Arica

Arica is one of the most northern destinies of Chile, offers for visitors airport, railroad, bus services and excellent highways that connect it with the rest of the country and the neighboring countries.

Arica is also a point where you can rent a car to drive yourself through the desert.

As the provincial and borderline capital, the city of Arica has an active commercial and cultural interchange with the neighboring countries.

Warm beaches, archaeological circuits and the presence of geoglyphs identify the northern city of Arica. Arica is known for its eternal spring, due to its climate conditions that allows to enjoy the sun practically the entire year. The city attracts visitors every year during summer season and you can find great accommodations in any of the Arica Hotels.

Within the city you can find many touristic attractions:

The Casino of Arica is the most beautiful casino of all the north, with 16 tables of games of American Roulette, Black jack, Poker, Baccarat, Craps, Point and Bank and 240 slot machines.Counts with an excellent restaurant, bars and events center.

The Yachts Club is situated on the foot of the Morro de Arica with access to the river side Avenue (Costanera). It occupies the ex- Island Scorpion (ex- Isla Alacrán), formerly separated of Arica by a channel of 1.509 feet of wide, that was united to the continent in 1964. It has splendid views of the Morro, the port and the city of Arica.In the opposite side to the island, are the best waves to surf.

Park Vicuña Mackenna , on the foot of the Morro de Arica, rejuvenated with a great water fountain, its palms (Phoenix canariesis), that belonged to the missing garden of Pacific Hotel (Hotel Pacífico) (1935-1965), a war memorial of those who died in the construction of the port; to the east is the Plaza Colón and to the north the Seat of the Station (Plaza de la Estación).

Cathedral of San Marcos rises on an ample terrace that dominates the port, in front of Plaza Colón. It has a gothic style; it has a rectangular nave, two lateral chapels and one octagonal tower. It was built over the foundations of the church destroyed by the 1868 earthquake. It was inaugurated in 1876 and it is the work of Gustave Eiffel ET Cie. It was completely prefabricated in iron, its walls and roofs are put on metallic sheets with printed moldings. In its interior an old Christ of the XII century is preserved.

The ex- customs (ex-aduana) of Arica was built between 1872 and 1874 has a floor constructed in brick and stuccowork; in the middle stands out a big eardrum. The serchas of ceiling, the pillars and the marquee on the entrance are metallic. This work was prefabricated in the factories of Gustave Eiffel ET Cie. of Paris and each brick has the stamp of that company. It was armed on stone foundations constructed in the place. At the present time, lodges the House of the Culture of Arica (Casa de la Cultura de Arica) which has a extended exhibitions program.

El Morro de Arica is located facing the ocean and is 623 feet of height. The Morro de Arica is observed from any point of Arica and is the symbol of this city. In the same way, from its summit, you can observe the entire town, beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

The Historical and of Arms Museum is placed in the Morro, keeping the memories and reliques from the War of the Pacific, such as uniforms, arms, equipments and other articles used by the Peruvian and Chilean armies in the Big North (Norte Grande).

This place of the northern city of Arica was declared National Monument (Monumento Nacional) in 1971.

Beaches in Arica

The beaches the Laucho and La Lisera are located next to the sea side Avenue (Costanera), to 1 mile to the south of the city of Arica. They are the best ones to take a bath in the sea in those warm waters. In its surroundings are located hotels, restaurants and night clubs.

The beach Corazones is surrounded by impressive cliffs. It is not apt to swim, but it is good for sun baths, picnic and fishing at border.

The Resort Chinchorro is placed at the southern part of the city of Arica, has a surge smooth, apt for swimming. It is surrounded by palms, wharves, restaurants and entertainment as motos sandboxes. Its pubs give life to it at dusk.

The Beach Las Machas located on the northern side of Beach Chinchorro with access to a coastal side avenue. It has a strong current running and many marine birds. It is apt for fishing and with high tide, ideal for surf; equipment can be rented in shops in the center of Arica.

Nearby attractive sites:

From the city of Arica, 1.8 miles to the south and 6 miles to the north, are placed the  Azapa valley and   Lluta Valley, where crops of varied tropical vegetables, citrics, olives and fruits are the main economical activity; to a little bit more than 62 miles to the southeast of Arica, in the Valley of Codpa (Valle de Codpa), you will be able to taste the centennial wine Pintatani and to know an important cultural legacy of the period Tiawanaco and Colonial, among others: rock art, the cemetery, old large houses (raised with stone and adobe foundations), the churches of San Martín de Tour (Iglesia de San Martín de Tour) and Chitita (Iglesia Chitita).

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