Copiapó is the gateway to the varied natural attractions of Chile’s vast Atacama Desert. Visit beaches, lakes, national parks and volcanoes set between the Andes and Pacific Ocean. Established in 1744, Copiapó has since been one of the Chile’s most important mining centers. It’s also the site of several national firsts such as the earliest railroad, telephone line and gas plant.
Plaza Prat (aka Plaza de Armas) is the focal point of the city center, a place where children play games, friends meet to chat and workers find shade beneath ancient trees. Statues dedicated to the city’s miners and the four seasons decorate the square. Admire the three-story belfry and neoclassical façade of Copiapó Cathedral. Hotels, restaurants and retail outlets line streets with wide pavements that fan out from the square.
Get an insight into the region’s mining heritage via displays of minerals at the Mineralogical Museum. The Atacama Regional Museum showcases 12,000 years of human existence in the Atacama Desert. Learn about the role of the Atacama Regiment in battles, such as the War of the Pacific, at the Historical Military Museum. Walk amid greenery, enjoy picnics and visit a mini zoo at El Pretil Park.
About an hour’s drive from the city is the port town of Caldera, from where a string of pretty beaches stretch south along the Pacific coastline. Plunge into the gorgeous turquoise waters of Bahía Inglesa and La Virgen Beach. North of Caldera is Pan de Azúcar National Park. Relax on isolated beaches and spot Andean camelids, foxes and penguins.
Travel east toward the Argentine border to Nevado Tres Cruces National Park. Walk across salt plains, marvel at Andean peaks reflected in tranquil lakes and observe hundreds of migratory flamingoes. Gaze up at tall mountains while walking the shores of Laguna Verde. Take a guided trek to the summit of Chile’s tallest mountain and the world’s highest active volcano, Ojos del Salado.
Experience Copiapó’s attractions by flying from Santiago to Chamonate Airport and then rent a car or join guided tours. Long-distance buses reach the capital of the Atacama Desert from all corners of the country.
