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Concepción [1] is the second largest city of Chile with a population of over 900,000 as of 2002. It is located on the coast of the Biobio Region.

For other places with the same name, see Concepcion (disambiguation).

[edit] Understand

Concepción was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Bío-Bío River, at the site which is today known as Penco. At that time it was given the name Concepción del Nuevo Extremo.

More than once the city has been destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis. One in 1570, another on the 25 May 1751, at which point it was decided to move Concepción further from the sea to its present location in the Mocha Valley.

Today Concepción is the second largest city of the country. The Universidad de Concepción, founded in 1919, and with its main campus in the city became the first private university in Chile. The neighbouring harbour of Talcahuano holds the largest naval base in the country.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

You can fly via "Lan Chile", from Santiago

[edit] By car

The famous "Carretera Panamericana", also called "Ruta 5 Sur", there is a very good route from Santiago, meeting international standards for the most part. Drive south from Santiago to near Chillan city (approx 5 hours), then take the "Ruta del Itata" to west for about an hour.

[edit] By bus

You can take buses every half an hour from Santiago from 5000 pesos. Buses are the fastest form of public transport in Chile. Unlike europe, train services are scarse and the journey take 2-3 times longer than bus.

[edit] By train

From Santiago de Chile you can take a train (EFE), at about 10:00 pm and arrive at Concepción at 8AM, everyday, but there is only one train per day. Daytime trips are possible, but the train goes to Chillan City and then you take a bus (included) to Concepción. The trip begins in "Estacion Central", located in "Alameda street" (La Alameda) you can arrive by car, bus or metro (subway) in the "Estacion Central" station.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Universidad de Concepción, (Univeristy of Concepción). A beautiful university with big gardens. Must see La Pinacoteca.

• Museo Hualpén, (Hualpén museum). A beautiful old house that was converted to a museum holding the pieces of Mr.Pedro del Rio Zañartu, a world traveller.

• Old mining operations. 40 km south of Concepción is an old mining town or Lota that offers tours of an old coal mine.

• Chivilingo. Near Lota is the Chile´s first electric plant, today a beautiful museum and picnic area.

• The Huascar, at the naval base in Talcahuano, the Huascar is a ship that was captured from the Peruvian navy in a war in the late 1800´s. It is a symbol of Chilean national pride and is the oldest floating historical relic in the world. Visit the museum to learn more.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

Concepción is not a turistic city so if you are looking for cheap and cheerful souvenirs you will have to use your imagination.

• Mall Plaza Trebol, on the highway to Talcahuano. Take a bus from Concepción centre or a colectivo. A large North American inspired shopping mall complete with food court, cinema and amusement arcade. Home to shops like Zara, Puma, Lacoste and Lush aswell as several larger department stores. [[2]]

• Galerías, these are various shopping arcades located within the centre of the city mainly on Barras Arana and Maipú close to the Plaza de Independencia ( de Armas). Full of inexpensive little clothing stores, beauty salons, hairdressers and any other kind of store you can imagine. Clothing etc tends to be poor quality and the bargain prices reflect this. Popular with locals and worth exploring on a rainy day.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• La Fuente Alemana, O´Higgins with Rengo (a block or so from the Plaza de Armas and Cathedral)- the go-to place to eat the completos which Chileans love so much. (FYI completos = a hotdog with mayonaise, tomato and avocado). Go downstairs for a quick snack or upstairs for table service.

• Waya´s Gyros, Plaza Peru, Greek inspired salads and wraps. Healthy and delicious food. Kuntsmann beer is also available by the pitcher so bring some friends, grab a table outside and enjoy!

• Mercado Central, the city´s main market is full of little restaurants serving up good seafood dishes and other Chilean traditional meals qith fresh produce. Comfort food in a an albeit slightly grubby looking location.

• 30 Express, Plaza Peru, empanada specialists serving every flavor combo imaginable. Good beer is also readily served up here. Clean, good service and friendly staff.

• La Fina Estampa, San Martin with Angol, Peruvian restaurant serving good fresh seafood and great Pisco Sours. Quite a sophisticated place but the pricing is reasonable.

