COQUIMBO (LA SERENA)

Coquimbo, Chile is the regional capital city of the Chilean province Elqui. It’s home to 150,000 year round residents, and its convenient location along the Pan-American highway and its port make it popular stop for both international and domestic tourists.

 Coquimbo itself has a handful of travel opportunities available. Plaza de Armas is the center public square. It has outdoor seating and a monument dedicated to the famous poet Pablo Neruda. From there, you’ll find a staircase leading to the 3rd Millennium Cross, which is the tallest Christian monument in South America. (Note: the path is circuitous, and having a map loaded on your phone is advised for navigating.) It’s a climb. But you’ll be rewarded with amazing 360º panoramic views of Coquimbo. Another site off of Plaza de Armas is The Domo Culture Animas, where you can learn about the Animas culture that inhabited Chile between 900 and 1200AD.

Other sights in Coquimbo include the Coquimbo Mosque, beaches, and Fort Lambert, a 19th century fortification build to protect the city from pirates.

8.5mi/14km north of Coquimbo lies La Serena, which is Chile’s second oldest city. It’s famous for its sweeping beach promenades lined with restaurants and beach clubs as well as The Monumental Lighthouse. Not a fan of the sand? La Serena has plenty of greenspaces sprinkled around, with the most notable one being Kokoro No Niwa Japanese Park—the largest Japanese park in South America.

For a city-focused day in La Serena, start at the main public square, Plaza de Armas. Around the square you’ll see the building of the Municipality of La Serena, the Court of Appeals, La Serena Cathedral, and a series of museums including the Archaeological Museum of La Serena and the Historical Museum Gabriel González Videla. And be sure to visit La Recova Market of La Serena—a major market with over 140 vendor stalls.

Interested in further journeys from Coquimbo? Send The Docked Discoveries team an email to schedule a personalized travel planning session.