This week on my Instagram account (@truestorychile) we went on a virtual vacation to Viña del Mar so I could introduce you to the city where we were living until the pandemic turned us into country mice. As of Tuesday, October 13, the mandatory quarantine that has had Viña under lockdown for the past 4 months will finally be lifted as the commune moves to Phase 2 of “El Plan Paso a Paso.” In honor of this step forward, and in the hopes that we will eventually return to a point where someone might Google “Things to do with kids in Viña del Mar,” I want them to find this post. When we decided to move to Viña, I was nervous about what do with my kids during our first summer here and I would have LOVED to have found a guide like this one. This is the first in a three part series that will also include outdoor activities and beaches.
NOTES: My children were 5 and 7 years old when we visited the following places in 2019 pre-pandemic. The best way to find current information about most of these establishments is to follow them on Facebook or Instagram as their websites are not always up to date and some are difficult to navigate. I have included those resources below. Always bring cash in the smallest denominations you can manage; many locations do not accept cards and often do not have change to break large bills. I have found Viña to be a safe place to travel with children, but I always take extra precaution with our belongings, never leaving them unattended and thus available to be stolen.
An important fact to know about Viña, is that it’s a pretty big city. With approximately 327,000 residents (and many beach vacationers during the summer), it is the 4th largest city in Chile. It is similar in population to River Side, CA, which is ranked as the 58th most populated city in the United States. So keep in mind that you are visiting a big city with your children, with all the advantages and difficulties that may bring.
Viña has a lovely collection of museums that you can visit with your kids. While having some knowledge of Spanish will certainly enhance your experience in these museums, it is not necessary to enjoy what these establishments have to offer. And about 90% of the time, you will find someone who speaks enough English to help you out. If you’re visiting in the summer, between December and March (and there is not a global pandemic), you may even be able to attend special programming and activities designed for kids. What I love about all of these museums is that they are small, easy to navigate, and very inexpensive.
Museo Artequin – This is as kid-friendly as it gets – an art museum made for children, located inside of a park with a playground and small outdoor cafe in front! Inside the museum you will find fun, interactive exhibits and a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Outside there is a colorful playground right next to a cafe that sells coffee, tea and small pastry items. They have fantastic programming for children over the summer including many art classes and a week of outdoor theater productions. When you are done here, you can explore the rest of the Quinta Vergara, the park inside which this is located.
Website: https://artequinvina.cl/ Instagram: @artequinvina
General admission: $1,500 CLP
Children, students and senior citizens: $800 CLP
(cash and credit card accepted)
Museo Palacio Rioja Around the corner from our old apartment and adjacent to our favorite playground, is El Museo Palacio Rioja. Part museum, part art gallery it also has an open air cafe and is surrounded by a botanic garden. It is a National Historic Monument of Chile and hosts classes, concerts and film screenings, and it could not be more beautiful. What makes this museum kid-friendly is that it’s FREE, small, and self-guided (although tours in Spanish are available), so you can take as much or as little time as you like or are able to with your children. When you’re done inside, you can enjoy ice cream or lunch at the cafe, explore the gardens, then head over to the playground. If you’re there in the evening, you might even catch a live music performance.
Website: www.patrimoniovina.cl/articulo/monumentos-historicos/8/16/palacio-rioja.html Instagram: @museopalaciorioja
Admission: Free
Museo Fonck Just a couple of blocks from the Palacio Rioja, is this fantastic archaeology and natural history museum. Right in front of the museum you are greeted by an authentic Moai statue from Easter Island. Inside, you will find a wonderful collection of artifacts from various indigenous Chilean cultures on the first floor, and a permanent collection of specimen’s of Chile’s wide variety of flora and fauna on the second floor. All of the informational text accompanying the artifacts are in Spanish and English. Inside you will also fine a modest gift shop and outside you will often encounter artisans selling handmade craft items. Over the summer, they have a full schedule of educational programming for children.
Website: https://www.museofonck.cl/new_site/ Instagram: @museofonck
Admission: $3,000 CLP adults, $600 CLP children (5-14 years old)
If we are able to continue exploring this summer, I will continue to update this page with current activities and any additional resources we discover. And in the mean time, I hope this little tour also gives you a broader view of what Viña del Mar has to offer you and your family.
True Story: Chile 
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