6 Best Sights in Ovalle, El Norte Chico

One of the more intriguing spots in all of Norte Chico, this isolated and sprawling protected wilderness area is crisscrossed by unexplained holes in the stone floor, made most likely by the Molle and Diaguita cultures. Also dotted all around the park are rock carvings known as petroglyphs and pictographs, which date back from about 4,000 years and feature everything from a (supposed) alien to people with elaborate headdresses. Wildlife roams everywhere here, so keep an eye out for the liebre (hare), loica (long-tailed meadowlark), and the degu, a native rodent.

Sometimes a guide waits near the petroglyphs and can show you the best of the carvings for a small fee. To reach the site, take Ruta 45 west from Ovalle. About 19 km (12 miles) out of town, head south for 5 km (3 miles) on a rough, dry road.

This small-scale winemaker is a Limari Valley pioneer, known for producing premium quality wines that highlight the character of each of their vineyards. The winery can be found on the same unpaved road that leads to the Valle del Encanto and makes a perfect place to relax after exploring the petroglyphs. Tours, which must be reserved at least one day in advance, include a tasting session in the impressive underground cellar. It's open only on weekends for appointments made in advance.

On the Plaza de Armas, this church, constructed in 1849, is worth a visit if religious tourism is your thing. Its bells were made in the Chilean port town of Valparaíso in 1877, and although damaged by an earthquake in 1997, the church was completely restored in 2002 and remains open.

Heading along the Hurtado River in the spectacular Limari Valley, you come across this nature reserve covered with a forest of petrified tree trunks imprinted with dozens of leaf and animal fossils. Nearby is a cave beneath a stone overhang that housed indigenous peoples thousands of years ago, and where cave paintings by the Molle people are still visible. This archaeological site was also the discovery site of the Antarctosaurus dinosaur. 

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

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.