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City and Commune in Tarapacá, Chile
Photo: Freddy Alexander Bugueño Tolmo, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Iquique is a city of 191,000 people (2017) in the Northern Chile. The city is home to the Zofri duty-free zone, and a growing number of high-rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, but a convenient place to stock up on duty-free perfumes and laptop computers.
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Paseo Baquedano
A cobbled, old-Western style street with plentiful tourist and artisan activities. Buildings around constructed during the 19th century offer interesting architecture mainly in Georgian and Victorian styles adapted to the coastal desert climate.
Palacio Astoreca
The most emblematic house in the city belongs to Arturo Prat University as an extension centre.
The Tarapacá Giant
The largest geoglyph in the region. A remarkable planning effort considering that it is hundreds of years old. You get the best overall picture when looking on Google Earth though; therefore you could stop there if you are driving along these roads any way but it's doubtful whether it really pays to come here from a long distance.
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
This UNESCO site is an old residential and production site from the days of the saltpetre era. Few residential houses are furnished, but most of the site is still in remarkable condition due to the dry atmosphere. Allow 1-2 hr to stroll around the huge area.
Thick crust pizzas. Pleasant spot with outdoor seating.
Dance restaurant
Greek
Outstanding and generous seafood. A bit more expensive than other places but it's worth it.
Restaurant with marine food.
Close to all the important spots in Iquique lies this hostel. The fully equipped kitchen, free internet use, weekly BBQ in the huge patio and friendly staff make this owner managed hostel a must, when staying in Iquique.
Convenient for buses arriving in the city center, just across the road from the terminal. Free use of kitchen, try to get breakfast included in the price before deciding.
Very gringo- and Euro-friendly hostel, with lounge, TV, kitchen, breakfast, bar, ping-pong, hammocks, guitar, computer with internet, etc. Bikes, surf and bodyboards (plus equipment), and sandboards for rent. Close to the beach, not too far from historic district. Friday evening barbecue (~US$7). Multilingual staff is friendly, helps organize other activities. Matrimonial suite and separate cabin available.
20-minute walk to the beach. High ceilings.
A beautiful garden, small gym, paragliding, tours and information, breakfast, bar, wi-fi, laundry, rent a bike, help organize other activities. Located in the historic center of Iquique, at 6 blocks from Cavancha beach. Doubles, Matrimonial suites, dorms. Private bathrooms.
Hostel with a young atmosphere and a surf and bodyboard school. Single, double and shared rooms, all with shared bathroom & a kitchen for free use; affordable prices.
A duty-free zone, in the north of town. The shopping experience is somewhat set back by the fog of aerosol perfumes being sniffed and tested by snazzy dressed Chileans, but electronics are slightly cheaper than outside its fences. Memory cards are good deals, also alcoholic beverages (compared to the rest of the country). There is a maximum per person purchase limit of US$1,000, although you better check this before making any larger purchases.
By plane
Many flights connect daily with Santiago and other main cities in the country. International flights are offered from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.
Micros run along the major streets in the center and takes you from the center to the Zofri in no time. Walking is the most convenient mode of transport for getting to and from the beaches.
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Iquique · International · IQQ
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