Valparaiso Elevators & Viewpoints Tour: 3 Historic Funiculars

Ride three working funiculars built over a century ago and walk the hilltop viewpoints between them.

A guided tour of Valparaiso's historic elevators and hilltop viewpoints takes 2.5 hours, moving between Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre on foot and by funicular. The tour includes the Concepción Elevator (opened 1883), the El Peral Elevator (opened 1901), stops at Atkinson Walk and Paseo Gervasoni, and the street art of Museo Cielo Abierto. A live guide speaks Spanish or English, and the tour uses public transport to move through the city. Bottled water is included. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. El Peral Funicular20m
2. Paseo Gervasoni25m
3. Concepción Funicular15m · entry included

Explore Valparaiso viewpoints and elevators

• Visit Atkinson Walk viewpoint
• Ride El Peral Elevator to Cerro Alegre
• Walk Paseo Gervasoni promenade
• Ride Elevator Concepcion to Cerro Concepción
• Visit Paseo Yugoslavo viewpoint
• Explore outdoor street art museum
• Ride Cerro Bellavista elevator to Museo Cielo Abierto
• See Baburizza and Aztoreca Palaces
• Visit Prat pier heritage area

The experience

How do you see Valparaiso's hills without a car? The answer is the three funiculars that have carried residents and visitors uphill since the 1880s. This tour rides all three (the Concepción Elevator connecting Prat Street to Paseo Gervasoni, the El Peral Elevator climbing to Cerro Alegre, and the Bellavista Elevator) stopping between rides at the panoramic walks and street art that make the city recognizable from postcards. The Concepción, the oldest, still runs on its original 1883 mechanism. The El Peral, which opened in 1901 as a steam-powered lift, carries you through a narrow tunnel as the port unfolds below.

The walking sections connect the elevators and anchor the route. Atkinson Walk sits on Cerro Concepción and frames the port, the bay and the Pacific in a single view. The promenade is lined with English-style colonial houses from the late 19th century, their colorful facades and gardens setting the tone for what comes next. Paseo Gervasoni, also on Cerro Concepción, offers another angle on the harbor and the hills, with street art covering the surrounding walls: the work of local artists who have made the promenade a canvas. Paseo Yugoslavo connects the two hills and carries the same bohemian atmosphere: cafés, galleries, craft shops and the colorful houses that tourists photograph. The tour also takes in Museo Cielo Abierto, an open-air gallery where large-format artworks cover building facades and public spaces across the neighborhood, turning the streets themselves into the exhibition.

The guide is a local who speaks Spanish or English and moves the group at a pace that lets you stop for photos and take in each viewpoint. Public transport moves the tour between zones: the operator uses it intentionally so you see how the city works beyond the tourist route. Bottled water comes with the booking. The terrain is steep in places and involves climbing stairs and walking uphill between stops, so a moderate level of fitness helps, though the elevators themselves do the vertical work.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• three funicular rides on the Concepción, El Peral and Bellavista elevators.
• stops at Atkinson Walk, Paseo Gervasoni, Paseo Yugoslavo and Museo Cielo Abierto.
• public transport between zones.
• live guide in Spanish or English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 17:30

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 75 years) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by TOUR ASCENSORES Y MIRADORES DE VALPARAISO

Is this one for you?At 2.5 hours, the tour fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming the whole day, leaving time for lunch in one of the cafés on the hills or a separate visit to the waterfront. The walking sections are steady but not strenuous, so it suits travelers who want to move through the city on foot without a full-day commitment.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years); Child (5 to 14 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the three elevators on this tour and when were they built?

The Concepción Elevator opened in 1883 and is the oldest funicular in Valparaiso, connecting Prat Street to Paseo Gervasoni with its original mechanism still in use. The El Peral Elevator opened in 1901 as one of the first steam-powered lifts and carries you up to Cerro Alegre through a narrow tunnel. The Bellavista Elevator is the third stop, also offering access to one of the city's most visited hills.

What viewpoints and neighborhoods does the tour cover?

The tour includes Atkinson Walk on Cerro Concepción, which overlooks the port and Pacific; Paseo Gervasoni, also on Cerro Concepción, with street art and colonial architecture; Paseo Yugoslavo connecting the two hills; Cerro Alegre, accessed by the El Peral Elevator; and Museo Cielo Abierto, an open-air gallery where artworks cover the street facades and public spaces.

How long is the tour and what's included?

The tour runs 2.5 hours. Inclusions are the three funicular rides, the guided walks at each stop, bottled water, and a live guide in Spanish or English. Public transport moves the group between zones as part of the experience.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour involves walking uphill between stops and climbing stairs on the hilltop promenades, so a moderate level of fitness is recommended. The elevators themselves carry you up the steepest sections. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.