La Serena, Iquique and Arica


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South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena
May 17th 2013
Published: May 31st 2013
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The journey so far

Buenos Aires, Rosario, Parana, Salto, Colonia Del Sacramento, Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Bahia Blanca, Puerto Madryn (with day trips to peninsula Valdes, Trelew and Gaiman), Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Puerto Montt, Puerto Vares, Pucon, San Martin de los Andes, Bariloche, Mendoza (with day trip to Maipu), Santiago (with day trip to Valparaiso), La Serena (with day trip to Coquimbo), Iquique (with day trip to Humberston), Arica.

IquiqueIquiqueIquique

With a wonderful wall of sand dunes behind it and the pacific sea in front.
Oh dear, not too much to say about La Serena. I think it might have been a better experience if we had of stayed at a better hostel, or if we were into surfing, but as it was just another beach town that turned out to be a little disappointing, much like Mar del Plata in Argentina. We did a day trip to the nearby town of Coquimbo which is a fairly small industrial town with an active fishing port and mining conveyor belt for shipping and an international world cup football stadium which kind of stands out! A real shame as the coast line that we passed on the bus getting there was absolutely stunning.

We had high hopes for Iquique after La Serena and after spending 16 hours on a bus to get there we were pleasantly surprised. It is a nicer town and the beaches were a lot cleaner than at La Serena. The hostel we booked was also much nicer and only one block away from the beach. The town had a lovely main plaza and an interesting duty free shopping mall which is absolutely huge and very random the way the shops are laid out,
Humberston swimming poolHumberston swimming poolHumberston swimming pool

This enourmous pool made of steel for the workers in the middle of the desert, amazing.
electricians next to underwear, music next to car parts shops and very busy understandably.

We took a local bus to the nearby ghost town of Humberstone, an old mining town that closed down once synthetic nitrates were developed. This town is quite interesting because of the size of it, and because it was quite a posh mining town. There were 3000 workers, some with families so it wasn't a small place. Founded in 1872 and closed by 1960, it is quite eerie walking around the place, and interesting to see the old equipment and facilities that were provided. They had a church, market, theatre, a huge swimming pool, basket ball court, tennis court, hotel, hospital, school, bar everything a healthy community would need not just single male workers stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Arica was a short 4 hour bus ride through the desert. A lovely beach town with a nice pedestrianised main street and lovely coved swimming beaches. We spent 6 nights here mainly as Mark wanted to spend a bit of time fishing and we needed to stop and organise ourselves for our onward journey to Bolivia. Mark very nearly didnt get to fish as on the second morning he left early in the dark whilst I was still asleep and got confronted by a would be mugger. Unfortunatly for the mugger Mark could tell that he was just using his finger as a pretend gun under his T shirt, so he just laughed at him "told him to get a job, buy his own fishing gear and that he was a disgrace to Chile" and carried on his way.

We went to an archeological museum which featured a time line of indigenous people from the area dating back 5000 bc. They used mumification and have some of the oldest mummies in the world 7000 years, a very interesting and slightly eerie place to be.

I can't quite believe that we are a third of the way through our trip and three countries down!


Additional photos below
Photos: 19, Displayed: 19


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Main square IquiqueMain square Iquique
Main square Iquique

Almost deserted as everyone is duty free shopping in the mall!
HumberstonHumberston
Humberston

These rickety stairs are a new addition to Humberston built as a photo platform, I think they tried a bit too hard to make them in keeping with the town, they are really dangerous! How would you SER this?
HumberstonHumberston
Humberston

Married workers semi detached accomodation
Sea side vultures AricaSea side vultures Arica
Sea side vultures Arica

There are more vultures and cormorants than seagulls in Arica.
AricaArica
Arica

One of the swimming beaches.
Fishing grounds AricaFishing grounds Arica
Fishing grounds Arica

This is where Mark was heading when he met his would be mugger!
Main Plaza AricaMain Plaza Arica
Main Plaza Arica

This church was pre fabricated in Paris by Mr Eiffel before he found fame with the tower.
AricaArica
Arica

Main Plaza
Archeological museum AricaArcheological museum Arica
Archeological museum Arica

View of sandunes from the Museum, sorry I couldn´t bring myself to take any photos of the Mummies.
God rewarded the tryer!God rewarded the tryer!
God rewarded the tryer!

Catch of the day (foul hooked silverside)
Curious seagullCurious seagull
Curious seagull

Trying to catch the silverside recuperating in the rockpool (don´t worry we saved him).
Still trying, with new hope!Still trying, with new hope!
Still trying, with new hope!

At least the surroundings are pleasant.


1st June 2013

Very Brave !
Well done Mark for spotting the finger and sending the guy on his way - nothing should stand between a man and his sport !! Loved the latest blog and interesting photo's - keep them coming !! Carry on enjoying the trip of a life-time x
1st June 2013

Hi Guys
It sounds as if you are having such a great time and seeing so much. Laughed about the mugger but do be careful Mark, Aunty Rose's orders!!! Fab photos and so good to keep up with you as you travel. The main plaza in Arica looked lovely and would love to visit the museum. Lots of love to you both xx
2nd June 2013

Tryed to contact you via the link but it's a no reply one. Would you send me an email so we can meet for drinks? Love to!
3rd June 2013

Great to hear from you
Just returned from Oz after 3 months . What a fantastic trip you're having. Take care. Lots of love, Don and Tanya
3rd June 2013

Where does the time go!!
Hi to you both, the mugger must be a novice and should have picked on someone smaller to start with but good to hear that you and both safe and sound. (it may have been a good steal as the fishing gear is obviously not working! and then less weight to carry!!, but hope your fishing fortunes change soon) Keep the photos and the stories coming, can't believe it is 3 months down already, but hope that the next 3 of the Grand Adventure are just as good. Take care Graeme

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