally more expensive than other destinations around, like Pucon or Puerto Varas.

• Airesbuenos, García Reyes 550, in the centre of the city. It’s affordable and clean. It is run by new management now and feels more like a business rather than a hostel to relax.
• Hostel Prat, 595 Prat, with a great view of the Calle Calle river (it's across the street) is convenient to the bus terminal and to downtown. The rooms are a bit dark and the beds have seen better days and the bathrooms are small. Friendly staff and a good breakfast. 20,000 pesos.
• Hotel Dreams, Carampangue st. is also recommended but a bit on the expensive side.

Go next

• Pucón and Villarrica – Just northeast, on the eastern shore of Villarrica Lake. Popular for hiking to the nearby Villarrica vulcano and Huerquehue National Park.
• Frutillar and Puerto Varas – 100-150 km south, popular tourist destination due to its German history and nearby Osorno vulcano.