Cruises to Arica, Chile
Port description
Situated at the foot of El Morro Hill, on the northern tip of Chile, Arica was the site of a major battle in the Peruvian War. Today El Morro Hill is the site of a national monument and an open-air museum. From the summit of El Morro you can observe the spectacular views across the city and ocean and on a clear day all the way to the distant Atacama. Also visit San Marcos de Arica Church which was designed by Gustav Eiffel, the famous tower builder.
Typical Excursion
Arica and Desert by train and bus: From the moment you leave the port by bus or train your fascinating journey begins as we travel to the first transversal valley of Chile, the Lluta Valley, which takes in interesting highlights of the city and native Inca Geoglyphs which are made from stones and colcas. After an hour we arrive at the village of Pononchile where we meet the local people and experience the cultural art and crafts of the area. We also visit the 17th century church and cemetery. City tour and Geoglyphs: We start by driving along Costanera highway (sea front) passing Lisera and El Laucho beaches and on into the beautiful Azapa valley. From the Azapa valley you can see several geoglyphs displaying fascinating animals and humans all drawn and etched into the brightly coloured rocks. We also stop at San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological and Anthropological Museum, full of interest artefacts from the Chinchorro people dating back as far as 6000 – 8000 BC.
