 Northern
Chile with its miles and miles of coastline offers
a spectacular landscape where the sea contrasts
with the desert under an intense blue sky. The clearness
of the sky is much valued by national and international
astronomers who have built a number of observatories,
such as La Silia, El Tololo and the spectacular
Very
Large Telescope. Another regional
attraction is the so-called "flowering desert" that
occurs every few years when the flowers grow and
cover the and ground, creating a wonderful spectacle.
Furthermore, the waters of the Pacific Ocean are
more temperate in this sector, offering perfect
conditions to swim and practice water sports, as
well as a large selection of sea food, which is
why numerous restaurants in the area offer a delicious
maritime cuisine.
Over 90% of the population
lives on the coaxial platform and the largest urban
centers are Arica, lquique and Antofagasta. These
cities offer a series of excursions to surrounding
areas and show the visitor their own history, preserved
in old buildings and in valuable specialized museums.
Attractions
History and Legend
Between 1880 and 1920, this area was transformed
into a hive of industrial activity, as dozens
of mining towns such as Oficina Humberstone sprung
up almost overnight to exploit the massive nitrate
deposits of the Atacama Desert. Cities like Iquique
export capital of the nitrate boom filled with
millionaire entrepreneurs and boomtown miners.
Today, elegant historic architecture reminds visitors
of an age gone by.
Archaeology
The Chango Indians of this rugged coast traded
fishmeal and guano with inland cultures, trekking
through the desert on age-old trails marked with
huge geoglyphs, such as those at Cerro Pintados,
near Iquique. Near Mea, the San Miquel de Azapa
archaeological museum displays artifacts from
over 10,000 years of cultural development, including
the world's oldest mummies. |
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 Recreation
and Relaxation
Sunny skies and extensive beaches make Chile's northern
coast an ideal location for relaxing getaways. Arica,
Iquique, and Antofagasta all boast top-notch hotels,
splendid seafood restaurants, casinos and dubs. At the
other end of the spectrum, coastal villages like Bahia
Inglesa and remote parks such as Pan de Azúcar National
Park provide sun and surf in a pristine coastal desert
setting.
Activities
Astronomy
Recognized by astronomers as processing the clearest
skies in the southern hemisphere, Chile's northern coast
provides the best viewpoint on the Southern Gross, the
twin Magellan Cloud galaxies, and other little-known
features of the southern firmament.
Observation of flora and fauna
Coast mist-fed ecosystems such as that of Pan De Azúcar
National Park contain over 140 species of endemic cactus,
white the extraordinarily rich marine environment of
Reserva Nacional Pinguino de Humboldt is home to a wide
variety of birds and marine mammals, including sea lions,
bottle-nosed dolphins, Humboldt penguins and Chilean
pelicans. In September and October following exceptionally
rainy winters, the coastal desert around Vallenar bursts
into color in a phenomenon known as the "flowering desert."
Mystical and Religious
The enchanting Elqui Valley purportedly possesses healing
and esoteric energies that attract New Age travelers
from across the globe.
Gastronomy
With locally grown produce ranging from olives to papayas,
and an abundant variety of fish and shellfish, the cuisine
of northern Chile is fresh, healthy and elegant. For
starters, ask for a pisco sour made with famous limes
from the oasis of Pica, and dig into a delicious ceviche.
Appetite piqued? The feast is just beginning.
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