Greater Valparaíso

Map of the Greater Valparaiso.

Cerro Concepción, Valparaíso

Port of Valparaíso

Beach in Viña del Mar

Wulff Castle, Viña del Mar

Greater Valparaíso (Gran Valparaíso) is the third largest metropolitan area in Chile, after Greater Santiago. It takes this name after the city of Valparaíso, the oldest city of the group and the most important harbour in Chile. Its total population is 930,220 at the 2012 pre census.

Major cities

The agglomeration is composed of several communes (Spanish: comunas), and each is governed by its respective municipality:

• Valparaíso
• Viña del Mar
• Concón
• Quintero
• Quilpué
• Villa Alemana

Communes

These communes have the following characteristics:

• Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Concón and Quintero are coastal cities. Villa Alemana and Quipué are located in inner valleys and belong to the group of cities known as El Interior (The Interior).
• Valparaíso and Viña del Mar have traditionally concentrated industrial and commercial activities, while Quilpué and Villa Alemana are primarily residential, and therefore often considered ciudades dormitorio (bedroom communities).

Infrastructure

Education

Gran Valparaíso also has the third largest concentration of universities in Chile. Besides the Traditional Universities, it has several private institutions, including Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad Andres Bello, and Universidad del Mar.

Transportation

There is a metro system which serves most of the communes in the conurbation: The Gran Valparaíso Metro System

Tourism

The area is a major tourist draw due to the internationally important Viña del Mar Musical Festitval, its balnearios (beaches and resorts), and the world's largest pool San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo.