Chile - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 423

La Casa de las Empanadas Aníbal Pinto, between
Aguirre & Acevedo. Takeaway with amazing range of
excellent empanadas (CH$1200).
Disco 127 Av Angel Gaete s/n. Pounding venue that acts
as a magnet for Pichilemu's youth and surfing population.
Doesn't kick off until after midnight.
Waitara Av Costanera 1039d T 72 2843004, W waitara
.cl. The restaurant here is more appealing than the cabañas
- its lunchtime menu features tasty and well-cooked fish
dishes. Mains CH$5000.

and transforms into a busy bar in the evenings with good
drinks deals.
Hotel Prat Peña 427 T 75 2311069. Clean and comfort-
able rooms around a courty ard, free int ernet access,
breakfast and cable TV. Doubles CH$35,000

PARQUE NACIONAL RADAL
SIETE TAZAS
Some 73km southeast of Curicó,
the Parque Nacional Radal Siete Tazas
(daily: April-Nov 8.30am-5.30pm;
Dec-March 8.30am-8pm; CH$4000)
is named after an astonishing natural
phenomenon in which the crystalline
Río Claro has carved the basalt rock face
into a series of “cups”, interconnected by
seven waterfalls , plummeting from high
above. Though the waterfall run is a
favourite of expert kayakers during the
spring snowmelt, the reserve otherwise
gets few visitors outside the summer
holidays and weekends. From the Conaf
Administration, a short trail runs through
a lush forest to a mirador overlooking the
“teacups”. Longer hikes to Cerro El Fraile
and Valle del Indio are also possible.

CURICÓ
The garden city of CURICÓ , 56km south
of Santa Cruz along the Panamericana
highway, makes for a good brief stop if
you want to visit the nearby wineries or
the Reserva Nacional Radal Siete Tazas.
he Plaza de Armas is shaded by a variety
of native trees, with several modern
sculptures to add character. The Vinícola
Miguel Torres (daily: April-Oct 10am-
5pm; Nov-March 10am-7pm;
CH$6000; T 75 2564100, W miguel
torres.cl), a Spanish-owned vineyard just
south of Curicó, is a good spot for a
drop-in visit, with an informative video
on wine production followed by a
sampling of the many wines available;
there is also an excellent restaurant
on-site. Molina-bound colectivos can drop
you off very near the entrance.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By bus Most long-distance carriers arrive at the Terminal
de Buses Rurales on Montt, at O'Higgins.
Destinations Chillán (6-8 daily; 2hr 30min); Santiago (every
30min; 3hr); Talca (every 15min; 1hr); Temuco (5 daily; 8hr).
Minibuses shuttle to Santa Cruz (every 30min; 2hr).
By train The station for services between Chillán and
Santiago is at Maipú 657 ( T 600 5855000).
Destinations Chillán (6 daily; 2hr 30min); Santiago
(6 daily; 2hr); Talca (6 daily; 50min).
Tourist information A new and enthusiastic municipal
tourist information o ce has opened at Av Manso de
Velasco 449, Corporacion Cultural building 2nd floor
(Mon-Fri 10am-1.30pm & 3.30-6pm; T 075 2543045).
Information on the Ruta del Vino Curicó is available at the
helpful o ce at Prat 301-A ( T 75 2328972, W rutadelvino
curico.cl).

4

Ì TREAT YOURSELF
Casa Chueca Camino Las Rastras s/n
T 71 1970096, T 9 94190625,
W trekkingchile.com. The best place to
stay in the area by far is the Casa Chueca .
Located on the banks of the Río Lircay,
a short distance out of Talca, this German/
Austrian-run guesthouse is a peaceful
retreat, with comfortable and charmingly
decorated rooms for one to three people,
delicious, home-cooked, mainly
vegetarian meals and a swimming pool
set amid its lush gardens. Franz Schubert,
its knowledgeable owner, also runs
excellent guided excursions into the
little-visited and underappreciated
protected areas nearby.
To get here, take a “Taxutal A” bus from
the bus stop at the southeast corner of
the main bus terminal to the end of the
route; if possible, call the guesthouse
beforehand so that they can pick you up.
Otherwise, follow the dirt road from
Taxutal for about twent y minute s. Closed
Easter-Se pt 18. Dorms

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Plaza Bonissimo Yungay 615. Just off the plaza, this
place serves up an excellent three-course lunch (CH$2500),

CH$10,000 , doubles

CH$41,000