Location: Antofagasta
Top Things to do in Antofagasta
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Antofagasta, Chile
Antofagasta (Spanish pronunciation: [antofaˈɣasta] ( listen)) is a port city in northern Chile, about 1,100 kilometres (700 mi) north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2015 census, the city has a population of 402,444.
Restaurants in Antofagasta
1. Desierto de Atacama
Overall Ratings
5 based on 409 reviews
Reviewed By warren D - tokyo
If you make a trip to Chile, consider including the Deserto de Atacama. It is the driest desert i the world. Some claim there has never been a drop of rain here in human history. When I went out from my lodging in the night and walked along the sand dunes, I felt as if I were on another planet. I sat down and wrote poetry, so moved by this beautiful place.
2. Iglesia de San Francisco de Chiu Chiu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Antoinette A
the trip was amazing we arrived at 5pm and church closes at 5 pm did not get to see the inside. There is shopping and restaurants in the incredibly charming town of chiu chiu
3. Biblioteca Regional de Antofagasta
Overall Ratings
5 based on 160 reviews
Reviewed By joshmtus - Seattle, Washington
We stumbled into this attraction after Plaza Colon and were very impressed. They did a very modern upgrade to the interior of the old post office and it turned out very nice. A cool place to stop and spend a few minutes turning pages.
4. Salar de Atacama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 309 reviews
This vast salt lake is blanketed by a thick crust of salt and attracts some interesting varieties of birds including several different types of flamingos.
Reviewed By FactotumDellaCitta
Every salar that we visited looked different and Salar de Atacama had its own beauty. The rough surface, with colorful puddles and lagoons, is magnificent to behold both up close and from far away, Chaxa Lagoon (reviewed separately) is a great place to experience Salar de Atacama.
5. La Portada
Overall Ratings
4 based on 892 reviews
Reviewed By Carly L
Going to see La Portada is a MUST - so beautiful. Just make sure you rent a car as there are no buses near by, otherwise you can also call a taxi - I believe the cost is the same to just rent a car for the day.
6. Ruinas de Huanchaca
Overall Ratings
4 based on 328 reviews
Reviewed By Isolar2014 - Valparaiso, Chile
The historic landmark known as Ruins of Huanchaca corresponds to the vestiges of an old silver smelter that operated in Antofagasta, Chile, between 1892 and 1902, which was in its time the largest industrial complex in South America.
The massive constructions built of "andesite" stone are the structural foundations of the former industrial establishment called "Playa Blanca" (White Beach). This was a property of the “Mining Company of Huanchaca – Bolivia” (a company of Chilean, British and Bolivian interests). Huanchaca owned silver mines in Pulacayo and Oruro, approximately 750 kilometers northwest in Bolivian territory, from where the ore came by train to the port of Antofagasta on the Pacific coast for processing and shipping.
Construction of the plant began in 1888 following an agreement between the Mining Company of Huanchaca and the British-Chilean “Nitrates and Railway Company of Antofagasta” to transport the ore from the Bolivian mines to the smelter at Antofagasta. The industrial complex opened in 1892 and from February 1893, received 200 tons of material per day, which produced 3.85 tons of silver per month.
The industrial facilities involved machinery buildings, boilers and engines, workshops, gas works, pumps and tanks, warehouses, offices, and living quarters for more than 1,200 workers. The company made valuable contributions to the development of the city of Antofagasta such as the completion of the railroad from Antofagasta to Bolivia, the supply of drinking water through pipelines from the Andes Mountains, a rudimentary telephone network and street gas lighting.
After only 10 years of operation, due to the instability of silver prices in the world market and a great flood that paralyzed the site at Pulacayo, the company ceased business in 1902. After closing and decommissioning, the facilities were abandoned to the impacts of time and weather. In 1964, the ‘Catholic University of the North’ undertook the task of conservation of the ruins and the development of the Huanchaca Cultural Park including the Ruins of Playa Blanca, the Atacama Desert Museum, and an outdoor Amphitheater open to the community to be used for public Concerts and mass artistic Performances. In 1974, the Huanchaca Ruins were designated a
The Atacama Desert Museum has a floor area of 2,200 square meters. Beyond a large entrance hall there are five permanent exhibition halls, a central corridor also used for Exhibitions, an auditorium for 99 people, offices, a warehouse, and research spaces. The Museum aims to preserve and increase the knowledge and dissemination of the natural, archeological and historical heritage of the Antofagasta Region.
Access to the Huanchaca Ruins is free. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 hrs. and from 14:30 to 19:00 hrs. Entrance fee is CLP$ 2,000 (approx. USD 2.8).
7. Paseo del Mar Antofagasta
Overall Ratings
4 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By Antoinette A
It is extremely sad and sissapointing that such beautifyl spots are not taken care of. This is a beautiful location at sunset...you have to ignore the garbage, bad odor and gigantic amount of bird crap all over, its really disgusting. However The sunset there is priceless.
8. Poruna Volcano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Maria Rosa G - San Jose de Maipo, Chile
Está a orillas del camino internacional a Ollagüe (21 CH) y se le considera hijo del Volcán San Pedro ya que se formó por una erupción subterránea de éste . No está cerca del pueblo San Pedro de Atacama. Más cerca de Conchi. Es de material de escoria negra y no tiene más de 150 metros de altura. Viví 14 años en la zona y sé de lo que escribo....
9. European Southern Observatory Paranal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By SanDiegoGuy1 - San Diego, California
Sign up online to visit and tour the facility. It is an amazing place to see how we are exploring the galaxies and what has been done to provide European, North American, East Asian and Chilean scientists with advanced equipment and facilities to explore the galaxies.
I will always remember my visit here.
Also, their staff living "hotel" is the " Bolivian hotel" that was blown up in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.
10. Casino Enjoy
Overall Ratings
4 based on 91 reviews
Reviewed By TucsonTraveller - Tucson, Arizona
We had a very nice meal at the restaurant inside the complex (Vista Norte?), but still had to pay 3000 pesos to enter the casino? Really?! The casino has everything you want and wasn't too busy when we went on a Tuesday night. It appears to be in two halves and the other side looked busier.
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