Eat Well & Rest Easy

Eat Well & Rest Easy

El Norte Chico is not known for its gastronomy, but the food here is simple, unpretentious, and often quite good. Along the coast you'll find abundant seafood. Don't pass up the merluza con salsa margarita (hake with butter sauce featuring almost every kind of shellfish imaginable) or choritos al vapor (mussels steamed in white wine). Inland you come across country-style cabrito (goat), conejo (rabbit), and pinchones escabechadas (baby pigeons). Don't forget to order a pisco sour, the frothy concoction made with the brandy distilled in the Elqui Valley.

People in El Norte Chico generally eat a heavy lunch around 2 PM that can last two hours, followed by a light dinner around 10 PM. Reservations are seldom needed, except in the fanciest restaurants. Leave a 10% tip if you enjoyed the service.

The good news is that lodging in El Norte Chico is relatively inexpensive. Your best bet is often the beach resorts, which have everything from nice cabanas to high-rise hotels. The bad news is that away from the areas that regularly cater to tourists you may have to make do with extremely basic rooms with shared baths.