Norte Chico
In 2010, 33 miners were trapped more than 700m underground after a devastating collapse within the mountain where they'd been working. Following a…
Must-see attractions in Norte Chico
Observatorio Interamericano Cerro Tololo
Elqui Valley
Probing the mysteries of stars billions of miles into the past is all in a night's work at the futuristic Observatorio Interamericano Cerro Tololo, which…
Elqui Valley
The star of the stargazing show, the purpose-built Observatorio Cerro Mamalluca, 9km northeast of Vicuña, is Elqui Valley's biggest attraction. So big, in…
Elqui Valley
The gravesite of Gabriela Mistral lies on a hillside just south of Montegrande's main plaza. A winding path to the top is lined with quotes and…
Elqui Valley
Like Mamalluca, the shiny hilltop Observatorio Collowara in Andacollo is built for tourists; no serious interstellar research is conducted here. Two-hour…
Elqui Valley
Capel distills pisco at this facility and has its only bottling plant here. Located about 2km (a 20-minute walk) southeast of town, this large pisco maker…
Elqui Valley
You won't get far in the Elqui Valley without someone offering you a Guayacan, and if you're even vaguely interested in beer, you should accept. This…
Elqui Valley
A Buddhist stupa in a remote corner of northern Chile? You'll think you took a wrong turn off the Panamericana and somehow ended up in the Himalaya rather…
Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe
Norte Chico
This 45,000-hectare desert park north of Huasco is a great place to escape the crowds. Several well-marked trails take in a bit of the desert flora (and…
Elqui Valley
The town's landmark Museo Gabriela Mistral, between Riquelme and Baquedano, celebrates one of Chile's most famous literary figures. Gabriela Mistral was…
Norte Chico
The cold Humboldt Current flows up the desert coastline, bringing with it its peppy namesake penguin and abundant marine life. The worthwhile 44,000…
Norte Chico
The subtriangular-shaped Isla Pan de Azúcar lies a tantalizingly short distance offshore, its base often shrouded by camanchaca (thick fog) at twilight…
Norte Chico
This catch-all museum provides an overview of the region's natural and human history, its mineral wealth, and key events that have shaped history over the…
Norte Chico
Until just a couple of years ago, the stunning Playa La Virgen, 46km south of Bahía Inglesa along a lovely coastal road, was a well-guarded treasure of…
Museo Histórico Casa Gabriel González Videla
La Serena
Although richly stocked with general historical artifacts, this two-story museum in an 18th-century mansion concentrates on one of La Serena's best-known …
Monumento Arqueológico Valle del Encanto
Norte Chico
An intriguing gallery of pre-Colombian rock art can be found at Monumento Arqueológico Valle del Encanto, a rocky tributary canyon of the Río Limarí 19km…
Norte Chico
Housed in the right flank of the old train-station building, this museum houses dramatically lit ceramics, most of which are Diaguita, dating from around…
Norte Chico
Tabalí is a great little winery that's making waves in the Limarí Valley. Located at 1600m and planted on a mix of soils (alluvial, transitional, granitic…
Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt
Norte Chico
This aquatic reserve, encompassing some 888 hectares and several islands is home to some 68 species of land vertebrates, including sea lions, with bottle…
Elqui Valley
The latest of a few on the observatory front is Observatorio del Pangue, 17km south of Vicuña, run by three enthusiastic French and Chilean astronomers…
Museo Minero de Tierra Amarilla
Norte Chico
To find out more about the region's geology, head 18km southeast of town to this private museum near the village of Tierra Amarilla. Surrounded by working…
Elqui Valley
This family-run boutique pisquera, in operation since 1921, offers quite a different view of pisco production. The 40-minute tours take you through all…
Norte Chico
A cross between a holy pilgrimage site and theme park, this whopping 93m-high concrete cross can be clearly seen from La Serena’s beaches and makes for an…
Elqui Valley
An artisanal pisquera established in 1868, 3km south of Pisco Elqui, Fundo Los Nichos still produces pisco the old-fashioned way. Its four guided tours …
La Serena
Inside a crescent-shaped building with a leafy patio, this museum makes an ambitious attempt to corral Chile's pre-Columbian past. Its highlights include…
Parque Nacional Bosques de Fray Jorge
Norte Chico
This lush cloud forest is a surprising find in the parched landscape of northern Chile. The 10,000-hectare park makes a splendid detour when driving up…
Elqui Valley
The star attraction in Pisco Elqui is the Distileria Pisco Mistral, which produces the premium Mistral brand of pisco. The hour-long 'museum' tour gives…
Norte Chico
Also known as Fuerte Lambert, this former 19th-century fortification offers picturesque views over the bay from a rocky perch near the peninsula's…
Norte Chico
This red neoclassical mansion from the early 1890s, once owned by a family of Italian immigrants, is the town's newest attraction. The guided tours in…
Museo Entomologico e Historia Natural
Elqui Valley
On the south side of the plaza, this small, one-room museum has an eye-catching collection of fierce-looking scarab beetles, shimmering blue-winged morpho…
La Serena
With its trickling brooks, drifting swans and neatly manicured rock gardens, this Japanese garden makes an idyllic escape from the city bustle. Don't miss…
Norte Chico
One of Huasco's emblems is the 22m-high lighthouse. Its elegantly tapering octagonal shape and copper dome looks all the more striking against the rocky…
Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces
Norte Chico
It requires effort to get here, but the rewards are tremendous. This remote national park is home to soaring peaks, glittering alpine lakes and abundant…
Centro Cultural Estación Caldera
Norte Chico
Built in 1850, this distinctive building on the north side of the jetty was the terminus for South America's first railroad. Today it houses a gorgeously…
Elqui Valley
At Km14.5, on the road to Montegrande, is the Cavas del Valle winery. Started in 2003, this little boutique bucks the trend by serving actual wine, rather…
La Serena
The heart of the colonial center is the palm-filled Plaza de Armas. The picturesque square makes a fine place for a stroll with a bit of people-watching…
La Serena
The dainty-looking bell tower of Iglesia Santo Domingo looks as though it should have a twirling ballerina inside. The tower is a later addition, only a…
La Serena
Tucked off Balmaceda, this small, picturesque lane is dotted with shops and eateries. The patio in back feels like a secret getaway from the city-center…
La Serena
The granddaddy of all La Serena's churches is a colonial marvel, two blocks southeast of the plaza and built in the early 1600s. It's a stone construction…
La Serena
La Serena's most vibrant market offers a jumble of dried fruits, rain sticks and artisan jewelry, plus a wide range of Andean wool clothing and crafts. It…
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