Beautiful Beaches, Places to Visit and Things to Do in Iquique, Chile

May 4, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 2087 Views

Iquique city is the capital of the Tarapaca region in Chile. The city faces the Pacific Ocean and has the Atacama Desert towards its east. These two landscapes are backdrops for the majority of top things to do in Iquique. On the coastal side, you can enjoy the beaches as well as activities such as surfing, scuba diving, paragliding, swimming, and so on. There are also a variety of boat cruises you can take to enjoy the ocean and to catch some beautiful sights to see in Iquique city including the city skyline, sunset, and sunrise. The desert side is famous for its large sand dune, desert hikes, and sand-surfing.

The best places to visit in Iquique city are centered around the city’s mining, naval and colonial history. The city was founded around the 16th century but primarily flourished during the saltpeter mining of the 19th century. You can learn more about the city’s mining history at Iquique tourist attractions like Regional Museum and Humberstone. Before becoming a part of Chile, Iquique city was under the Viceroyalty of Peru. Wars fought for the city, namely the War of the Pacific and the Battle of Iquique are an integral part of the city’s history. The history of these wars is best exhibited at Corbeta Esmeralda and Naval museum, which are a must-visit during Iquique sightseeing.

The city also has some beautiful colonial buildings. A major highlight of Iquique travel is Baquenado street. This street reflects the city’s mining history with its wild west-style look. It is also a great place for shopping, dining, drinking, and nightlife. Another great place with colonial buildings is the Plaza Arturo Prat. The theatre and the clock tower at this historic public square are among the top things to see in Iquique.

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Table of Contents

Top 12 Tourist Places to Visit in Iquique

1. Playa Cavancha

Facing the marvelous Pacific Ocean, Playa Cavancha is the best beach in Iquique city. The long coastal stretch is popular for a variety of leisure, adventure and entertainment activities. You can spend a couple of hours or more enjoying at this beach.

2. Adventure Sports

With ocean on one side and a desert on another, there are several fun things to do in Iquique including sandsurfing, watersports, beach sports, coastal hikes, paragliding, surfing, scuba diving and more.

I suggest you must try below mentioned two adventure activities in Iquique.

3. Corbeta Esmeralda Museum (Chilean Corvette Esmeralda)

This ship museum is a replica of the Corbeta Esmeralda ship which was sunk by Peruvians in the War of the Pacific in 1879. This battle holds great significance to the history of this city. Hence, this ship is one of the most important Iquique tourist attractions. You will need 45 minutes to tour the ship.

4. Regional Museum of Iquique (Museo Regional de Iquique)

This museum tells about the history of Chinchorro people and the city of Iquique. You will get to learn about the origins of the town, its history, culture and peculiarities. It is one of the most important places to visit in Iquique. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

5. Municipal Theatre (Teatro Municipal)

This theatre and the adjoining clock tower are integral part of the city’s culture and history. They are also two of the most beautiful buildings among things to see in Iquique city. You can tour the theatre to explore behind the scenes and mechanics of performances. It will take you an hour to explore these two places when you visit Iquique.

6. Cerro Dragon

This large sand-dune is the largest relict urban dune in the world. This coastal dune is most visited for sand-surfing. But it is also one of the most popular Iquique attractions to visit for sunrise and sunset views. You would need half a day to enjoy Cerro Dragon.

7. Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

This abandoned mining town is included among UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This town was established in the 1800s and is considered a precursor to Iquique city. You will need a couple of hours from Iquique travel to visit this town.

I suggest you should book a full day tour of Humberstone Town.

8. Baquedano Street (Calle Baquedano)

This street is known for its Wild West style look, old train track and saloon style buildings. It is one of the best picturesque places to explore during Iquique sightseeing. You can spend a couple of hours shopping, dining and strolling along this street.

9. Caleta Riquelme

This fishmarket is popular among those who enjoy sea-food. There are a few restaurants and street shops to enjoy tasty preparations. You can also buy a variety of sea-food items for yourself. Though, the biggest attraction of this market are the sea-lions who gather around to munch on scraps thrown by fishermen. You would need 30 to 45 minutes for this market and its sight.

