Antofagasta lies at the foot of the steep coastal range, south of Iquique in Region 1 and 1350 kilometers north of Santiago. It grew from a prospectors base camp into the city it is today due to the minerals, nitrate and copper, that brought international interest to the area.
Antofagasta is easily reached by air from Santiago and other cities. The city isn't a long-distance bus destination, but regional busses operate out of the Terminal de Buses Rurales.
ArtToday.comA port, commercial and university town, much of the daily life centers around the open spaces like the main Plaza Colon. A focal point in the plaza is the clock tower, a replica of Big Ben, a heritage from the British community.
Many shops, restaurants, theaters, travel services and hotels are located near the plaza,
The former Aduana de Antofagasta, once the customs house, now houses the Museo Regional de Antofagasta with the expected display of minerals and mining, but also ancient cultures and history, focusing on the War of the Pacific and contemporary items.
The former Gobernacion Maritima, or Port Authority, building is now a national monument as is the former Municipalidad de Antofagasta, south of the plaza.
2. Monumento Natural La Portada
ArtToday.comTwenty-five km north of Antofagasta is the Monumento Natural La Portada, a symbol of the city. Due to seismic activity, descent to the broad sandy beach is prohibited, but a trip to see the natural arch, birds and marine life, plus a meal in one of the seafood restaurants overlooking the water,, is a must.
3. Marine Reserve La Rinconada and Juan Lopez
Northwest of Antofagasta, on the road to the beach town of Juan Lopez, the marine reserve is a protected habitat for the northern scallop.
On the south end of the Mejillones peninsula, Juan Lopez is a favorite and crowded weekend getaway. In summer, a motor launch can take you for a close look at La Portada.
4. Mano del Desierto
Robert Harding / Getty ImagesSouth of Antofagasta, this hand rises up out of the desert, as if beckoning travelers to stop and have a closer look. Sculpted by Mario Irarrazabal, who also created another hand sculpture on a beach in Punta del Este, Uruguay, the Mano del Desierto stands about twelve meters above the desert.
Ingrid ChalmersDrive or take a plane for the trip to Calama, where the Rio Loa loops through on its way from the Andes and provides rest for the eyes and recreational opportunities.
Visitors travel to Calama to continue onwards to San Pedro de Atacama, various indigenous villages and archaeological ruins, plus a tour of Chuquicamata copper mine.
Ingrid ChalmersContrast the size of the truck with the open pit mine. The pit of Chuquicamata has grown so large over the years that it has taken over what used to be a mining camp with homes, shops, a hospital and recreational facilities. Now only a few people live there and most commute to their jobs from Calama.
ArtToday.comSan Pedro de Atacama is an old village near the Bolivian border built by the Spanish and called
El Oasis for the rare, desert springs nearby that have supported life since the 11th century. This whitewashed church is the focus for the June 29 celebrations of the Feast of San Pedro and San Pablo.
Before you set out to explore the surrounding region, take time to visit the museum, the Museo Arqueologico Padre Gustavo Le Paige, named for its founder, to see the displayes detailing the cultural and historical development of the Atacama.
From the village, you can walk, trek or drive to a number of attractions.
8. Valle de la Luna
Clarence FiskPlan your time to enjoy the sunset at the ruins in the Valley of the Moon, where the oolors of sky and earth awe the senses.
9. El Tatio Geysers
Javier Pierini / Getty ImagesAt 14,200 ft (4300 m), these are the highest geysers in the world. The spouts reach 19 ft (6 m) in height and are surrounded by fumaroles and mountains reaching almost 20,000 ft (6000 m). The best time to see El Tatio is at dawn. Be careful where you walk: the crusts around the geysers is very thin and unwary visitors have broken through and been badly burned.
10. Pukara de Lasana
Taylor Family CollectionBuilt on a ridge overlooking the Rio Loa and the narrow, fertile valley, the pukara, or fortress, once defended the area from invaders who wanted both water and crops. Still farmed today, the low valley makes a pleasant respite from the desert above.
