15 Amazing Things to Do in Antofagasta and Chile’s Northern Coast

Looking for things to do in Antofagasta? These are 15 of the best things to do when visiting Chile’s northern coast.

We found Antofagasta as we made our way along the coast as part of our Van Life adventure through Chile.

After spending a tranquil weekend in the Valle del Elqui, we were northbound for San Pedro de Atacama. We followed Route 5 and, further along up the northern coast .

Here, Chile’s vast northern deserts meet the Pacific Ocean in a dramatic collision of earth and sea. There are no swaying palm trees or tiki huts lining the beach here, just rocks and sand crashing into the ocean waves.

Before we turned inland toward the famous San Pedro de Atacama and the Atacama Desert, we decided to explore Chile’s northern coastline and the port city of Antofagasta. On the way, we checked off some of the best things to do in Antofagasta and Chile’s northern coast.

Is Antofagasta Worth Visiting?

Truthfully, I probably wouldn’t seek Antofagasta out as a destination in its own right. However, Antofagasta is a great stop for those traveling north or south along Ruta 5, Chile’s Panamerican highway, or for those about to embark east toward the Atacama desert.

With modern malls, restaurants, and hotels, It is a great place to stop, relax, restock, and recharge before heading into the remote regions that surround it. A historical town with plenty to see and do, we can definitely recommend staying a couple of day in Antofagasta.

The Best Things to Do in Antofagasta

Suddenly rising out of the desolate northern desert, the city of Antofagasta is a port city that rose to prominence during the saltpeter mining era. Once part of Bolivia it, along with the rest of the former Bolivian coastline, was surrendered to Chile in the War of the Pacific.

Now, Antofagasta remains an important city for the region’s mining exports. Thanks to its position as a gateway to the Atacama Desert and Chile’s north, its tourism industry continues to develop. Here are some of the best things to do in Antofagasta.

Considering a Guided tour in Antofagasta?

Discover the Street Art in Antofagasta

Discovering the street art around the town is one of the best free things to do in Antofagasta.

Commissioned mosaics and wall murals can be found around the town center, telling the history of this mining town.

Scattered throughout the city, colorful street art, less official but no less impressive, adorns buildings and walls, showing the raw talent and spirit of Chile’s prolific urban artists.

Check out the incredible street art that makes this city so vibrant as you wander through the centro or along the esplanade.

Looking for more street art in Chile? Check out Valparaiso, another port city in the south known for its colorful street art.

Walk Antofagasta’s Esplanade, the Paseo del Mar

Walking along the Paseo del Mar that runs Antofagasta’s esplanade is one of the best things to do in Antofagasta with kilometers of parks, paths, playgrounds, restaurants, and beaches. It’s a great place to wander early in the morning before the day gets too hot. Alternatively, visit in the evening when you can watch the sunset over the sea. Grab some supplies for a picnic and find a spot along the esplanade. The beachfront promenade offers magnificent views of the setting sun and is the perfect way to end a day in Antofagasta

At any given time along the Paseo del Mar you might also see markets, dance practices, or even a game of rugby happening down on the foreshore.

Check Out the Historic Centre of Antofagasta

Spread out from Antofagasta’s Plaza Colon, with its clock tower, fountains, and gardens, are several historic buildings. Spot the Catedral de Antofagasta, the Museo Regional de Antofagasta, and other buildings within the central Barrio Historico that tell the story of Antofagasta’s rapid rise to prominence.

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Check Out the Museum of Antofagasta

Dive into the city’s history and culture at the Museum of Antofagasta. It features exhibits on archaeology, anthropology, and the region’s mining heritage. The museum is open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Balneario Municipal

One of Antofagasta’s city beaches, Balneario Municipal is known for its calm waters and family-friendly atmosphere. It’s a great spot for picnics and water activities.

Mercado Central de Antofagasta

The Mercado Central de Antofagasta, also known simply as Mercado Central or Central Market, is a vibrant and bustling market located in the heart of Antofagasta. The market is known for its wide variety of fresh seafood and other local produce. You’ll find a colorful array of products, including exotic fruits and seafood caught from the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Sandboard the Dunes Around Antofagasta

Take a sandboarding tour from Antofagasta. A number of operators in Antofagasta offer sandboarding adventures in the desert dunes around Antofagasta. Inside the market, there are numerous restaurants and food stalls offering a range of dishes, from traditional Chilean cuisine to international flavors. This is a fantastic opportunity to taste authentic local dishes and experience the flavors of Antofagasta.

Things to Do Around Antofagasta and Along Chile’s Northern Coast

Discover La Portada

This natural arch sits just off the coast and can be found 18km north of Antofagasta. This wild scene is an iconic natural spectacle of Chile’s north and one of the best things to see near Antofagasta. Sea lions and sea birds patrol these waters adding to the natural display.

Ruinas de Huanchaca

Explore the ruins of an old silver foundry dating back to the late 19th century. The site offers insight into the region’s mining history and has beautiful architecture to admire.

Grab a Picture of the Hand of the Desert, Mano del Desierto

Sixty kilometers south-east of Antofagasta, along the Pan-American Highway you’ll find the Mano del Desierto, The Hand of the Dessert by Mario Irarrázabal. This famous sculpture and tourist stop on the road to Antofagasta is actually very cool. The giant hand rises from (or sinks into) the sand like a desert mirage, interrupting the vast expanse and providing some cool holiday snaps.

