Arica
Introduction
Arica is Chile's northernmost city, a port and regional capital set just south of the Peruvian border. It sits at the bend of South America's western coast known as the Arica Bend, or Arica Elbow, where the Azapa and Lluta valleys converge after cutting through the Atacama Desert. Those two valleys are the city's green edge: they supply citrus and olives grown for export, a contrast to the surrounding desert. As the capital of both the Arica Province and the Arica y Parinacota Region, Arica serves as the urban anchor for this far-northern stretch of the country.Before you go
Arica has a mild, temperate climate and one of the lowest annual rainfall rates anywhere in the world. You will rarely see clouds here, though the sky can sometimes darken with a coastal fog known as the camanchaca. Pack for dry, gentle conditions rather than for rain.
Because the city sits close to the Peruvian border, many people cross daily between Arica and Tacna, partly because some services are cheaper on the Peruvian side. Arica is also linked by separate railway lines to Tacna in Peru and to La Paz in Bolivia, and it has its own international airport. If your plans include Peru or Bolivia, build the border crossing into your itinerary rather than treating Arica as an isolated stop.
Getting there
Arica is served by two bus terminals: the Terminal Rodovario and the Terminal Internacional, the latter about 100 m from the main terminal. Numerous buses arrive daily from centres further south in Chile, including hourly services from Iquique and frequent connections from Santiago. From San Pedro de Atacama, two companies run a daily overnight service. Daily buses also come in from Bolivia, including La Paz, Cochabamba and Oruro; there are no direct buses from Oruro, so you must transfer at Patacamaya, and going via La Paz is generally the simpler option since direct buses run from there. From Peru, colectivos (shared taxis) arrive and depart continually during border opening hours, running between the International Bus Terminal in Arica and the International Bus Terminal in Tacna, taking 1½–2 hr; they leave as soon as they are full, and the driver helps you through immigration and customs. Buses cost less but take much longer, and buses from other Peruvian centres arrive at the Terminal Rodovario. There are no direct buses from Arequipa, Cusco or Puno to Arica, though buses go regularly from Tacna to Arequipa, Lima and Puno; for Cusco you must change in either Arequipa or Puno. Trains run to and from Tacna every day except Sunday, and Chacalluta International Airport has connections to and from Santiago and La Paz.Getting around
Arica is compact and easy to navigate, and you can cover most of the central sights on foot. Walking will get you most places in town, and if you are staying centrally, many of the main points of interest sit within easy walking distance of one another. There is no metro or tram system in the city, so getting around relies on walking and road-based transport.
- On foot: the simplest way to explore the centre, where the main sights cluster together.
- Buses: the most common form of public transport. They run along the major avenues, are handy for getting around in a hurry, and are also useful for reaching the bus terminals. Several companies operate the routes, covering the city and its outskirts. Buses can be crowded at peak hours, and traffic congestion can cause delays. Carry small change for your fare.
- Colectivos (shared taxis): these run on fixed routes similar to buses, carrying up to four passengers and picking up and dropping off along the way. They operate from early morning until late at night and leave as soon as they are full, so you may wait a short while at quieter times. For cross-border travel to Tacna they are the faster option, and the driver also helps you through immigration and customs.
- Taxis and ride-hailing: regular taxis can be hailed on the street or booked in advance through taxi companies, use metered fares, and are available day and night.
- Rail: Arica's rail connection is international rather than a local network. Trains run to and from Tacna in Peru every day except Sunday on the historic Tacna–Arica railway.
If you arrive at Chacalluta International Airport, the same local options — buses along the major avenues, taxis, and colectivos — are how you reach the city centre and the rest of town. Overland arrivals use two main bus terminals, Terminal Rodovario and Terminal Internacional, the latter about 100 m from the main bus terminal; buses are useful for getting to and from them. Colectivos arrive and depart continually from Peru during border opening hours, running between the International Bus Terminal in Arica and the International Bus Terminal in Tacna. Buses are cheaper but take much longer than colectivos. You do not need a car to get around given the network of buses, taxis, and colectivos.
