Talca

Talca is a city of 220,000 people (2017) in Central Chile. It is the capital of Talca Province and of Maule Region. Talca personifies the Chilean characteristics of being isolated, insular and very local. Most travellers from Santiago to the south pass right through and have no experience of Talca, a busy medium-sized city with cars, taxis, buses, bicycles and horse-drawn carts in the streets.

Understand
The city is an important economic center, with agricultural (wheat) and manufacturing activities, as well as wine production. Common crops are vegetables, fruit trees and cereals, in the rural sectors of the commune. However, it is the vineyards that acquire special importance, being the Maule Valley, whose head is Talca, the area with the highest wine production in the country with about 45% of the total.

Livestock activity (mainly pigs and poultry) is important since important industries are based on it. Mining, represented by the El Chivato (gold) deposit, is almost inactive today. It is also the location of the Universidad de Talca and the Catholic University of Maule, among others.

Talca is the main industrial center of the region and the Central Valley. It houses industries that deal with the processing of agricultural resources in the adjacent area. Outstanding items are the paper, wood, plastics and metallurgy industry; canning, milling, food and beverage industry, andcmeat and sausage processing.

It was partially destroyed by the 1928 Talca earthquake, and was rebuilt. The earthquake of February 2010 destroyed most of the old buildings in the region, including many of historical-heritage value, affecting residential areas and infrastructure.



Climate
Winters are cold with frequent rains and fogs, frosts are also frequent from mid-autumn to early spring, reaching below 0 °C in most winters. Summers are generally hot and dry, with highs that frequently exceed 30 °C, but with cool lows, slightly exceeding 10 °C.

By car
Talca is accessible by the main highway of Chile, the Ruta 5, a modern and well-maintained toll road with a 120 km/h speed limit which is part of the Panamerican Highway system. Getting in to the city from the highway involves many unmarked turns that leave you feeling that the city is not interested in visitors.

Regional paved roads lead westward to Talca from the Pacific Ocean. To the west, the San Clemente road is paved to within 80 km of the Argentine border at the rugged Paso Pehuenche which is open for about 2 months of the year, otherwise closed and impassible because of snow.

By bus
Bus service to Talca is frequent from in all four directions.

By train
There is train service north and south with a special.

By colectivo
Small black cars that run routes through the city, their cost are 450-600 pesos for a ride. They are quicker and more comfortable.

There are 36 lines of colectivos:
 * 1,2,3,13,14,19,20,23,24,25,34,2A: Southwest - downtown - Northwest
 * 18,22,15,16,28,30,31: Southwest - downtown - Northeast
 * 4,6,9,10,21,27,27A,29,32,33: Northwest - downtown - Northeast (or Northwest)
 * 15,16: Southwest - downtown - Northeast
 * 15A: Colín, Maule - downtown - Northeast
 * 5,7,8,12: Southeast - downtown - Northeast

By bus
Buses (called micros) go to all parts of town for 400 pesos (130 pesos students).

There are 12 lines of micros:
 * 1,2,4,6: Ex-Matadero, Sotratal S.A.
 * 3,3B,5,7: Abate Molina
 * A,B,C,D: Taxutal



By train
A special and rustic train (ramal) that makes the trip to the coast at Constitución.

Talca:
 * Colin–Pichamán: 1,200 pesos
 * Forel–Maquehua: 1,800 pesos
 * Constitución: 2,100 pesos

Constitución:
 * Maquehua–Curtiduría: 1,200 pesos
 * Corinto–Colín: 1,800 pesos
 * Talca: 2,100 pesos

See
Talca has many historical buildings:

Other important buildings are:
 * Railway Station (11 Oriente S. Allende, in front of La Loba square and 2 Sur Ms. Larraín)
 * Regional Center of Provision (4 Norte w/ 11 Oriente)

In general, the Central Square Park and 1 Sur street concentrates many old buildings of great value.

Do

 * Wine Route – Circuit through the vineyards of the Maule Valley, which is centered in the city of Talca. It is a highly demanded tourist walk, especially by visitors from abroad.
 * Chancho Costumbrista Festival – Also known as the "We are Dead Pig Festival", it is a gastronomic exhibition promoted by the Municipality during two days in August. It is held in the Plaza de Armas, where stands are exhibited with pork products, prepared by many chefs in different positions. This festival evokes one of the customs of the Chilean countryside, which is the slaughter of the pig, and the family and social rite that summons around it for the manufacture of by-products that will feed the people of the countryside during the winter.

Hiking
To the east an area of vast hiking opportunities exist. Get more information from CONAF website and the local office in Talca center. Some highlights:

Buy




Go next

 * Constitución – Take the rustic train west to the coast and then down the tranquil sea side with laid back surfer towns like Pelluhue and Cobquecura, and everything in between.