Valparaiso Funicular: Ascensor Concepcion (Turri)

Ascensor Concepcion Oldest Cable Car Valparaiso

Tram, Cable Car, Funicular: These are the names for passenger cars that are pulled by cables and pulley up and down steep hills (cerros) on tracks.

No matter what you call them, or where they are located, they are a lot of fun to ride.

Some funiculars have only two single cars; Others, like in Hong Kong and the Blue Mountains, are a series of cars.

We were heading up Cerro Concepcion for dinner at Jaiba y Cordero, and this funicular saved a lot of steps!

Ascensor Elevator 'Makes Tracks' for Funicular To Cerro Concepcion.

This is the view out the funicular window, and yes, it's as steep as it looks!

Ascensor Concepcion is sometime called Ascensor Turri (Tower), for its lower terminal location near the landmark clock tower (Reloj Turri).

The entire ride takes about a minute, and the fare was 300 CLP  (Chilean pesos), about 50 cents USD/CAD.

In 2003, much of this area became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Turning Wheels Pull Cables: Valparaiso Funicular Driving Force

Here's a look at the wheel (pulley) and cable that joins the two cable cars;

The principal is that the weight of one car or several cars balances the other car(s) to pull the lower car up the cliff.

As one car gets winched up the hill, it's helped by the weight of the other car going down the hill.

With such a fast and short trip up the mountain, I didn't have a lot of time to take pictures, but I shot as fast as I could!

And since both cable cars leave their terminals at the same time, you cannot hang about.

Map at Top Terminal area Ascensor Concepcion

Both Cerro Concepcion and its neighbour Cerro Alegre (at the top of the Ascensor) are great areas to walk around and explore.

There are several good places to eat, the two storey houses are fun to photo, and every so often, you get wonderful views of Bahia de Valparaiso, the ships and the port, and beyond.

At this top terminal, check the map (photo) to get your bearings and decide what you want to see first.

If you've got a current guidebook, be sure to bring it along.

Cable Car Ride Video Valpo

Here is a really short video I took of the ride up Cerro Concepcion.

What to Pack Chile, Virgin Mary Statue, Christmas Navidad Parade; El Quisco Beaches; Pablo Neruda museum at Isla Negra; Indomita Winery Casablanca;