Isla Negra—named for the rocky outcrop just offshore from the home—is a popular day trip from Santiago. Many tours also include a stop in the village of Pomaire, known for its pottery-making tradition. Travelers with a special interest in Neruda can visit all three of his homes on a single day trip, journeying along the Route of Neruda.
Audio guides are available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.
The museum is accessible to wheelchairs.
Located in El Quisco, Isla Negra is about 68 miles (110 kilometers) west of Santiago along Ruta 68. Take a bus from Santiago to El Tabo, about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the museum. The easiest way to get there, however, is to join a guided day trip that includes transportation.
The museum is typically open Tuesday through Sunday year-round, with longer hours in January and February (high season). If you’re visiting on a summer weekend, get there early to beat the crowds.
Besides Isla Negra, Neruda had two other homes in Chile. In Santiago, the poet would meet up with his mistress at La Chascona (“Messy Hair”). Check out the dining room modeled after a ship cabin, and the living room resembling a lighthouse. In Valparaíso, Neruda watched the New Year’s fireworks from La Sebastiana, his house on a hill.