San Cristóbal Hill is an 880-meter hill in the north of Santiago. Its top offers a beautiful view. This is one of the main attractions of the city. However, locals and tourists love this place not just for its panoramic views. San Cristóbal Hill is also a place where you can have a good time and relax.

There are different ways to get to the top of the hill: by car, by open cable car, or in a funicular cabin. Some people tend to walk up the mountain. That’s also possible, but it’s not the most comfortable option. The reason is that the mountain road, which leads to the top, is ill-equipped for walking, and the ascent itself can take at least two hours. So tourists mostly prefer to use the open cable car or a funicular cabin, where one can relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the city.

At the peak of the hill, tourists are greeted by the magnificent white statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is considered to be the patron saint of Santiago. Her eyes are turned to the Lord, and her palms face the sky. It seems that the saint is asking for the blessing of everyone near her pedestal. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary resembles the famous sculpture – the statue of Christ the Saviour at the top of Corcovado Mountain in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Perhaps, the statue of the Virgin Mary is not up to the statue of Christ the Saviour in terms of grandness – it is just 22 meters high, and it is not visible from every point of the city. But despite that, it is incredibly wonderful, and it looks very beautiful among the picturesque tropics.

There are several benches next to the sculpture. Don’t be surprised! It is a Catholic church in the open air. Pope John-Paul II himself once held a Mass here. At the foot of San Cristóbal Hill, there is a huge city park called Metropolitano. Here you can go for a walk, visit a zoo or a local wine museum, and engage in active recreation. Free sports are available for everyone on the territory of the Mapulemu Botanic Garden.

Moreover, there is an opportunity to visit the pool or rent a bicycle. For those who get tired of such an eventful trip, there are some cafes and restaurants. So you can take a breath and energize for future discoveries.