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 for lunch, and it does serve as a good base for trips to the Monumento Natural Pichasca or the Valle del Encanto. Moving toward modernity, in 2008 Ovalle looks forward to a new pedestrian mall, and on the outskirts of town, a four-star hotel. But if you have a choice for an overnight stay, La Serena is it.