Arica is a port city located in Northern Chile only 11 miles South of Peru. It has a mild climate with an average yearly temperature of 75 degrees, abundant with spectacular parks and gardens housing beautiful flora. The vast beauty has given it the title of being the “City of Eternal Spring.”
It has been determined that Arica was inhabited as early back as 6000BC. Native tribes who lived here grew squash, corn and cotton as well as made hand made pottery. These people later became part of the Bolivian Tihuanaco culture and then the Inca Empire that extended all the way to Ecuador.
The native culture slowly rose and they began to develop cultural traditions. The city was once part of Bolivia and was the access point to export silver from the mines, however it became part of Chilean territory during the War of the Pacific. Today Arica is still the functioning access port to Bolivia.
Arica is now a growing seaside resort with miles of seashore, rich golden sand dunes, pulsating nightlife and duty-free shopping. It sees plenty of sunshine and speaking in terms of rainfall, it is one of the driest places on the earth.
Among the many attractions in Arica, the Cathedral of San Marcos and the Anthropological and Archeological museums are the most visited as well as the Casino de Arica for evening entertainment.
The coastal range offers over 20km of beaches with 10m main ones, each one being unspoiled and equally as magical as the last. Chinchorro Beach provides the best sunrise and sunsets and The Lisera Beach is a huge tourist attraction due to its pure, calm nature and panoramic views. The Chapel Beach is one of the most mysterious beaches you will ever see with caves everywhere containing Arica culture drawings and the Arenillas Negras is the only beach where you can see black sand due to the minerals being released from the rocks. The beaches are heaven for surfers with its vast amount of killer waves and boogie boarding is popular here too.
Another great site to see in Arica is Chungara Lake, it happens to be the 29th highest in elevation in the world and its located in Lauca National park. Also, Termas de Jurasi has underground waters that are above 40 degrees at any given time and are said to be healing and worth a visit to.
Since Arica is a duty-free port, it offers many shopping bargains and the most popular and loved street to shop on is 21 de Mayo. There are plenty of handcrafts and pottery as well as stone carvings. The seacoast offers a plethora of fresh seafood to indulge in with plenty of freshly grown fruit and vegetables finished off by fantastic Chilean wine!
With its fabulous shopping and palm lined beaches, Arica is becoming one of the most popular vacation destinations in chile. You are guaranteed to leave here culturally fulfilled and very relaxed.