• Tijuana, On the way to Santa Juana (take a car/taxi), Mexican food. All you can eat on Thursday nights and Sunday lunchtime. While the food is more like a Chilean take on traditional Mexican food, it is delicious and has a great atmosphere with lively music and friendly staff. Tijuana express is located in the Plaza Peru - a much smaller venu and limited menu but just as good.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Concepción is full of bars and nightclubs so try the traditional Pisco Sour cocktail, a Piscola or even a beer from the german settled south of the country.

• Pub Quebec,Janequeo 115, Located next to the main entrance to the Universidad de Concepción, this place cannot be missed! Beer deals before 9pm - 2 for 900 pesos and free popcorn for every table. Full of students and young people. Great atmosphere.
• Latitud Sur, Víctor Lamas 401, probably one of the more sophisticated bars in Concepción´s centre. Great artesenal beers made in the on-site microbrewery, beautiful interior and a decent food menu. The price reflects the atmosphere though.
• Reggio, great pub located in Pedro de Valdivia- best night to go is on Thursdays.
• Bar Bonita, Rengo 1624, great bar, you cannot really notice it's a bar from outside, but once you'll get in you'll love it. Live music and sketches on Wednesdays for a small entrance fee.
• Gala, located in the Barrio Estacion, this place is always packed on weekends and is frequented mainly for it´s nightclub located in the basement. Usually drinks deals are available on Piscolas.
• Choripan, probably the only bar with a pub feel in the Barrio Estacion. Decent live band playing covers of the Doors, Pink Floyd etc. Drinks can be pricey so come for happy hour before midnight.
• Pub Neruda, on the Diagonal (close to the Plaza Peru) a really relaxed bar which is usually full of a lively young crowd taking advantage of the good prices on litres of beers. The bar´s interior is inspired by the poetry of Pablo Neruda and gives the place a chilled, cool atmosphere.
• Blass, Orompello 269, A no frills interior leads to a relaxed crowd of 18-30s that frequent this place. Happy hours are extensive and can be found in evenings and in the early hours of the morning. Their homemade ponche is worth a try. [[3]]

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Hotel "El Araucano" a very comfortable hotel, located front central place.(Plaza de armas)

[edit] Stay safe

The city is generally safe, however :

• Be aware of pickpockets and avoid wearing expensive-looking jewelry or watches, even during the day.

• Do not visit Talcahuano 's seaport, Hualpen, San Pedro, Chiguayante and near areas in the night, especially on weekends.

[edit] Respect

• Population is very tolerant and friendly.

• As the rest of country, this city has largely conservative Catholic and protestant population but Freemasonry has here, an important influence in culture, education and business.

• Very strong social movements and political activity, sometimes heavily polarizated, be careful while discussing such matters.

• Travellers should be aware of the recent political history of Chile as the country was under the rule of Augusto Pinochet for many years following te 1973 military coup over the Communist president Salvador Allende. Foreigners should be respectful when approaching this topic and in fact it is best avoided unless you are in the company of Chileans you know well or those who bring the subject up willingly themselves.

[edit] Get out

• Tomé, a seaside town about 30 mins from Concepción centre by bus. Go in the spring/ summer to enjoy the beautiful beach. the town itself is fairly forgettable.

• Lenga, go and eat seafood in this seaside town about 15 mins from Concepcion by car and 35 mins by bus (Puchacay, Line 71). This will take much longer as it doesnt take the highway, but is cheaper (0,80 USD). Try some seafood empanadas or mariscal caliente in one of the numerous eating places. La Barca is recommended.

• Hualpen Museum, located inside "Parque Pedro del Rio Zañartu" this museum has a big variety of archaeological, natural and historical pieces of collection. The only way to get into this place is by car or taxi, do not pay more than 20 USD or 10.000 CLP for a single ride, in this case ask the taxi driver for "Museo Hualpen".

• Parque Pedro del Rio Zañartu, located 10 mins from downtown it offers beauty natural landscapes and recreational places. 5 minutes far you can see the join of Bio Bio river and the Pacific ocean, you can get into by car or taxi (same fare as Hualpen Museum)

• Chillan, a ski town located about 2 hours from Concepción. Home to a large volcano with great skiing so visit in the winter or enjoy the the thermal spas heated by the volcanic waters year-round.

• Santiago, the capital is just a 6 hour bus journey away and buses run frequently so if you need a taste of the big city life, it´s not too far.