10. Monumento al Marinero Desconocido

Marinero Desconocido means Unknown Sailor. This statue is situated on northern side of the city is best place to visit in Iquique city to enjoy the sunset. You also get a great view of the beach and the city skyline. It will take you 30 to 45 minutes for this attraction.

11. Cocha Resbaladero Hot Springs

These natural hot springs are situated in the village of Pica, which is about 2 hours drive away from Iquique city. The quaint hot springs pool are quite enjoyable, especially during winters. You can also enjoy fresh-fruit ice-cream, lemonade and fruits close to the hot spring pool.

12. Naval Museum (Museo Naval De Iquique)

This museum is dedicated to the War of the Pacific and the sea-faring history of Chile. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

If you are looking for more Iquique tourist attractions, check out the sections below. We have put together a long list of places and activities you can enjoy in and around Iquique city.

Things to do in Iquique

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Iquique

Corbeta Esmeralda Museum
Marinero Desconocido
Plaza Arturo Prat
Iquique Clock Tower
Museo Regional de Iquique
Museo Naval de Iquique
Municipal Theatre
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Corporation Museo del Salitre
Santuario Sagrado Corazon de Jesus
Museo Historico Militar
San Antonio de Padua Parish
San Pedro de Atacama
Humberstone Town

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Iquique

Atacama Desert
Cerro Dragon

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Iquique

Pica Hot Springs
Dreams Iquique Casino
Huayquique Recreation Center

Shopping in Iquique

Terminal Agropecuario
Mall Zofri
Caleta Riquelme
Mega Shopping
Las Americas
Plaza Iquique Mall

Beaches & Islands in Iquique

Playa Cavancha
Playa Huaiquique
Playa Poza Los Caballos
Estacion Buque Varado

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Activities to Do in Iquique

Hiking
Swimming
Water Sports
Sandboarding
Paragliding
Bicycle tours
Scuba Diving
Boat Cruise
Surfing

Sightseeing in Iquique

Baquedano
Peninsula Cavancha
Monumento Boya Esmeralda
Monumento al Pampino
Plaza Slava
Plaza Condell

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Iquique

Akwa
El Wagon
El Sombrero
Neptuno
Barsovia
Cioccolata
Santorini
Cantaba La Rana
El Tercer Ojito
Radicales
Boulevard Pizzeria
El Guru
La Mulata
Sumapuriwa
Otaku
Kiru Lounge
El Vijo Clipper

Where to Stay in Iquique?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Iquique. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Iquique.

Custom Tours Package in Iquique

How to Reach Iquique?

By Air

The easiest option to reach Iquique is through Diego Aracena International Airport. It receives direct flights from La Paz, Arica, Santiago de Chile, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, La Serena and Antofagasta. You get cabs and buses to go for Iquique sightseeing directly from the airport.

By Road

You can get direct and connecting buses to visit Iquique from several cities and towns in Chile. You also get direct buses from several cities in Peru and Bolivia.

If you are planning to visit Iquique by road, you should head for route 1 or 16.

By Water

Despite having a port, there are no passenger boats or ferries to reach Iquique.

Image Reference

Playa Cavancha – Eliasluco / Wikimedia Commons
Adventure Sports – Cristian Calcagno / Wikimedia Commons
Corbeta Esmeralda Museum (Chilean Corvette Esmeralda) – meschmarco / Wikimedia Commons
Regional Museum of Iquique (Museo Regional de Iquique) – Mircalla22 / Wikimedia Commons
Municipal Theatre (Teatro Municipal) – Seba Flores / Wikimedia Commons
Cerro Dragon – Robin Fernandes / Flickr
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works – Teo Romera / Flickr
Baquedano Street (Calle Baquedano) – Javier2601 / Wikimedia Commons
Caleta Riquelme – Mario Felipe Espinoza González / Flickr
Monumento al Marinero Desconocido –
Cocha Resbaladero Hot Springs – Bachelot Pierre J-P / Wikimedia Commons
Naval Museum (Museo Naval De Iquique) – Richardfotografias / Wikimedia Commons