IQUIQUE

• Population: 150.000 habitantes
• Distance from Santiago: 1860 km.

This is the capital city of the first region of Tarapacá and the main harbour in Chile. Its beautiful beaches have been chosen as the best in the country, and are apt for the practice of all kinds of water sports. The visitor will find here clear references of the golden years that originated saltpeter and all the mining industry of the region by the end of the nineteenth century, and which are an important part of the history of this country. Iquique has currently become a powerful city with an economy based on the mining and fishing industries, commerce and on its Tax Free Area, one of the largest in Latin America , providing all kinds of products to neighboring countries. Around it, in oasis-like places, the visitor can find interesting traces of cultures that greatly preceded Christianity, forever preserved in the Atacama Desert . Here, the Pica Oasis is one of the most pleasant surprises, with a privileged climate which enables the harvesting of natural and fragrant fruits, such as the Pica lemon, mangos, guayabas, oranges, grapefruits, limes and emerald dates.