Chile🇨🇱 | citiesAricaEiffel iron church, Chinchorro mummies, Morro headland, calm city beaches | things to do and best time to go

Walking plus shared taxis covers nearly everything a backpacker needs in Arica, because the center is flat, small and laid out in a simple grid. Traffic is light by Chilean standards, and the system is informal but dependable.

• Walking: Free and the best choice downtown. From Plaza Colón to the Morro base takes about 10 minutes, to the nearest city beaches 15 to 20.
• Colectivos: Shared taxis run fixed numbered routes and are the smartest buy. Fares are roughly US$1 to 1.50 within the city, and they reach Playa Chinchorro and the bus terminal. Routes run from early morning until about 10 pm. Check the route number on the roof sign.
• Taxis: A short ride in the center costs US$3 to 5. Use them late at night or when carrying luggage. Agree on the price first if no meter runs.
• Buses and minibuses (micros):

… read more 👉

Walking plus shared taxis covers nearly everything a backpacker needs in Arica, because the center is flat, small and laid out in a simple grid. Traffic is light by Chilean standards, and the system is informal but dependable.

• Walking: Free and the best choice downtown. From Plaza Colón to the Morro base takes about 10 minutes, to the nearest city beaches 15 to 20.
• Colectivos: Shared taxis run fixed numbered routes and are the smartest buy. Fares are roughly US$1 to 1.50 within the city, and they reach Playa Chinchorro and the bus terminal. Routes run from early morning until about 10 pm. Check the route number on the roof sign.
• Taxis: A short ride in the center costs US$3 to 5. Use them late at night or when carrying luggage. Agree on the price first if no meter runs.
• Buses and minibuses (micros): Cheap at about US$0.80 to 1, but routes are harder to read than colectivos. They are useful to the Azapa Valley if you are not in a hurry.
• Taxi to the Peru border: Colectivos to Tacna leave from the international terminal and cost about US$8 to 12, taking 1 to 1.5 hours including border formalities. This is faster than the bus and worth it.

Skip rental cars within the city. They only make sense for the altiplano.

Arica works well as a base because the desert, valleys and altiplano all lie within a day’s reach, though the highland trips are long.Azapa Valley and the Chinchorro Mummies: The valley holds olive groves and the Universidad de Tarapacá museum, which displays mummies thousands of years older than Egypt’s. Colectivos take about 25 minutes and cost around US$1.50 each way, with entry roughly US$3 to 5. Go in the morning and add geoglyphs along the road if time allows.

Lauca National Park: This is the big one: flamingos, vicuñas and the white cone of Parinacota volcano rising above high plains at over 4,300 m. Tours run 12 to 13 hours and cost about US$55 to 85, and a common mistake is skipping acclimatization, so drink coca tea and take it slowly. April to November has the clearest roads.

… read more 👉

Arica works well as a base because the desert, valleys and altiplano all lie within a day’s reach, though the highland trips are long.Azapa Valley and the Chinchorro Mummies: The valley holds olive groves and the Universidad de Tarapacá museum, which displays mummies thousands of years older than Egypt’s. Colectivos take about 25 minutes and cost around US$1.50 each way, with entry roughly US$3 to 5. Go in the morning and add geoglyphs along the road if time allows.

Lauca National Park: This is the big one: flamingos, vicuñas and the white cone of Parinacota volcano rising above high plains at over 4,300 m. Tours run 12 to 13 hours and cost about US$55 to 85, and a common mistake is skipping acclimatization, so drink coca tea and take it slowly. April to November has the clearest roads.

Putre: An Andean village at about 3,500 m, reached in roughly 2.5 hours by road. It suits a shorter acclimatization stop and lunch, and buses leave from the Arica terminal at around US$6 to 9 one way. Return times are limited, so check the last bus.

Tacna, Peru: A border run that is easy: colectivos take about 1.5 hours, cost US$8 to 12 and need your passport and entry card. Go for cheap food and markets. Cross early to avoid the lines.