Humberstone Saltpeter Works
Oficina Salitrera Santiago Humberstone
A UNESCO World Heritage ghost town of saltpeter, its theater, swimming pool, church, school, and workers' housing from the early 20th century are fully preserved, as if frozen in time by the desert.
Humberstone was built in 1872. During the ‘white gold’ saltpeter boom, more than 3,000 workers and their families lived here. It became a ghost town after production stopped in 1960, and in 2005 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Santa Laura. Visitors can stroll through the plaza, the wooden theater, the iron-clad swimming pool, the church, the hotel, the market, and workers' housing, and there is a small museum showing the history of saltpeter mining. Tickets cost about 4,000 to 6,000 Chilean pesos, and the site is open every day. The grounds are large and have little shade, so bring water, a hat, and sunscreen. It is about 47 kilometers from Iquique, and you can take a bus toward Pozo Almonte or join a tour.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
- Sanctuary of La Tirana
- Atacama Giant
- Cerro Dragón
- ZOFRI Mall
- Playa Brava
- Playa Cavancha
- Museo Corbeta Esmeralda