Iquique

A seaside city wedged between sand dunes and the Pacific, famed for paragliding and surfing, and a base for the Humberstone saltpeter works, La Tirana and the Pica oasis.

Iquique is the capital of Chile's northern Tarapacá Region, squeezed between the Pacific and a coastal escarpment some 600 m high, with the Atacama Desert right behind it; it has a population of about 200,000. The city grew rich exporting saltpeter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leaving behind the wooden mansions of Paseo Baquedano, the clock tower on Plaza Prat, the Municipal Theatre and the ornate Casino Español; today it is better known for its beaches, surfing, paragliding and duty-free shopping in the free-trade zone (Zofri). In town you can explore the old quarter and the port on foot; to the south lie Cavancha Beach, good for swimming, and the rougher Playa Brava, while Cerro Dragón, the huge dune behind the city, is a paragliding hotspot. Inland day trips are the highlight: the World Heritage–listed Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works about 47 km away; the pilgrimage town of La Tirana, the Pintados geoglyphs and the Atacama Giant on the Pampa del Tamarugal; and, farther out, the Pica oasis and its hot spring pools. The climate is dry with little rain all year, around 25°C in summer and 18°C in winter, with frequent morning sea fog; paragliding and surfing are possible year-round. The La Tirana festival in mid-July is the liveliest time of the year. Flights from Santiago take about 2.5 hours, and long-distance buses connect Iquique with Arica, Calama and other cities. Plan on 3–4 days; for the inland sights, rent a car or join a day tour. The desert UV is extremely strong, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen; customs checks duty-free goods when you leave the region.

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