Santiago
Chile
Santiago is the center of Chile, both in a geographic and figurative sense. In fact, in addition to being the political, commercial and cultural hub of Chile, the city is located in the heart of the country, which makes it a good starting point to explore the rest of it. As the capital of a fast-growing country, Santiago’s cityscape is constantly evolving making it a multicultural and thriving metropolis, where colonial buildings coexist with massive skyscrapers. However, the hustle and bustle are easily left behind by a short drive to ski resorts in the Andes, sandy beaches by the Pacific, and stunningly beautiful vineyards.
Santiago is the perfect showcase of what Chile has to offer. Museums, art galleries and cultural centers, including those that honor Chile’s tradition in poetry, mix with posh restaurants and nightclubs, while shoppers crowd impressive malls and department stores all around the city. Adventure seekers and business moguls rub shoulders in this vast metropolis while the mighty and snow-capped Andes overlook the city.
Why learn Spanish in Santiago?
Beautiful location on the Andes foothills makes every sunset picture-worthy.
World-class shopping malls located all around the city make Santiago a shopaholic’s paradise.
Top-notch ski resorts and sunny beaches are located within driving distance.
Super varied nightlife, from hole-in-the-wall bars to exclusive high-end nightclubs.
Language Schools in Santiago:
Don Quijote Santiago de Chile with a fantastic central location and lots of activities, this school ensures that you explore Santiago and Chile as much as possible once you step out of the classroom!
ECELA Santiago has a high focus on speaking and specializes in immersive homestay programs and “school hops,” allowing students to jump to other ECELA schools in Chile, Peru, or Argentine within the same program.
Escuela Bellavista is a school with vast experience, high-quality teaching, a focus on conversational skills, and lots of extra-curricular activities.
Travel
tips
When
Best time to go is between December and May.
FYI
Winter in Santiago suffers from a thick cloud of smog and very low air quality.
Meet
Head over to Viña del Mar’s International Song Festival during February to meet Latin American music’s biggest artists (and all the rich and famous that attend the festival, too!)
Discover why Chile is regarded as a land of poets following the steps of Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda in and around Santiago.
See
Santiago’s location in a valley makes any view from a higher ground truly remarkable, especially the one from Cerro San Cristobal in the Parque Metropolitano.
Chile’s economy has made Santiago a magnet for local and international corporations, being extensively showcased in its super modern skyline including the tallest building in South America.
Use Santiago’s location in your favor and visit the snow-capped Andes, fabulous wineries and beautiful beaches all in one day.
Do
September 18th is Chile’s Independence Day. As such, the city swells with parades, folkloric dances, and live music in a two-day frenzy fueled by street food and alcohol.
Every 3rd week of February, music fills nearby Viña del Mar during the International Song Festival, the largest music festival in Latin America.
The Providencia International Jazz Festival attracts some of the best jazz artists in the world every January.
Eat
Seafood is one of the staples of Chile’s economy and no matter where you look for it and how it is made, you will be in for a delicious treat.
Buy
Santiago is famous for its massive and diverse malls and department stores. However, the traditional Mercado Central, which has been offering Chile’s finest food and goods since 1872, is really at the origin of this buying culture.