Where to stay
For a coastal stay, look to the areas around the bus station and the beach, where several hostels cluster within walking distance of the sand. Residencial Ivonne offers clean double rooms with private bathrooms, laundry, and patchy Wi-Fi, but no breakfast; it sits a couple of blocks from the bus station and within walking distance of the beach. Sunny Days, also near the bus station and beach, is about a twenty-minute walk from the centre and provides an included breakfast, a large kitchen, dorm beds and doubles, and a rooftop view. Arica Unite Hotel, close to both the bus station and the beach, has new, clean rooms, hot showers, an excellent breakfast, friendly staff, and a lively atmosphere suited to those seeking fiestas. If you prefer somewhere quieter, Hostal Ecuador on Juan Noé is a short distance from the centre, with breakfast included, kitchen use, and hot water in the mornings only; twins with bath are available and bargaining is worth a try. HI Arica on Manuel Rojas, at Chapiquina con Blest Gana, is a very friendly hostel with clean rooms, a kitchen, breakfast, and helpful staff, offering doubles with private bathroom and dorm beds.Food & drink
For a quick bite downtown, La Casa del Coctel on San Martin serves excellent cheese empanadas as fast food. La Nanu, between the bus station and the centre, offers great empanadas with many different kinds to choose from, plus pizza, and is a good option for vegetarians. Chifa Maxi on Baquedano is a popular authentic Chinese place with vegetarian options and take away, though the service is delightfully slow. For a sit-down meal, Restaurant La Gran Familia near Diego Portales serves fish, seafood, salads and beef, but only on Sunday at lunchtime. To stock up on cheap mineral water, head to Lider Supermercado on 18 de septiembre, conveniently located and well stocked — worth noting, since the tap water in the area is not recommended for drinking.What to see and do
Start at the Cathedral of San Marcos, entered from Plaza Colón, a church designed by Gustave Eiffel and built in the 1870s. Plaza Colón itself is the civic heart of the city, where residents gather for celebrations and community life. From there, walk up the Morro de Arica, the steep hill that rises above the city and offers superb views: you can watch the work in the harbour or look east as the mountains give way to the altiplano. The paved footpath begins at the south end of Calle Colón and takes about ten minutes to climb; at the top there is a war museum with 19th-century uniforms and cannons. Bring water and snacks from town rather than relying on the vending machines. The hill, together with the Museo de Sitio Colón 10 beside it and the mouth of the Camarones River far to the south, forms a world heritage site tied to the pre-Columbian Chinchorro culture and its mummification practices. Further afield, the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa lies east of the city in San Miguel de Azapa, with petroglyphs outside and a large exhibition of archaeological pieces. For active days, surfing and boogie boarding are good around Arica: the beaches north of town suit beginners, while more experienced surfers head south of el Morro. You can swim and sunbathe on the northern beaches, busiest in summer and yours alone in winter, though the water is cold. Hiking is possible in the Playa Corazones area, and the nearby valleys are worth visiting for their olive tree plantations.Three days in Arica
Day one: Start in Arica itself, a port city in Chile's far north where the Atacama Desert meets the Pacific. Get your bearings in the centre, then head out to the Azapa and Lluta valleys, where the desert gives way to cultivated green. The city sits at the Arica Bend, the stretch of coastline also known as the Arica Elbow, and the geography is the point: desert, ocean and valley in one view.
Day two: Use Arica as your base for the surrounding region. Arica Province and the Parinacota Region lie within reach, and the desert backdrop is constant. If you want to cross into Peru, Tacna is the nearby border city, and onward connections run from there. Pack for warm, dry conditions and strong sun; the desert climate here is mild rather than extreme, but the light is relentless.
Day three: Plan your onward travel. Long-distance buses leave from the Terminal Rodovario and the Terminal Internacional, with numerous services heading south to Iquique and Santiago, and connections toward San Pedro de Atacama. From San Pedro there are daily services toward Bolivia, including Cochabamba, Oruro and Patacamaya, and from Peru you can reach the International Bus Terminal for buses to Arequipa, Cusco and Puno. La Paz in Bolivia is another onward option if you are continuing across South America.