Places to Explore

• Bahía Inglesa

  Some of the most beautiful beaches in El Norte Chico can be found at Bahía Inglesa, which was originally known as Puerto del Inglés because of the number of English buccaneers using the port... (more)

• Copiapó

  Copiapó was officially founded in 1744 by Don Francisco Cortés, who called it Villa San Francisco de La Selva. Originally a tambo, or resting place, Copiapó was where Diego de Almagro... (more)

• La Serena

  La Serena, Chile's second-oldest city, with several venerable churches and pleasant beaches, got off to a shaky start. Founded by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1544, La Serena was destroyed... (more)

• Ovalle

  Ovalle will always suffer in comparison to its fair sister to the north, La Serena, for it has no beaches or breezes. However, Ovalle can be a starting point for a morning tour or a stopping-off point... (more)

• Parque Nacional Fray Jorge

• Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar

• Pisco Elqui

  Once known as La Unión, this pisco-producing village, perched on a sun-drenched hillside, received its current moniker in 1939. Gabriel González Videla, at that time the president of Chile... (more)

• Vicuña

  As you head into the Elqui Valley, the first town you come to is Vicuña, famous as the birthplace of one of Chile's most important literary figures, Gabriela Mistral. Her beautiful, haunting poetry... (more)