43 Best Sights in El Norte Chico, Chile

Former president Gabriel González Videla is known for his vigorous renovation of La Serena, as well as for prompting the exile of senate member Pablo Neruda. The museum is housed in his former home and also contains works by Chilean artists.

One of the most complete mineral collections in the world is on display here. Exhibits highlight fossils and minerals from the surrounding region.

A historic home that once belonged to the wealthy Matta family now houses this museum. The house, built by mining engineer Felipe Santiago Matta between 1840 and 1850, shows the history of the region through its reconstructions of 19th-century rooms. The exhibits themselves are dedicated to mining and archaeology.

The most welcoming of the Elqui Valley observatories and the one that attracts the most visitors, Mamalluca is 9 km (6 miles) north of Vicuña. On the Basic Astronomy tour, visitors are given an introductory talk before stargazing on the terrace and taking turns looking through a 12-inch digital telescope at sights including the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. Another tour focuses more on the Andean interpretation of the constellations. Tours should be booked at least a month in advance during spring and summer. You can either make your own way to the observatory or contract transport from the tour office in Vicuña at 5,000 pesos per person.

This park was a collaboration between a local mining company and its Japanese trading partners as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. Within it, you'll find Kokoro No Niwa, a Japanese garden filled with koi ponds, intricate bridges, and a network of walking paths.

A patch of land so rich in vegetation and animal life in the heart of El Norte Chico's dry, desolate landscape defies logic. But Parque Nacional Fray Jorge has been a UNESCO world biosphere reserve since 1977, with a small cloud forest similar to those found in Chile's damp southern regions. The forest, perched 600 meters (1,968 feet) above sea level, receives its life-giving nourishment from the camanchaca (fog) that constantly envelops it. Within this forest, you will come across ferns and trees found nowhere else in the region as you maneuver a slightly slippery boardwalk on a 20-minute tour. Although Fray Jorge will not take a lot of time to see, it makes a pretty spot to stop, and there is a picnic table from where you can watch the fog drift over the Pacific Ocean below.

This small, family-run distillery is known for producing several premium piscos that are consistently winning awards and international accolades. The free 40-minute tour includes a tasting; make sure you try the variety made with maqui, a berry native to the southern forests of Chile and Argentina. The distillery is located just off the road between Vicuña and Pisco Elqui.

Stunningly pretty, impossibly calm, and perfect for swimming, Playa La Piscina is in many ways the ideal town beach. Bordering Bahía Inglesa’s main drag, this beach—which translates as “the swimming pool”—enjoys perfect white sand and bright blue waters, all a short walk from most hotels and restaurants. Unsurprisingly, it gets very busy in the summer high season and suffers from quite a bit of littering. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer only); parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

Stretching along the city’s coastline up to neighboring Coquimbo, this sandy city beach is La Serena’s star attraction and a popular spot for families, surfers, and couples, who come to enjoy the great views over the bay at sunset. Like many city beaches, though, it suffers from mild trash problems in parts and is overrun with tourists during the summer high season. Be sure the beach is marked with a sign that says Playa Apta before swimming, as the high waves and fierce currents often make it a dangerous place for swimmers. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer only); parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; walking.

The town's shady central plaza is a pleasant place to pass an afternoon.

If you have your own car, you can make a road trip to this mine which made worldwide headlines in 2010, as the site where 33 miners were trapped underground and then rescued after a grueling 69 days. From the highway, the drive is a dusty one beside a stunning desert landscape until you reach the lookout, where there is an audiovisual guide and the rescue pod used to pull the miners out. One of the 33 is often on-site to speak to visitors (in Spanish only, however); although site visits are free, it is recommended to leave a tip.

A tourist complex cut from the rough land, this hot spring is said to have waters with incredible healing powers, spouting from the earth at 26°C (79°F) but heated to 37°C  (99°F) for bathing purposes. Curative or not, a thermal bath here is extremely relaxing, even if the experience is the same as being in the tub in your bathroom at home (you sit in a bathtub in a private room indoors). Massages, sauna, and use of the Jacuzzis are also available at an extra cost.

A pleasant stop along the drive between Vicuña and Pisco Elqui, this family-owned boutique vineyard uses natural processes to produce several much-praised wines. Production is limited, and the wine is sold only here at the vineyard. Tours by the affable staff include a visit of the original ancestral home, which now houses the wine cellar. Tours are free but purchase of the wine tasting glass is necessary and not included in the cost.