Arica is Chile's northernmost city, sitting on the Peruvian border where the Atacama Desert meets the Pacific. It bills itself as the "City of Eternal Spring" — rain is almost unknown here, and temperatures hover between 15-25°C year-round. It is a beach town with a colonial past, a gateway to the Andean altiplano, and home to the oldest known mummies on earth.
Chinchorro Mummies
The Chinchorro people mummified their dead at least 2,000 years before the Egyptians — the oldest artificially mummified remains ever found, dating to roughly 5000 BC. The Museo de Sitio Colón 10 displays several mummies found beneath the city during construction. The Chinchorro culture was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. The museum is small but extraordinary — you are looking at 7,000-year-old preserved humans.
Beaches
Arica's beaches are warmer than anywhere else on the Chilean coast. Playa El Laucho and Playa La Lisera are sheltered coves south of the city center with calm water suitable for swimming. Playa Chinchorro north of town is longer and more exposed — popular with bodyboarders. The water temperature reaches 20-22°C in summer, which counts as warm by Chilean standards.
Morro de Arica
A steep headland at the south end of the city, site of a famous battle during the War of the Pacific (1880) when Chilean forces stormed the Peruvian fortifications in 55 minutes. A museum on top covers the battle and the broader war. The views from the summit take in the entire city, the coast, and the desert stretching south. Walk up or take a taxi — it is steep.
The Altiplano
The main reason travelers base in Arica is access to Chile's altiplano — the high-altitude plateau above 3,500 meters that stretches east toward Bolivia.
Lauca National Park: About 150 kilometers east of Arica at 4,500 meters. Lago Chungara sits at the foot of the twin Payachatas volcanoes (Parinacota and Pomerape) and is one of the highest lakes in the world. Vicunas, vizcachas (Andean rabbits), and flamingos are common. The altitude is serious — drive up slowly and take the first hours easy.
Putre: A small adobe town at 3,500 meters that serves as an acclimatization stop before Lauca. A few guesthouses, a plaza, and pre-Inca terracing on the surrounding hillsides. Spending a night here before going higher is strongly recommended.
Salar de Surire: A remote salt flat south of Lauca with three species of flamingo and very few visitors. Requires a full day or overnight trip and a 4WD vehicle. Hot springs at Polloquere on the edge of the salar.
Route of the Missions
A circuit of colonial-era churches in the small Andean villages above Arica — Socoroma, Putre, Parinacota, and others. Built by Spanish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries, the churches combine European baroque design with indigenous Aymara motifs. Most are still active. The drive through the precordillera passes through terraced hillsides and cactus-covered valleys.
Azapa Valley
Ten minutes from the city center, the Azapa Valley is an irrigated strip of olive groves and agricultural land in the desert. The Museo Arqueologico San Miguel de Azapa has the most comprehensive collection of Chinchorro mummies and artifacts. The valley produces Chile's earliest-ripening olives and tomatoes — roadside stalls sell fresh produce and olive oil.
Getting There
Flights: From Santiago to Chacalluta Airport (ARI) — about 2.5 hours. LATAM and SKY operate daily flights.
Overland from Peru: The border crossing at Chacalluta/Santa Rosa connects Arica to Tacna, Peru. Shared taxis (colectivos) run frequently and the crossing takes about an hour. Many travelers combine Arica with southern Peru.
Overland from Bolivia: The road from La Paz to Arica crosses via Tambo Quemado at 4,600 meters. International buses run daily (6-8 hours).
Time needed: Two days for the city and Azapa Valley, plus at least two more for the altiplano (with a night in Putre for acclimatization).