Santa Lucia & Metropolitan Park in Santiago Chile

Cerro San Cristobal

This 36 metre (about 100 feet) statue of the Virgin Mary is the crowning touch on Cerro San Cristobal (St. Christopher's Hill), the 869-metre (2,851 feet) 'hill' in the park that looks out over Santiago.


We came by car on a holiday Monday, sharing the one-way access road with early morning hikers, walkers and cyclists.


The funicular (rail tram) offers a more direct route, but it had not yet begun operating that day; neither had the small zoo opened to visitors. In this case, the early bird gets shut out.

Lookout at Parque Metropolitano

En route to the top, there are several wide pullouts and view points. I dutifully stopped and admired the views.

Even though the smog hung heavy in the 'bowl' that is Santiago, you can see how high this lookout is, and this is no where near the top. The road winds along the outer edge of the hill, so as you spiral upwards, the direction of the view is constantly changing.

Ulix in Bloom

This shrubby tree bloomed its springtime yellow, brightening up many roadsides from Santiago south to the Lakes District.

I was told it is ulix, and that ulix is not a native plant and is very invasive. In the Lake District, this plant shares habitat with Scotch Broom, another similar looking non-native. Once again, the smog spoils the view.

Touch of Japan at Parque

Still in the Parque Metropolitano, this Japanese garden with bonsai, arching foot bridge and water wheel.

Japanese Garden Waterwheel

From the Japanese gardens, you can just see to the south, the teleferico (cable car) as it runs from the bottom passing overhead to a stop near here.

The telferico is reputed to offer the best scenic views of the area as it runs some 2000 metres (just over a mile) up and down the mountain.

Entrance to Cerro Santa Lucia

Down from the giddy heights of Parque Metropolitano, on Alameda next to the National Library, is Cerro Santa Lucia.

From here, across Alameda, you can the stairway leading into Cerro Santa Lucia. The lush greenery masks the entrance, and gives no hint of the lovely terraces, fountain and paths inside. Cerro Santa Lucia opened in 1875, says my guidebook. I was pleasantly surprised that there was no admission fee.

Terraza Neptuno at Cerro Santa Lucia

Take the staircase that curves up gracefully from the streetlevel, and head through the ornate iron gates. This is the sight that greets you.

On either side of this open area, other staircases with ornate balustrades curve up to frame the fountain, and lead upward to lookouts. As well, you can go behind and above the fountain.

Cerro Santa Lucia

Above the Terraza Neptuno, yet more stairs lead up Cerro Santa Lucia. I was told the hill rises 630 metres -- about 2000 feet.

For all that, it's a fairly easy climb. This view gives an idea of the steepness of the hill.

The greenery offers some shade. Impatiens (Busy Lizzy) grow wild, and geraniums and fuschias lurk in the underbrush.

Cerro Santa Lucia cliffs

The paths cross back and forth along the hillside like some rabbit warren.

Some paths dead-end, seeming to lead only to quiet prospects where you can rest in the shade.

Signposts warn visitors when this is the case. This gives another view, to the west, of the steepness of the hillside.

On the cliff face below, out of view here, a sprinkler system was busy keeping the shrubbery green.

Maze of Trails

It's not all stairs to the top, as this path shows.

In this view, the path curves sharply to the left, around the brick wall in the left foreground, and this turret comes into view.

When you think you are at the top

There's still more to come.

Round a few more turns and up still more stairs, and you come to the turret seen in the photo above.


There's a large terrace at this spot, with stacked tables and chairs, and banners indicating this area is used for receptions.

But wait! There's more!

The path from the red brick structure wound behind it, leading ever upward.

Whenever I thought I was near the top, another tower or turret appeared still further uphill, teasing me onward, seeming to say, 'You've come this far -- keep going.'

I was certain that this one must be the last.

The top of Cerro Santa Lucia

The tower seen in the photo above is roomy enough for a few visitors to share, but no more than that.

This is the view from the top, looking to the west over the rooftop of the National Library, also on Alameda.

Another view from the top of Cerro Santa Lucia

To the north, the mountains are just barely visible. On a clear day, the views would be even lovelier!