San Bernardo, Chile

Capital City

With over 300,000 inhabitants, San Bernardo is the 5th most populated commune in Greater Santiago. However, the city's average annual household income of just US$16,035 (PPP, 2009) and 20.9% of the population living below the poverty line (2006) paint a sobering picture. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the commune reportedly lacks the resources to properly administer and maintain sites like the historic Chena's Pucará. For those seeking an authentic Chilean experience outside the capital's glitz, San Bernardo's status as the "folkloric capital" may hold appeal, but the city's economic and administrative challenges make it a better fit for the budget-conscious and culturally adventurous.