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Meridiela.

Olmue

The huaso town below La Campana, where a folk festival has run since 1969 in a natural amphitheatre.

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Typetown
WhereValparaiso Region
Nearest cityLimache about 10 km; Valparaiso about 55 km
Best seasonYear round; the festival is in January
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereRoad inland from Limache off route 60; buses from Valparaiso and Santiago
EntryFree to the town; festival tickets charged

Olmue sits in a valley below Cerro La Campana in country that is central Chilean huaso country - horses, rodeo, and the food and music that go with it - and it has run the Festival del Huaso de Olmue since 1969, held each January in the El Patagual amphitheatre, a natural bowl in the hills, and broadcast nationally. It is the counterpart to Vina's international festival and is built on Chilean folk and popular music rather than on international acts. The town is also the main access point for the Granizo and Cajon Grande sectors of La Campana national park, and much of the accommodation exists for both.

What you actually see

  • Huaso country - horses, rodeo and the culture around them.
  • A folk festival since 1969 - each January, broadcast nationally.
  • The El Patagual amphitheatre - a natural bowl in the hills.
  • The gate to La Campana - the Granizo and Cajon Grande sectors.

When to go

Year round; January for the festival, when the town is full. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Accommodation is booked out and priced up for festival week. Outside that the town is quiet and functional. The park sectors close on high fire risk days in summer. Rodeo is a live ethical argument in Chile.

Nearby

La Campana national park is above; Limache and Valparaiso are west.

What to pack for Olmue

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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