New Attractions, Hotels May Boost Santiago's Tourism Profile

Santiago, Chile may be one of the world’s most overlooked great international cities. Located at the center of a bowl-shaped valley ringed by mountains, the city features awesome natural beauty, tree-lined boulevards, trendy bohemian districts and an abundance of cultural historic treasures.

However Santiago’s profile will undoubtedly be raised by the recent debut of several new tourist attractions and hotels. Sky Costanera is a new observation deck offering 360-degree panoramic views of Chile’s capital from the top two floors of the 980-foot high tower at the Costanera Center, a business and commercial complex designed by Cesar Pelli. The tower is Latin America’s tallest building.  

The observation deck offers views from the building’s 61st floor, located 830 feet above the ground and the 62nd floor, located 856 feet above ground and open to the sky. Santiago sites including the Mapocho River, La Moneda Palace, the National Stadium and Parque Forestal are visible from the observation deck.

Sky Costanera is equipped with two elevators that ascend at 23 feet per second, transporting visitors from the ground floor to the 61st in 40 seconds. Sky Costanera is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Santiago has also welcomed two new hotels this year. The boutique property Altiplanico Bellas Artes debuted in May in the middle of the city’s cultural and artistic center, adjacent to the National Museum of Fine Arts and Parque Forestal. The 24-room boutique hotel is located in a historic former home dating back to 1913.

Another upscale property, Hotel Cumbres opened this summer in Santiago’s trendy Lastarria neighborhood, near restaurants, designer shops, and the Museums of Fine Arts and Contemporary Art.

The 70-room property accommodates leisure and business guests and features a plush lobby bar and an eighth-floor restaurant featuring creative cuisine and sweeping city views.

Source: Travel Pulse