IQUIQUE

Iquique

Región de Tarapaca

Iquique is a synonym for surf, beautiful women, high cuisine, luxury hotels, history and fun in the ocean. Its charm makes most visitors to want to come back.

Ten years ago, Iquique became the star of a surprising economic boom. Since then, the city has filled with very tall buildings and modern shops that offer their products at prices much lower than in Santiago, the capital. Since then, the city became known as the Chilean Miami.

Iquique is known for its night life. Everyone must visit areas like Baquedano, a street with impressive houses like the ones from the Victorian age, among them the Astoreca palace, practically unchanged since the days when Iquique was the world's capital for nitrate exporters.

Other attractions are the Naval Museum, the Regional Museum, the Municipal Theater, a tax free area called Zofri, and pleasant beaches like Brava and Cavancha. The latter has good waves for surfing.

Around the city there are numerous ghost towns that were once nitrate mines and that are now abandoned. They can be visited on special tours.