Concepción and its surroundings
The capital of the Eighth Region (Región del Bio Bio) and second largest city of Chile is attracting more and more visitors every year. That´s the result of great efforts as, in spite of the modern infrastructure, it was possible to conserve “green space” in and around the city.
Concepción is situated about 500 km to the south of Chile´s capital and can easily be reached by car, bus, plane, train, and a new highway.
Concepción has about 220.000 inhabitants. However, the whole area including the surrounding communes San Pedro, Hualpén, Talcahuano, and San Vicente, has almost a million people.
Clean and healthy oceanic air, Andean spring water, excellent fresh and healthy food, but also little traffic and stress, agreeable temperatures and neither too arid summers nor too rainy winters make Concepción and its surroundings a great place to live, work, and study.
Modern infrastructure such as an airport, hotels, universities, schools, convention centers, shopping centers, cinemas, a zoo, theaters, and special events like concerts of national and international artists and bands are only a small part of what the whole area offers. The nearby green parks and the coast line invite visitors to relax, and the low cost of living increase the quality of living clearly above the one of Chile´s capital.
As the inhabitants of Gran Concepción are divided into several communes, a unique culture has risen as a mixture between modern city and country life.
A symphony orchestra, alternative cinemas, theaters, music academies, but also courses for hobby painters can be found in the area.
There is an open soccer stadium for several thousands of fans, basketball, rugby, and horseback riding clubs, an aviation club, a model aviation group, and several biking, mountain bike, and mountaineering clubs have their offices in the city center.
As the Pacific ocean is only a few minutes away, people practice surfing, body board, scuba diving, sailing, but also kite surfing has become a very popular hobby amongst the Penquistas.
The gastronomy in Concepción covers simple restaurant or “Picadas” (e.g.Carlos T, La Picá de Puchacay), such as cuisine like El Riquén or Rocinante, and vegetarian restaurants like “Lettuce”. Fish and seafood are offered in Lenga, a “Caleta” (small village by the sea) only five minutes from Concepción.
The best cafés are at the city center, around the Plaza de la Independencia, e.g.Rometsch, Roggendorf, and Cantabria.
The surroundings of Concepción
The coastal towns and the nearby beaches can rapidly be reached by modern public busses.
Many locals prefer to visit the communes to the north of Concepción, such as Penco, Tomé, Lirquén, and Dichato.
More crowded and less crowded beaches can be found to the south of the city, e.g.Playa Blanca between Coronel and Lota, two former black coal towns along the “Ruta del Carbón”. The “Chiflón del Diablo” black coal mine offers tours where shafts below the Pacific ocean are visited.
Towards the inland, dense forests and some small and medium- size winemakers can be found around the Itata Valley which can easily be reached by a modern highway.
Free visits, only forty minutes from Concepción, are offered by Celulosa Arauco near Nueva Aldea, where you can visit the most modern cellulose producing factory in South America. Visits have to be reserved in advanced and are available from Monday to Saturday.
