Horcon

By Noleen Turner

Horcon is a small fishing town based around a sheltered bay. It’s about 44km north of Viña del Mar and 163km from Santiago. The pretty town is nestled atop lush rolling hills that meet the Pacific Ocean. The area is very beautiful and very green.

In the 1960s Horcon was something of a hippy hangout. Today it has evolved into an artisan centre, with several craftspeople making and selling handmade goods in the town. During the week, Horcon is a sleepy town, but it comes alive at weekends when people come to buy fresh fish and seafood, visit the craft fair and eat in the local restaurants.

There are several beautiful beaches in Horcon including Playa Cau-Cau, Playa Larga, Playa El Claron, Playa Los Agatas, Playa Luna, Playa Los Tebos and Playa La Caleta de los Pescadores. Playa Luna is a nudist beach.

Activities in the area include lazing on the beach, swimming, fishing, diving and paragliding.

There is plenty of accommodation and good restaurants serving the day’s catch.

For cheap lodgings try Cabanas Horcon on Calle Principal 267 (Tel: (32) 2 794 613 www.cabanashorcon.cl) or Cabanas Nena on Los Aromos (Tel: (32) 2 794 062).

For great seafood try Caballo de Mar on Playa Cau-Cau (Tel: (32) 2 796 138). For traditional Chilean food at reasonable prices try Restaurant Horcon – Museo on Avenida Costanera 73 (Tel: (32) 2 794 540).

Getting there:

Driving from Santiago: take route 5 Norte until Nogales. Then take route F-20 until you come to routes F-30-E and F-210. You need to head south at this junction.

Bus from Santiago: take a bus from Estacion Central.

Driving from Viña del Mar or Valpariaso: head north for routes F-30-E and F-210.

Bus from Viña del Mar: buses depart from Plaza Sucre (just off Avenida Valparaíso ) and Plaza Parroquia (close to the entrance of Quinta Vergera) every 30 – 40 minutes. In summer departures are up to 9pm. In winter, last departures are at around 7pm.

Bus from Valparaíso: from Avenida Errázuriz take any bus going to Horcon.

Driving from Mendoza: take routes 60, 5 Norte, F-30-E and F-210.