Paranal Observatory

Chile is renowned for its incredibly clear skies and lack of light pollution, making it perfect for astronomy. Paranal Observatory is an hour and a half drive south of Antofagasta, but it’s well worth the trip if you’re interested in astronomy. Consider taking a tour of the Paranal Observatory, home to some of the world’s most advanced telescopes. Tours run on weekends and are free, but capacity is limited, and you’ll need to book in advance.

If you don’t make it out to the observatory, but do have the opportunity to venture away from the city lights at night, do take the opportunity to do some star gazing.

Head into the Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert and the desert city of San Pedro are some of the most incredible things to see in Chile and one of the best things to do near Antofagasta. Lunar landscapes, lagoons, salt lakes, and ghost towns are just some of the attractions that await in this unique destination. If you are headed to the Atacama, Antofagasta is the place to stock up on groceries, alcohol, and tap water as prices rise in the desert and the water in the desert has a strong mineral taste.

Discover Pan de Azucar National Park

This stunning national park looks like a scene from another planet. The extraterrestrial landscapes here may seem inhospitable but various cacti, foxes, and vicuña have made this sparse environment and National Park their home. Keep your eyes peeled by the sea, you might spot a sea lion or even a penguin.

Explore the Coastal Villages of Chile’s Northern Coast

The vast desert comes to an abrupt end when it meets the Pacific on Chiles’s northern coast. Small towns and tiny colorful fishing villages dot the coast. Take your time exploring these coastal communities. Paposo, Cifuncho, and Taltal are good places to start.

Pro-tip: Many villages don’t have sealed roads. Be careful where you drive and don’t end up bogged in the soft sand like us.

Camp on the Wild and Lonely Beaches

Pack your tent or camper van. Between the towns and fishing villages, vast stretches of windswept grey granite beach go on and on. Exposed to the wild Pacific in front and the harsh desert behind it, the scenery is like nothing else. Camp here in the howling wind, falling asleep to the crashing waves under a blanket of infinite stars.

What to Eat in Antofagasta

Enjoy Fresh Mariscos at the Terminal Pesquero

As a port city, it makes sense that there would be great seafood here. One of the best things to do in Antofagasta is to enjoy the phenomenal fresh seafood on offer. The small seafood market Terminal Pesquero, right on the sea wall is one of the best places in town for fresh seafood. Choose any of the eateries vying for your business. Hot seafood soups and cold seafood salads are popular here. Both are delicious.

Useful Information

• Address: La Cañada 15, Antofagasta, Chileundo Pérez Zujovic, Antofagasta, Chile
• Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday 7 am – 5 pm and Thursday – Sunday 7.30 am – 6 pm

Grab a Menu del Dia at the Mercardo Central

Head to Antofagasta’s historic el Mercado Central on the weekend for a menu del día (menu of the day). The bustling restaurants of Mercado Central are a fun place to grab lunch and soak up the busy atmosphere of the market. Head to the food court where restaurants wave you eagerly in. Menu del Días come with soup, a main plate, and sometimes a little dessert for just $5 USD. The market is also a great place to pick up your fresh fruit and vegetables.

Useful Information

• Address: José Santos Ossa 2445, Antofagasta, Chile
• Opening Hours: Saturday – Sunday 8:00 am – 11:30 pm

Where to Stay in Antofagasta

Accommodation

$ Hospedaje Nuevo Amanecer

Woth dormitory beds starting around $25 per night and private rooms from $30 per night, Hospedaje Nuevo Amanecer offers clean comfortable and affordable accomodation in the heart of Antofagasta.

$$ Wyndham Garden Antofagasta Pettra

Wyndham Garden is perfectly positioned to get sea views. With well equipped rooms and great facilities and amenities like fitness center, bar and daily breakfast, it’s a popular mid-range option.

$$$ Terrado Suites Antofagasta

Occupying prime position the Terrado Suites get great views over th Pacific ocean. With well equipped rooms and great facilities and amenities. The hotel offers well appointed rooms as well as a swimming pool, spa facilities and treatments and a sauna room.

Overlanding and Campervanning

Camp in your self-contained car at Parque Croacia. Police patrol the area and driving classes begin early in the mornings, but other than that you will not be bothered. There is also a great outdoor equipment area in the park for your fitness needs.

Services in Antofagasta

• Shopping:
  • Lider is the equivalent of Walmart in the US, a huge grocery and discount department store. Be sure to stock up here before heading into the far more expensive Atacama Desert. Alcohol in particular is the cheapest we’ve seen yet, with a bottle of Chilean wine starting from $1.50 USD.
  • For more shopping, dining, and entertainment, head to Mall Plaza Antofagasta. It’s a modern shopping center with a variety of stores, a food court overllooking the sea and a cinema.
• Water: The water in Chile is safe to drink. Fill up here if you are headed to the Atacama Desert as the water tastes better.
• Connectivity: Entel 5G is available.

Where to Next?

Looking for more to do in Chile’s north? Check out the ghost town of Chacabuco or the incredible San Pedro de Atacama.

Headed South? Be sure to stop by the Valle de Elqui and the Valle del Choapa

Are you planning a trip to Antofagasta or Chile? Have you visited Antofagasta or Chile’s north? Please ask us a question or drop us a comment below!