If Viña del Mar has a logo, it is the Reloj de Flores. The Flower Clock sits on the grassy lower slope of Cerro Castillo, right beside the coast road and opposite the little beach of Caleta Abarca. Its face — roughly ten metres across — is a carpet of flowers with the numerals picked out in contrasting plants, and its hands really do tell the time.
The clock was installed in 1962, when Viña del Mar hosted matches of the FIFA World Cup, and it quickly became the emblem of the “Garden City”. The planting is renewed through the year, so the colours you see in January are not the ones you see in July. It is free, open-air and on the way to almost everything, which is why every coast tour stops here.
Top things to do at Flower Clock (Reloj de Flores)
Take the photo — early
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon, tour buses arrive one after another. Come before ten or in the late afternoon light and you will have the clock (and the flower beds) almost to yourself.
Walk down to Caleta Abarca
Cross the road to Viña’s most sheltered city beach, a small cove framed by rocks and the Sheraton Miramar. In summer it is lively with families; out of season it is a calm spot for a coffee by the water.
Follow the coast to Wulff Castle
From the clock it is a pleasant 15-minute walk north along Avenida Marina — past the rocks, the fishermen and the old railway bridge — to Castillo Wulff and the start of the city beaches.
Look up at Cerro Castillo
The hill behind the clock holds the Palacio Presidencial de Cerro Castillo, the summer residence of Chile’s presidents (not open to visitors), and residential streets with views over the bay.
How to get to Flower Clock (Reloj de Flores)
- On foot: about 15 minutes from Plaza José Francisco Vergara (the main square) along Avenida Marina or through the streets at the foot of Cerro Castillo.
- By bus or colectivo: buses running between Viña and Valparaíso along the coast road (Avenida España) pass right by the clock.
- By train: Miramar station on the Metro Valparaíso line is a short walk away.
- On a tour: practically every coast tour from Santiago includes a photo stop here.
Insider tips
- There is no ticket, no opening time and no fence to climb — please stay on the path; the flower beds are replanted by hand.
- Combine the clock with Caleta Abarca, Castillo Wulff and a walk along Avenida Perú for an easy first morning in Viña.
- Traffic on the coast road is fast; cross at the lights.
- Photographers: the clock faces the sea, so the light is softest in the afternoon.
Best tours & tickets for Flower Clock (Reloj de Flores)
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Flower Clock (Reloj de Flores), from Viña del Mar or on a day trip from Santiago:
Day trip from €29 Santiago: Valparaíso + Viña del Mar Classic Guided Sightseeing Tour
Excellent value and very well reviewed: a full day on the coast with a guide, a local lunch and the main sights of both cities. A good choice if you want everything organised at a budget price.
- Valparaíso’s murals, viewpoints and historic centre
- Viña del Mar’s Flower Clock and seafront
- Local lunch included, plus a stop with llamas on the way
Day trip from €67 Santiago: Valparaíso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Valley Tour
The classic coast day from Santiago and one of the best-reviewed tours in Chile, with more than two thousand reviews. A guide walks you through Valparaíso’s UNESCO-listed hills, you drive along Viña del Mar’s seafront past the Flower Clock and Wulff Castle, and you stop for a tasting in the Casablanca Valley.
- Walk Valparaíso’s hills and ride a historic funicular
- See the Flower Clock and the seafront of Viña del Mar
- Wine tasting at a Casablanca Valley winery on the way
Day trip from €34 Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Casablanca, Reñaca & Oceanic Rock
The widest-ranging day trip from Santiago, adding the north coast — Reñaca and the dramatic Roca Oceánica near Concón — to the usual Valparaíso and Viña del Mar programme. Big groups and a full schedule, but a lot of coast for the price.
- The most-booked coast tour, with thousands of reviews
- Reñaca beach and the Roca Oceánica headland
- Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and a Casablanca wine stop
